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Fox River at Montgomery

Highest listed crest 16.50 ftFlood stage 13.5 ft35 crests since 1996

The Fox River at Montgomery crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 35 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1996 to 2024. The highest, 16.50 ft on July 18, 1996, was major flooding, 3.00 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Fox River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
16.50 ft
July 18, 1996
Flood stage
13.5 ft
Major flooding from 16.0 ft
Crests at major
1
101st of 177 gauges in Illinois
Most recent flood crest
May 18, 2020
14.66 ft, minor flooding
Location
Kane County
Near Montgomery (1.5 mi), Aurora (3.0 mi), Oswego (3.5 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Fox River at Montgomery
Action stage13.07Jul 14, 2024The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)13.521May 18, 2020Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.02Apr 18, 2013Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage16.01Jul 18, 1996Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

35 crests from 1996 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Fox River at Montgomery, 1996 to 2024 121314151617ft Flood stage 13.5 ftMajor 16.0 ft Jul 18, 1996: 16.50 ft, major floodingMay 11, 2003: 12.95 ft, below flood stage; 4,290 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2004: 13.92 ft, minor flooding; 8,800 cubic feet per secondJan 13, 2005: 12.79 ft, below flood stage; 4,080 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 2006: 12.60 ft, below flood stage; 3,820 cubic feet per secondAug 24, 2007: 14.77 ft, minor flooding; 15,300 cubic feet per secondSep 14, 2008: 15.12 ft, moderate flooding; 18,000 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 2008: 14.11 ft, minor flooding; 10,500 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 2010: 14.06 ft, minor flooding; 9,560 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 2011: 13.49 ft, action stage; 7,100 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 2013: 15.14 ft, moderate flooding; 17,100 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2014: 13.35 ft, action stage; 6,400 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2015: 14.37 ft, minor flooding; 11,500 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2016: 13.35 ft, action stage; 6,360 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2017: 13.74 ft, minor flooding; 8,180 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 2017: 14.21 ft, minor flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 2017: 13.71 ft, minor flooding; 8,210 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 2018: 13.65 ft, minor flooding; 7,910 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2018: 13.60 ft, minor flooding; 7,680 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2018: 13.83 ft, minor flooding; 8,800 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2018: 13.99 ft, minor flooding; 9,380 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2019: 13.13 ft, action stage; 5,605 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2019: 13.68 ft, minor flooding; 7,890 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2019: 13.92 ft, minor flooding; 9,030 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2019: 13.64 ft, minor flooding; 7,740 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 2019: 13.62 ft, minor flooding; 7,610 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 2019: 13.68 ft, minor flooding; 7,160 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 2019: 13.73 ft, minor flooding; 7,380 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2020: 13.62 ft, minor flooding; 6,900 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2020: 13.93 ft, minor flooding; 8,280 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2020: 14.66 ft, minor flooding; 13,200 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2022: 12.96 ft, below flood stage; 4,970 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 2023: 13.26 ft, action stage; 6,210 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2024: 13.18 ft, action stage; 5,800 cubic feet per secondJul 14, 2024: 13.06 ft, action stage; 5,340 cubic feet per second Highest, 16.50 ft, Jul 18, 1996 200020052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Fox River at Montgomery 1990s: 1 2000s: 4 2010s: 16 16 2020s: 3 1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Fox River at Montgomery
1Jul 18, 199616.50+3.00Major—
2Apr 18, 201315.14+1.64Moderate17,100
3Sep 14, 200815.12+1.62Moderate18,000
4Aug 24, 200714.77+1.27Minor15,300
5May 18, 202014.66+1.16Minor13,200
6Jun 15, 201514.37+0.87Minor11,500
7Jul 23, 201714.21+0.71Minor10,800
8Dec 28, 200814.11+0.61Minor10,500
9Jul 24, 201014.06+0.56Minor9,560
10Jun 27, 201813.99+0.49Minor9,380
11Apr 30, 202013.93+0.43Minor8,280
12May 31, 200413.92+0.42Minor8,800
13May 9, 201913.92+0.42Minor9,030
14Jun 22, 201813.83+0.33Minor8,800
15May 1, 201713.74+0.24Minor8,180
16Oct 3, 201913.73+0.23Minor7,380
17Oct 15, 201713.71+0.21Minor8,210
18May 1, 201913.68+0.18Minor7,890
19Sep 22, 201913.68+0.18Minor7,160
20Feb 21, 201813.65+0.15Minor7,910
21May 27, 201913.64+0.14Minor7,740
22Sep 13, 201913.62+0.12Minor7,610
23Mar 29, 202013.62+0.12Minor6,900
24May 21, 201813.60+0.10Minor7,680
25May 29, 201113.49−0.01Action7,100
26Jul 1, 201413.35−0.15Action6,400
27May 12, 201613.35−0.15Action6,360
28Apr 5, 202313.26−0.24Action6,210
29Apr 8, 202413.18−0.32Action5,800
30Mar 15, 201913.13−0.37Action5,605
31Jul 14, 202413.06−0.44Action5,340
32May 4, 202212.96−0.54Below flood stage4,970
33May 11, 200312.95−0.55Below flood stage4,290
34Jan 13, 200512.79−0.71Below flood stage4,080
35Mar 13, 200612.60−0.90Below flood stage3,820

The worst floods along the Fox River

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

July 18, 1996: 16.50 ft here, major flooding

April 18, 2013: 15.14 ft here, moderate flooding

September 14, 2008: 15.12 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Fox River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Fox River
AlgonquinIL3.04.50 ft, Apr 1, 191612
Algonquin tailwaterIL9.514.00 ft, Jul 5, 19386
BurlingtonWI11.016.15 ft, Jul 13, 20171
DaytonIL12.036.47 ft, Jan 25, 19605
ElginIL713.0713.11 ft, Jul 24, 20170
Fox LakeIL6.08.12 ft, Apr 5, 19606
Lake VillaIL6.08.90 ft, Jul 4, 19387
McHenry (Stratton Lock and Dam) tailwaterIL4.09.00 ft, Jul 5, 19386
Montgomery this gaugeIL13.516.50 ft, Jul 18, 19961
RochesterWI6.06.29 ft, Apr 21, 20260
South Elgin DamIL14.515.04 ft, Apr 18, 20130
WaukeshaWI6.08.85 ft, Jun 9, 20080
Yorkville (Palmer Dam)IL15.521.00 ft, Jul 18, 19961
AntiochIL6.08.34 ft, Apr 5, 19606
JohnsburgIL6.58.90 ft, Jul 4, 19382
New MunsterWI11.017.47 ft, Jul 13, 20175

Other gauges in Kane County

Flood gauges in Kane County
Montgomery10.013.50 ft, Jul 18, 19961
St Charles6.09.66 ft, Feb 8, 19650
Elgin713.0713.11 ft, Jul 24, 20170
South Elgin Dam14.515.04 ft, Apr 18, 20130
Batavia6.59.48 ft, Sep 13, 20080
Elgin8.09.44 ft, May 17, 20200

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MNGI2, 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.