Station Name: DES PLAINES RIVER IN LOCK CHANNEL AT ROCKDALE, IL
Data Source: Water Data - usgc.gov

Elevation Above Sea Level: 512 feet

Nearest Address:
Channahon Road
Rockdale, IL 60436
Will County

GPS Coordinates: 41.5, -88.1069444

Nearby Water Temperatures

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 11:48AM CDT until April 18 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Fri April 17, 2026, 4:48 PM
Expires: Sat April 18, 2026, 1:00 AM

* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of Illinois, including the following areas, Boone, Central Cook, De Kalb, DuPage, Eastern Will, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, La Salle, Lake IL, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Northern Cook, Northern Will, Ogle, Southern Cook, Southern Will and Winnebago and northwest Indiana, including the following areas, Benton, Jasper, Lake IN, Newton and Porter. * WHEN...From 3 PM CDT /4 PM EDT/ this afternoon through late tonight. * IMPACTS...Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Ongoing river flooding may worsen. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Roads and streets may be flooded. Area creeks and streams are already elevated, increasing the risk of flooding due to additional rainfall. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Locally heavy showers and thunderstorms with rainfall rates up to 1 to 2 inches per hour may occur across the area later today through the overnight hours. Despite the expected relatively fast storm movement, anomalously high atmospheric moisture content will support high rainfall rates. In many areas, soil moisture remains very high, including areas near the Illinois-Wisconsin border where nearly saturated soils exist due to recent rainfall. While many areas may see lighter accumulations less than 0.5 inches, soils will be sensitive to rainfall. Areas near and downstream of heavy rainfall, particularly urban areas and locations in far northern Illinois, may see flash flooding and river flooding impacts, some locally significant. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

A Flood Watch for flash flooding means rapid-onset flooding is possible, but not yet certain, based upon the latest forecasts. Flash flooding is a dangerous situation. Persons with interests along area rivers, creeks, and other waterways should monitor the latest forecasts and be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 6:27PM CDT until April 18 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Fri April 17, 2026, 11:27 PM
Expires: Sat April 18, 2026, 9:00 AM

* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Much of northern and central Illinois and extreme northwest Indiana. * WHEN...Until 5 AM CDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Ongoing river flooding may worsen. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Roads and streets may be flooded. Area creeks and streams are already elevated, increasing the risk of flooding due to additional rainfall. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - A line of thunderstorms, some capable of producing rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour, will move across the area this evening into the early overnight hours. Despite the expected relatively fast storm movement, anomalously high atmospheric moisture content will support high rainfall rates. In many areas, soil moisture remains very high, including near the Illinois-Wisconsin border where nearly saturated soils exist due to recent heavy rainfall. While many areas may see lighter accumulations less than 0.5 inches, soils will be very sensitive to rainfall. Areas near and downstream of heavy rainfall, particularly urban areas and locations in far northern Illinois, may see flash flooding and river flooding impacts, some locally significant. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

A Flood Watch for flash flooding means rapid-onset flooding is possible, but not yet certain, based upon the latest forecasts. Flash flooding is a dangerous situation. Persons with interests along area rivers, creeks, and other waterways should monitor the latest forecasts and be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Tornado Watch issued April 17 at 3:31PM CDT until April 17 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Fri April 17, 2026, 8:31 PM
Expires: Sat April 18, 2026, 4:00 AM

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 131 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIVINGSTON IN EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS FORD IROQUOIS IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS COOK DUPAGE GRUNDY KANE KANKAKEE KENDALL LAKE IL WILL THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF AURORA, BOLINGBROOK, BOURBONNAIS, BUFFALO GROVE, CAROL STREAM, CHICAGO, COAL CITY, DOWNERS GROVE, DWIGHT, ELGIN, EVANSTON, FAIRBURY, GIBSON CITY, GILMAN, GURNEE, JOLIET, KANKAKEE, LEMONT, LOMBARD, MINOOKA, MORRIS, MUNDELEIN, NAPERVILLE, OAK LAWN, ORLAND PARK, OSWEGO, PARK FOREST, PAXTON, PLANO, PONTIAC, SCHAUMBURG, WATSEKA, WAUKEGAN, WHEATON, WILMINGTON, AND YORKVILLE.

Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:17AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Fri April 17, 2026, 4:17 PM
Expires: Sat April 18, 2026, 10:30 AM

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Illinois... Fox River at Montgomery affecting Kendall and Kane Counties. Fox River at Algonquin Lock & Dam tailwater affecting Lake IL, Kane and McHenry Counties. * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Fox River from Red Gate Road in St. Charles downstream to Millington, including the Montgomery gauge. * WHEN...Until further notice. * IMPACTS...At 13.5 feet, Low-lying parking lots at city hall and Boy Scout Island are threatened in St. Charles. Fox River Trail is threatened at St. Mary Park in St. Charles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 10:00 AM CDT Friday the stage was 13.4 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 10:00 AM CDT Friday was 13.5 feet. The river was currently cresting. - Forecast...The river is expected to remain near flood stage for the next several days. - Flood stage is 13.5 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

A Flood Warning means water levels above flood stage are imminent or may already be occurring. Persons along rivers and streams in the warned area should take immediate precautions to protect life and property. These forecasts are based on observed precipitation as well as forecast precipitation 24 hours into the future. Changes to the rainfall forecast, or any additional rainfall after 24 hours, may cause changes to these river forecasts. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued by late tonight.

Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:05AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Fri April 17, 2026, 4:05 PM
Expires: Sat April 18, 2026, 10:15 AM

...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Illinois... Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire affecting Cook and Lake IL Counties. Des Plaines River near Des Plaines affecting Cook County. Des Plaines River near Gurnee affecting Lake IL County. ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Illinois... Des Plaines River near Russell affecting Lake IL County. * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Des Plaines River from Palatine Road in Prospect Heights downstream to Irving Park Road in Chicago, including the Des Plaines gauge. * WHEN...Until further notice. * IMPACTS...At 17.0 feet, Central Road and Golf Road are threatened in Des Plaines. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 10:45 AM CDT Friday the stage was 16.1 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 10:45 AM CDT Friday was 16.1 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to crest near 16.5 feet tomorrow due to forecasted rainfall today and tonight. - Flood stage is 15.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

A Flood Warning means water levels above flood stage are imminent or may already be occurring. Persons along rivers and streams in the warned area should take immediate precautions to protect life and property. These forecasts are based on observed precipitation as well as forecast precipitation 24 hours into the future. Changes to the rainfall forecast, or any additional rainfall after 24 hours, may cause changes to these river forecasts. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued by late tonight.