River stage
Watts, Illinois River
- River level
- 2.17 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.17 ft
- Recent high
- 7.89 ft
- Recent low
- 1.79 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS WTTO2
- 30-day change
- +0.09 ft
- Average
- 2.69 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 30.12 ft
In brief
The Illinois River at Watts, OK read 2.17 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 10.83 ft below action stage. That is 0.09 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge WTTO2
Water 74 °F (23 °C) · 8 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30.12 ft | 2017-04-30 |
| 2 | 28.64 ft | 2015-12-28 |
| 3 | 28.60 ft | 2011-04-26 |
| 4 | 27.50 ft | 2022-05-05 |
| 5 | 25.96 ft | 1960-07-25 |
| 6 | 25.19 ft | 2011-05-24 |
| 7 | 25.08 ft | 1990-05-03 |
| 8 | 24.73 ft | 2008-03-19 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 13.00 ft
minor flooding occurs from the Arkansas border to near Fidler's Bend. Extreme turbulence makes the river unsafe for floating.
- 15.00 ft
minor flooding occurs from the Arkansas border to near Fidler's Bend. Permanent campgrounds are affected. Extreme turbulence makes the river unsafe for floating.
- 17.00 ft
moderate flooding occurs from the Arkansas border to Fidler's Bend. Farmlands and permanent campgrounds are affected. A few cabins in the Fidler's Bend area may have minor flooding. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
- 19.00 ft
moderate flooding occurs from the Arkansas border to Fidler's Bend. Farmlands and permanent campgrounds are affected. Several cabins in the Fidler's Bend area may be flooded. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
- 21.00 ft
severe flooding occurs from the Arkansas border to Fidler's Bend. Water will reach the base of the building at River Valley Raceway. Farmlands and permanent campgrounds are inundated. Numerous cabins in the Fidler's Bend area are flooded. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
- 23.00 ft
very severe flooding occurs from the Arkansas border to Fidler's Bend. The permanent building at River Valley Raceway is flooded to a depth of a couple of feet. Numerous cabins in the Fidler's Bend area are flooded to a depth of several feet. This is a very dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 25.00 ft
very severe flooding occurs from the Arkansas border to Fidler's Bend. Severe flooding of the River Valley Raceway, including the permanent building, occurs. Many cabins in the Fidler's Bend area are severely flooded. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 27.00 ft
disastrous flooding occurs from the Arkansas border to Fidler's Bend. Many permanent campgrounds and cabins are overtopped, particularly in the Fidler's Bend area. River Valley Raceway is inundated by several feet. This will approach the floods of record of 28.6 feet that occurred December 28, 2015 and April 26, 2011. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 29.00 ft
disastrous flooding occurs from the Arkansas border to Fidler's Bend. Many permanent campgrounds and cabins are overtopped, particularly in the Fidler's Bend area. River Valley Raceway is inundated by several feet, with water approaching the roof of the permanent building. This exceeds the floods of record of 28.6 feet that occurred December 28, 2015 and April 26, 2011. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Illinois River flooding at Watts?
No. The Illinois River at Watts is at 2.17 ft, 10.83 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Watts?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 13 ft, minor flooding 13 ft, moderate flooding 17 ft and major flooding 23 ft.
What is the highest the Illinois River has been at Watts?
The highest crest on record is 30.12 ft, on 2017-04-30.
Is the Illinois River high or low right now at Watts?
At 2.17 ft it is higher than 43% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Watts, Illinois River?
The water temperature at Watts, Illinois River is 74 °F (23.2 °C), measured 7:30 pm by USGS, which is 8 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has held steady over the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge WTTO2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 07195500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.