Station Name: Waukegan Buoy, IL
Station Type: Buoy
Data Source: National Data Buoy Center

Elevation Above Sea Level: 574 feet

Nearest Address:
Offshore
Waukegan, IL 60087
Lake County

GPS Coordinates: 42.368, -87.795

Nearby Water Temperatures

Flood Warning issued April 21 at 6:04PM CDT until April 29 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Tue April 21, 2026, 6:04 PM
Expires: Wed April 29, 2026, 1:00 PM

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues. * WHERE...A portion of northeast Illinois, including the following counties, Lake IL and McHenry. * WHEN...Until further notice. * IMPACTS...Numerous roads, yards, structures, and areas of park land are flooding along the Fox River Chain of Lakes. Flooding will continue through at least the middle of next week. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 600 PM CDT, River gauges along the Fox River Chain of Lakes indicated water levels continuing to climb slowly. The rate of climb has slowed since yesterday. Water levels on Channel Lake exceeded major flood stage yesterday and water levels on Fox Lake and Nippersink Lake exceeded major flood stage today. The latest forecast from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources indicates that water levels are near crest. - Water levels are expected to remain above flood stage at least through the middle of next week, assuming no additional rainfall occurs. Impacts from this flood are likely to be similar to those experienced in May of 1973, April 1979, or October of 1986, which each crested at similar levels. - Some locations that will experience flooding include areas along the Fox River Chain of Lakes, including Nippersink Lake, Fox Lake, Pistakee Lake, Petite Lake, Lake Marie, Channel Lake, and Lake Catherine. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Flood Warning issued April 21 at 8:47PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Tue April 21, 2026, 8:47 PM
Expires: Wed April 22, 2026, 3:00 PM

...The Flood Warning continues 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. Des Plaines River near Russell affecting Lake IL County. * WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and forecasted to continue. * WHERE...Des Plaines River from IL/WI state line downstream to US-41 in Gurnee, including the Russell gauge. * WHEN...Until further notice. * IMPACTS...At 8.0 feet, Agricultural and park land is inundated near the river. Residential property is threatened near the river. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:30 PM CDT Tuesday the stage was 8.6 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to continue gradually falling, and may drop below Flood stage this weekend. - Flood stage is 7.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

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. 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. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued by Wednesday afternoon.

Flood Warning issued April 21 at 8:47PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Tue April 21, 2026, 8:47 PM
Expires: Wed April 22, 2026, 3:00 PM

...The Flood Warning continues 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. Des Plaines River near Russell affecting Lake IL County. * WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and forecasted to continue. * WHERE...Des Plaines River from Townline Road in Libertyville downstream to Palatine Road in Prospect Heights, including the Lincolnshire gauge. * WHEN...Until early Friday afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 15.0 feet, Structures threatened along IL-22 (Half-Day Road) just east of the river. Multiple structures threatened near and west of US-45 (Milwaukee Avenue) and Deerfield Road. Deerfield Road threatened near the river. Multiple trails inundated in Half-Day Forest Preserve. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:45 PM CDT Tuesday the stage was 14.9 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to continue gradually falling through the week, and may fall below Flood stage by Friday morning. - Flood stage is 12.5 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

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. 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. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued by Wednesday afternoon.

Flood Warning issued April 21 at 8:47PM CDT until April 25 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Tue April 21, 2026, 8:47 PM
Expires: Wed April 22, 2026, 3:00 PM

...The Flood Warning continues 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. Des Plaines River near Russell affecting Lake IL County. * WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and forecasted to continue. * WHERE...Des Plaines River from US-41 in Gurnee downstream to Townline Road in Vernon Hills, including the Gurnee gauge. * WHEN...Until Saturday morning. * IMPACTS...At 10.0 feet, Residences threatened along Kilbourne Road and near O'Plaine Road and McClure Avenue in Gurnee. Businesses threatened along Old Grand Avenue near IL-132 in Gurnee. IL-132 (Grand Avenue) is threatened east of the river in Gurnee. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 8:30 PM CDT Tuesday the stage was 10.0 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to continue gradually falling, and may fall below Flood stage by Saturday morning. - Flood stage is 7.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

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. 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. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued by Wednesday afternoon.

Flood Warning issued April 21 at 8:39PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL

Effective: Tue April 21, 2026, 8:39 PM
Expires: Wed April 22, 2026, 2:45 PM

...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 Kane, Lake IL and McHenry Counties. * WHAT...Moderate flooding is occurring and major flooding is forecasted. * WHERE...Fox River from Johnsburg downstream to Red Gate Road in St. Charles, including the Algonquin Lock & Dam tailwater gauge. * WHEN...Until further notice. * IMPACTS...At 12.0 feet, Structures threatened along River Street, Johnson Street, and Maiden Lane in East Dundee. North Harrison Street threatened near Riverside Park in Algonquin. Washington Street threatened in Carpentersville. Water Street, Edwards Avenue, and Elgin Avenue threatened in East Dundee. Bayview Road threatened in Elgin. Low-lying areas of Festival Park are threatened in Elgin. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:30 PM CDT Tuesday the stage was 11.9 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to continue rising into Major flood stage and remain so until further notice. - Flood stage is 9.5 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

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. 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. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. The next statement will be issued by Wednesday afternoon.