River stage
Shelby, Kankakee River
- River level
- 6.17 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -1.54 ft
- Recent high
- 11.22 ft
- Recent low
- 4.70 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS SLBI3
- 30-day change
- +1.38 ft
- Average
- 7.13 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 13.04 ft
In brief
The Kankakee River at Shelby, IN read 6.17 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.33 ft below action stage. That is 1.38 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge SLBI3
Water 65 °F (18 °C) · 7 °F warmer than normal for this date · +1 °F in 24 hours
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.04 ft | 2008-09-18 |
| 2 | 12.98 ft | 1982-03-24 |
| 3 | 12.90 ft | 2015-06-16 |
| 4 | 12.63 ft | 2009-03-11 |
| 5 | 12.32 ft | 2005-01-14 |
| 6 | 12.25 ft | 1985-03-09 |
| 7 | 12.24 ft | 2011-04-29 |
| 8 | 12.23 ft | 1996-07-25 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 7.50 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks in forest land near the Illinois/Indiana state line.
- 9.00 ft
Low-lying agricultural land is inundated.
- 10.00 ft
Stateline Road is threatened near the river west of Schneider.
- 10.50 ft
Water overflows low-lying river banks along Bluegrass Road east of Sumava Resorts and along Westwood Drive and Island Boulevard near Shelby. Water begins to be diverted through the Blackberry Marsh Spillway to reduce flood impacts.
- 11.50 ft
Low-lying residences are threatened along Bluegrass Road east of Sumava Resorts and along Westwood Drive and Island Boulevard near Shelby.
- 12.00 ft
IN-55 is threatened south of the river. County Road 1200W/Range Line Road is threatened north of the river. County Road 1150N is threatened at Sumava Resorts.
- 12.50 ft
US-41 northbound is inundated south of the river. Multiple residences are threatened along Westwood Drive and Island Boulevard near Shelby.
- 13.00 ft
Water reaches the top of the levees in Sumava Resorts. Water reaches the top of levees near Shelby.
- 13.50 ft
Shelby levee overtops leading to potential inundation of numerous structures and roads. Widespread inundation of the floodplain may reach up to 4 miles from the river.
- 14.00 ft
US-41 southbound is threatened south of the river.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kankakee River flooding at Shelby?
No. The Kankakee River at Shelby is at 6.17 ft, 3.33 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Shelby?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 9.5 ft, minor flooding 10.5 ft, moderate flooding 11.5 ft and major flooding 12.5 ft.
What is the highest the Kankakee River has been at Shelby?
The highest crest on record is 13.04 ft, on 2008-09-18.
Is the Kankakee River high or low right now at Shelby?
At 6.17 ft it is higher than 35% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Shelby, Kankakee River?
The water temperature at Shelby, Kankakee River is 65 °F (18.4 °C), measured 7:15 pm by USGS, which is 7 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has risen 1.1 °F in the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge SLBI3); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05518000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.