River stage
Wheeling, Buffalo Creek
- River level
- 1.46 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.35 ft
- Recent high
- 4.18 ft
- Recent low
- 1.31 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS WHEI2
- 30-day change
- +0.14 ft
- Average
- 1.88 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 8.46 ft
In brief
The Buffalo Creek at Wheeling, IL read 1.46 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.04 ft below action stage. That is 0.14 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge WHEI2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.46 ft | 2013-06-26 |
| 2 | 7.94 ft | 1982-07-22 |
| 3 | 7.83 ft | 2017-07-12 |
| 4 | 7.83 ft | 2007-08-23 |
| 5 | 7.56 ft | 2011-07-23 |
| 6 | 7.51 ft | 2001-10-13 |
| 7 | 7.42 ft | 2020-05-17 |
| 8 | 7.34 ft | 1987-08-14 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 4.00 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks in Buffalo Grove and Wheeling.
- 4.50 ft
Trails threatened near Arlington Heights Road in Buffalo Grove. Low-lying portions of Emmerich Park inundated in Buffalo Grove.
- 5.00 ft
Parking lots threatened along Buffalo Grove Road.
- 6.00 ft
Low-lying portions of Heritage Park inundated in Wheeling.
- 6.50 ft
Residential parking lots threatened along McHenry Road. Low-lying portions of Buffalo Grove Golf Club inundated. Athletic fields threatened at Heritage Park in Wheeling.
- 7.00 ft
A few structures threatened near Buffalo Grove Road and Lake Cook Road. A few structures threatened along St Marys Parkway near Lincoln Terrace in Buffalo Grove. Wolf Road and Jeffery Avenue threatened in Wheeling. Athletic fields threatened near Emmerich Park in Buffalo Grove. Agricultural land inundated in northwest Wheeling.
- 7.50 ft
A few structures threatened along Dundee Road in Wheeling. Valley Stream Drive, Manda Lane, and side streets threatened in Wheeling.
- 8.00 ft
Residential structures threatened along Valley Stream Drive, Manda Lane, and side streets in Wheeling. Lake Cook Road threatened in Buffalo Grove. Weiland Road threatened at McHenry Road (IL-83) in Wheeling.
- 8.50 ft
Multiple commercial structures threatened near Elmhurst Road and Dundee Road in Wheeling. Widespread inundation of roadways and structures begins near Wolf Road and Jeffery Avenue in Wheeling. Multiple structures threatened along Northgate Parkway in Wheeling. McHenry Road threatened in Wheeling.
- 9.00 ft
Widespread inundation of roadways and structures begins between Elmhurst Road and Eugene Field School in Wheeling. Water begins to bypass the main channel to the southeast along McHenry Road and Wheeling Road causing widespread inundation of roadways and structures near Wheeling Town Center. Elmhurst Road (IL-83) threatened in Wheeling. Parking lots threatened at Buffalo Grove Village Hall. Large portions of Buffalo Grove Golf Club inundated.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Buffalo Creek flooding at Wheeling?
No. The Buffalo Creek at Wheeling is at 1.46 ft, 3.04 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Wheeling?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 4.5 ft, minor flooding 5 ft, moderate flooding 6.5 ft and major flooding 7.5 ft.
What is the highest the Buffalo Creek has been at Wheeling?
The highest crest on record is 8.46 ft, on 2013-06-26.
Is the Buffalo Creek high or low right now at Wheeling?
At 1.46 ft it is higher than 20% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge WHEI2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05528500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.