River stage
Rockford, Rock River
- River level
- 2.83 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.15 ft
- Recent high
- 3.49 ft
- Recent low
- 2.22 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS RABI2
- 30-day change
- +0.05 ft
- Average
- 2.93 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 10.00 ft
In brief
The Rock River at Rockford, IL read 2.83 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 2.67 ft below action stage. That is 0.05 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge RABI2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.00 ft | 1881-04-20 |
| 2 | 7.80 ft | 1975-03-26 |
| 3 | 7.43 ft | 2019-03-18 |
| 4 | 7.39 ft | 2008-06-21 |
| 5 | 6.93 ft | 2013-04-20 |
| 6 | 6.80 ft | 1973-04-23 |
| 7 | 6.60 ft | 2018-10-07 |
| 8 | 6.37 ft | 2018-02-26 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 4.50 ft
Low-lying areas of Blackhawk Park are inundated in Rockford.
- 5.00 ft
Low-lying areas of Blackhawk Island are inundated south of Rockford. Low-lying areas of Field Gem Park are inundated south of Rockford.
- 5.50 ft
Low-lying sections of the Rock River Recreation Trail are threatened in Rockford. Riverview Mobile Home Park is threatened in Rockford.
- 6.50 ft
River Bluff Court and River Court are threatened in Loves Park. Marinelli Field is threatened in Blackhawk Park.
- 7.00 ft
Riverfront trails and park area threatened at Rockford Public Library.
- 7.50 ft
Parking lots are threatened along Madison Street in Rockford. Morgan Street and Nelson Boulevard are threatened in Rockford.
- 8.00 ft
Parking garage threatened at Rockford Public Library.
- 8.50 ft
Residences are threatened along River Bluff Court and River Court in Loves Park. Structures are threatened at Sinnissippi Gardens in Rockford including Nicholas Conservatory. Willoughby Terrace is threatened in Rockford.
- 9.00 ft
Residences are threatened along Nelson Boulevard in Rockford. Backwater causes Spring Creek to inundate low-lying areas of Anderson Gardens in Rockford.
- 9.50 ft
Numerous structures are threatened at the river in downtown Rockford and near Morgan Street and Loomis Street. Davis Park is threatened in downtown Rockford.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rock River flooding at Rockford?
No. The Rock River at Rockford is at 2.83 ft, 2.67 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Rockford?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 5.5 ft, minor flooding 6 ft, moderate flooding 8.5 ft and major flooding 10 ft.
What is the highest the Rock River has been at Rockford?
The highest crest on record is 10.0 ft, on 1881-04-20.
Is the Rock River high or low right now at Rockford?
At 2.83 ft it is higher than 36% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge RABI2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05437641). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.