River stage
Wilmington, Kankakee River
- River level
- 1.64 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.35 ft
- Recent high
- 4.59 ft
- Recent low
- 1.15 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS WLMI2
- 30-day change
- +0.45 ft
- Average
- 2.21 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 16.70 ft
In brief
The Kankakee River at Wilmington, IL read 1.64 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.36 ft below action stage. That is 0.45 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge WLMI2
Water 68 °F (20 °C) · 9 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.70 ft | 1887-01-01 |
| 2 | 16.70 ft | 1883-02-05 |
| 3 | 13.88 ft | 1968-01-30 |
| 4 | 13.18 ft | 2019-02-05 |
| 5 | 12.83 ft | 1985-02-25 |
| 6 | 12.78 ft | 1974-01-21 |
| 7 | 12.07 ft | 1979-03-08 |
| 8 | 12.00 ft | 2008-01-26 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 5.00 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks along the river near Wilmington.
- 6.50 ft
Roadways threatened at South Island Park in Wilmington.
- 7.00 ft
North River Road threatened near the Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area. Low-lying sections of Bird Park and Jeffers Park inundated in Kankakee. Roadways and athletic fields threatened at South Island Park and North Island Park inundated in Wilmington.
- 8.00 ft
Wilmington Water Treatment Plant property threatened. A few low-lying residences threatened along Widows Road northwest of Wilmington.
- 8.50 ft
Widows Road threatened near Wilmington Water Treatment Plant.
- 9.00 ft
Structures threatened along Water Street near Jeffers Park in Kankakee. Multiple residences threatened in Aroma Park. A few low-lying structures surrounded by water along Amber Lane, Readman Lane, and Cottage Road northwest of Wilmington. IL-53 threatened in Wilmington.
- 9.50 ft
Kennedy Drive threatened near the river and Court Street in Kankakee.
- 10.00 ft
Water treatment plant in Kankakee is threatened. Multiple businesses and residences threatened along Baltimore Street on Alden Island in Wilmington.
- 10.50 ft
Residences threatened along River Street in downtown Kankakee. Numerous residences threatened along Cobb Boulevard in eastern Kankakee. A few residences threatened along Water Street and Towpath Lane in Wilmington. Access road threatened at Milliken Lake in Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area.
- 11.50 ft
Washington Avenue/McMullen Drive threatened in downtown Kankakee. Bradley Water Treatment Plant property threatened.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kankakee River flooding at Wilmington?
No. The Kankakee River at Wilmington is at 1.64 ft, 3.36 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Wilmington?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 5 ft, minor flooding 6.5 ft, moderate flooding 8 ft and major flooding 10 ft.
What is the highest the Kankakee River has been at Wilmington?
The highest crest on record is 16.7 ft, on 1887-01-01.
Is the Kankakee River high or low right now at Wilmington?
At 1.64 ft it is higher than 27% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Wilmington, Kankakee River?
The water temperature at Wilmington, Kankakee River is 68 °F (20.3 °C), measured 6:45 pm by USGS, which is 9 °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 WLMI2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05527500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.