River stage
Lyons, Des Plaines River
- River level
- 11.40 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -1.67 ft
- Recent high
- 16.94 ft
- Recent low
- 10.65 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS LYNI2
- 30-day change
- +0.65 ft
- Average
- 12.61 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 22.87 ft
In brief
The Des Plaines River at Lyons, IL read 11.40 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 4.60 ft below action stage. That is 0.65 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge LYNI2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22.87 ft | 2013-04-18 |
| 2 | 22.71 ft | 2020-05-18 |
| 3 | 20.75 ft | 2017-10-15 |
| 4 | 20.09 ft | 2019-05-01 |
| 5 | 19.81 ft | 2017-07-22 |
| 6 | 19.66 ft | 2015-06-16 |
| 7 | 19.58 ft | 2018-02-21 |
| 8 | 18.53 ft | 2017-05-01 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 14.00 ft
Without flood protection from levees, water would begin to bypass the main river channel through Chicago Portage toward the Chicago River Basin and areas once covered by Mud Lake.
- 19.00 ft
Industrial parking area near the river and I-55 is threatened.
- 20.00 ft
Structures are threatened along River Road near the river in Hodgkins.
- 21.00 ft
Without flood protection from levees, widespread inundation of industrial property and structures would occur north of the river in McCook.
- 22.00 ft
Water reaches the top of the east bank levee in Lyons, Stickney, and Forest View.
- 23.50 ft
Water reaches the top of the west bank levees in Lyons and McCook.
- 24.00 ft
Widespread inundation of industrial property and structures north of the river in McCook. Numerous residences threatened near the river in Lyons.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Des Plaines River flooding at Lyons?
No. The Des Plaines River at Lyons is at 11.4 ft, 4.6 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Lyons?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 16 ft, minor flooding 18 ft, moderate flooding 19 ft and major flooding 22 ft.
What is the highest the Des Plaines River has been at Lyons?
The highest crest on record is 22.87 ft, on 2013-04-18.
Is the Des Plaines River high or low right now at Lyons?
At 11.4 ft it is higher than 31% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge LYNI2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05532600). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.