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Des Plaines River at River Forest

Highest listed crest 18.98 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft14 crests since 2008

The Des Plaines River at River Forest crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 14 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2008 to 2020. The highest, 18.98 ft on April 19, 2013, was major flooding, 2.98 feet above flood stage. 7 other gauges on the Des Plaines River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 3 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
18.98 ft
April 19, 2013
Flood stage
16.0 ft
Major flooding from 18.5 ft
Crests at major
1
101st of 177 gauges in Illinois
Most recent flood crest
May 18, 2020
17.50 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Cook County
Near Maywood (0.8 mi), River Forest (0.8 mi), Forest Park (1.6 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Des Plaines River at River Forest
Action stage13.011May 2, 2020The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.00—Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage17.52May 18, 2020Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage18.51Apr 19, 2013Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

14 crests from 2008 to 2020. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Des Plaines River at River Forest, 2008 to 2020 1214161820ft Flood stage 16.0 ftMajor 18.5 ft Sep 14, 2008: 18.30 ft, moderate floodingApr 19, 2013: 18.98 ft, major floodingJun 16, 2015: 13.42 ft, action stageApr 6, 2017: 13.12 ft, action stageMay 1, 2017: 13.15 ft, action stageJul 22, 2017: 15.55 ft, action stageOct 15, 2017: 14.12 ft, action stageFeb 21, 2018: 14.00 ft, action stageMay 22, 2018: 14.05 ft, action stageJun 23, 2018: 13.91 ft, action stageMay 1, 2019: 14.42 ft, action stageSep 15, 2019: 14.03 ft, action stageMay 2, 2020: 13.61 ft, action stageMay 18, 2020: 17.50 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 18.98 ft, Apr 19, 2013 201020152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Des Plaines River at River Forest 2000s: 1 1 2010s: 1 2020s: 1 2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Des Plaines River at River Forest
1Apr 19, 201318.98+2.98Major—
2Sep 14, 200818.30+2.30Moderate—
3May 18, 202017.50+1.50Moderate—
4Jul 22, 201715.55−0.45Action—
5May 1, 201914.42−1.58Action—
6Oct 15, 201714.12−1.88Action—
7May 22, 201814.05−1.95Action—
8Sep 15, 201914.03−1.97Action—
9Feb 21, 201814.00−2.00Action—
10Jun 23, 201813.91−2.09Action—
11May 2, 202013.61−2.39Action—
12Jun 16, 201513.42−2.58Action—
13May 1, 201713.15−2.85Action—
14Apr 6, 201713.12−2.88Action—

The worst floods along the Des Plaines River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Des Plaines River that crested above flood stage within a week.

April 19, 2013: 18.98 ft here, major flooding

  • LyonsIL · Apr 18, 2013 · 22.87 ft · Major · its highest
  • Des PlainesIL · Apr 19, 2013 · 20.92 ft · Major · its highest
  • LincolnshireIL · Apr 19, 2013 · 16.36 ft · Major
  • RiversideIL · Apr 18, 2013 · 11.28 ft · Major · its highest
  • GurneeIL · Apr 20, 2013 · 11.20 ft · Major
  • RussellIL · Apr 19, 2013 · 9.99 ft · Moderate
  • LemontIL · Apr 19, 2013 · 12.58 ft · Minor

September 14, 2008: 18.30 ft here, moderate flooding

May 18, 2020: 17.50 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Des Plaines River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Des Plaines River
RussellIL7.012.11 ft, Jul 14, 20178
GurneeIL7.012.09 ft, Jul 16, 20174
LincolnshireIL12.516.55 ft, Jul 13, 20174
Des PlainesIL15.020.92 ft, Apr 19, 20135
Des Plaines (Algonquin Road)IL13.021.00 ft, Sep 14, 20082
River Forest this gaugeIL16.018.98 ft, Apr 19, 20131
RiversideIL7.511.28 ft, Apr 18, 20137
LyonsIL18.022.87 ft, Apr 18, 20132
LemontIL10.013.24 ft, May 18, 20200
JolietIL541.0542.00 ft, Jul 1, 19570
Brandon Road Lock (tailwater)IL507.0513.30 ft, Jul 13, 19570

Other gauges in Cook County

Flood gauges in Cook County
Bellwood9.013.57 ft, Jul 24, 20104
Wheeling5.08.46 ft, Jun 26, 20136
Flossmoor9.013.08 ft, Apr 17, 20060
Markham10.012.00 ft, Oct 11, 19542
Chicago (Columbus Dr)3.05.50 ft, Oct 10, 19542
Chicago (Western Ave)4.05.26 ft, May 17, 20200
Chicago Heights10.012.87 ft, Sep 15, 20080
Des Plaines (Algonquin Road)13.021.00 ft, Sep 14, 20082
Lyons18.022.87 ft, Apr 18, 20132
Riverside7.511.28 ft, Apr 18, 20137
Des Plaines15.020.92 ft, Apr 19, 20135
Lemont10.013.24 ft, May 18, 20200
Willow Springs10.010.57 ft, Apr 18, 20130
Lake Michigan at Calumet Harbor5.06.07 ft, Aug 11, 20200
Lake Michigan at Chicago (Chicago Lock)4.05.98 ft, Apr 29, 20200
Lansing7.010.18 ft, Oct 11, 19540
South Holland16.020.50 ft, Nov 28, 19905
Lemont6.011.10 ft, Jul 18, 19961
Mount Prospect5.08.08 ft, Aug 14, 19872
Oak Forest6.09.50 ft, Apr 5, 19472
Midlothian8.59.98 ft, Feb 2, 20160
Chicago (Grand Ave)3.05.70 ft, Oct 10, 19543
Chicago (Pulaski Rd)18.022.50 ft, Aug 14, 19871
Niles10.012.13 ft, Sep 14, 20082
Elgin5.57.69 ft, Sep 13, 20080
Elk Grove Village17.020.80 ft, May 18, 20200
Rolling Meadows8.514.03 ft, Aug 14, 19870
Western Springs7.510.65 ft, Apr 18, 20130
Worth31.036.50 ft, Oct 11, 19542
Glenwood8.511.14 ft, Jul 13, 19570
Thornton9.017.06 ft, Jun 14, 19816
Palos Park9.010.30 ft, Oct 10, 19540
Des Plaines9.015.09 ft, Jun 10, 19677
Northbrook7.010.10 ft, Aug 14, 19877

Cook County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Illinois

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge RVFI2, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.