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Fox River at South Elgin Dam

Highest listed crest 15.04 ftFlood stage 14.5 ft26 crests since 1960

The Fox River at South Elgin Dam crested above flood stage 6 times among the 26 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1960 to 2024. The highest, 15.04 ft on April 18, 2013, was moderate flooding, 0.54 feet above flood stage. 13 other gauges on the Fox River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
15.04 ft
April 18, 2013; 9,280 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
14.5 ft
Major flooding from 17.0 ft
Crests at major
0
6 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
May 18, 2020
14.92 ft, minor flooding
Location
Kane County
Near South Elgin (1.1 mi), Elgin (3.4 mi), St. Charles (5.4 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 South Elgin Dam
Action stage14.011Apr 7, 2024The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)14.55May 18, 2020Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.01Apr 18, 2013Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage17.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

26 crests from 1960 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Fox River at South Elgin Dam, 1960 to 2024 1314151617ft Flood stage 14.5 ftMajor 17.0 ft Apr 7, 1960: 14.70 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 1962: 13.80 ft, below flood stageMar 30, 1979: 14.85 ft, minor flooding; 7,500 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 1990: 13.68 ft, below flood stage; 4,210 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1991: 13.86 ft, below flood stage; 4,710 cubic feet per secondDec 11, 1991: 13.51 ft, below flood stage; 3,500 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1993: 14.45 ft, action stage; 6,990 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 1995: 13.69 ft, below flood stage; 3,740 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1996: 14.19 ft, action stage; 5,740 cubic feet per secondJul 20, 1996: 13.15 ft, below flood stage; 2,130 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1997: 14.19 ft, action stage; 5,740 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 1998: 13.59 ft, below flood stage; 3,400 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2009: 14.06 ft, action stage; 5,170 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2010: 14.42 ft, action stage; 5,860 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 2011: 13.85 ft, below flood stage; 3,790 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 2013: 15.04 ft, moderate flooding; 9,280 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2013: 14.33 ft, action stage; 5,750 cubic feet per secondJul 22, 2017: 14.93 ft, minor flooding; 9,740 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2018: 14.61 ft, minor flooding; 8,080 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2019: 14.42 ft, action stage; 6,610 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 2019: 14.42 ft, action stage; 6,700 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2020: 14.12 ft, action stage; 5,020 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2020: 14.35 ft, action stage; 5,950 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2020: 14.92 ft, minor flooding; 9,160 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2023: 13.95 ft, below flood stage; 4,630 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2024: 14.08 ft, action stage; 5,120 cubic feet per second Highest, 15.04 ft, Apr 18, 2013 1960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Fox River at South Elgin Dam 1960s: 1 1970s: 1 1980s: 0 1990s: 0 2000s: 0 2010s: 3 3 2020s: 1 1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 South Elgin Dam
1Apr 18, 201315.04+0.54Moderate9,280
2Jul 22, 201714.93+0.43Minor9,740
3May 18, 202014.92+0.42Minor9,160
4Mar 30, 197914.85+0.35Minor7,500
5Apr 7, 196014.70+0.20Minor—
6Jun 27, 201814.61+0.11Minor8,080
7Jul 18, 199314.45−0.05Action6,990
8May 13, 201014.42−0.08Action5,860
9May 9, 201914.42−0.08Action6,610
10Sep 13, 201914.42−0.08Action6,700
11Apr 30, 202014.35−0.15Action5,950
12Jun 26, 201314.33−0.17Action5,750
13May 20, 199614.19−0.31Action5,740
14Feb 21, 199714.19−0.31Action5,740
15Mar 29, 202014.12−0.38Action5,020
16Apr 7, 202414.08−0.42Action5,120
17May 1, 200914.06−0.44Action5,170
18Apr 4, 202313.95−0.55Below flood stage4,630
19Apr 15, 199113.86−0.64Below flood stage4,710
20Apr 27, 201113.85−0.65Below flood stage3,790
21Apr 1, 196213.80−0.70Below flood stage—
22Apr 28, 199513.69−0.81Below flood stage3,740
23Aug 21, 199013.68−0.82Below flood stage4,210
24May 9, 199813.59−0.91Below flood stage3,400
25Dec 11, 199113.51−0.99Below flood stage3,500
26Jul 20, 199613.15−1.35Below flood stage2,130

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.

April 18, 2013: 15.04 ft here, moderate flooding

July 22, 2017: 14.93 ft here, minor flooding

May 18, 2020: 14.92 ft here, minor 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
MontgomeryIL13.516.50 ft, Jul 18, 19961
RochesterWI6.06.29 ft, Apr 21, 20260
South Elgin Dam this gaugeIL14.515.04 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
Montgomery13.516.50 ft, Jul 18, 19961
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 SELI2, 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.