Volunteer River Ice Spotter Network

The National Weather Service (NWS) Chicago/Rockford, IL, office uses information from volunteer spotters along area rivers to monitor the development of river ice which may lead to flooding. Ice jams are often localized and may occur away from river gauges. River ice spotters share important information such as extent of ice cover, ice cover trends, and location of ice jams which is very important for issuing timely warnings.

River ice can be a serious problem during some winters. Chronic ice jam locations on the Rock, Fox, and Kankakee Rivers have up to a 1-in-2 chance of experiencing an ice jam in any given year, and almost a 1-in-3 chance of experiencing ice jam flooding in a given year.
 

Qualifications

No special qualifications are required other than living near the river and a willingness to report river and ice conditions.

Reporting Ice Observations

A Google form is used to enter routine reports. For time-sensitive information such as ice jam formation, ice jam break-up, or flooding, we provide a non-public number to call. Reports are requested from all spotters at the same time - weekly on Monday from December through March. Reports are requested by 9AM. Reports may also be sent at other times especially when changes are observed in river ice.

How to Volunteer

For more information, contact the NWS Chicago office.

Email: nws.chicago@noaa.gov
Phone: 815-834-1435 or 815-963-5913

Reference/Training Materials

River Ice Guide

River Ice Spotter Training

Most Recent Weekly River Ice Summary

    
                        

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FGUS83 KLOT 091814

RVSLOT



Hydrologic Statement

National Weather Service Chicago IL

114 PM CDT Mon Mar 09 2026 /0201 PM EDT Mon Mar 09 2026/



Summary of recent river ice conditions based upon spotter reports.



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Forecaster Comments

Due to mild temperatures, no recent river ice has been reported across

the area.



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The following are river ice reports submitted to the

National Weather Service during the preceding 30 hours.



Kankakee River...



 *SR55

   Time: 2026/03/09 11:29 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-49

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Shelby, IN

   Time: 2026/03/09 12:13 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-45

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Wilmington Dam

   Time: 2026/03/09 12:16 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-06

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change



Rock River...



 *4 miles downstream IL 2

   Time: 2026/03/09 11:29 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-8

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Near Bauer Parkway near Machesney Park

   Time: 2026/03/09 13:17 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-02

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change



Des Plaines River...



 *Continental Bridge

   Time: 2026/03/09 13:13 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-28

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Ryerson Conservation Area

   Time: 2026/03/09 14:24 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Footbridge at Rte 60

   Time: 2026/03/09 16:39 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-10

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Old Rockland Rd, Libertyville

   Time: 2026/03/09 16:50 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-10

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Oak Spring Rd, Libertyville

   Time: 2026/03/09 16:58 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-10

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Rte 137, Libertyville

   Time: 2026/03/09 17:06 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-10

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Rte 120, Gurnee

   Time: 2026/03/09 17:20 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-10

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Riverside, downstream of Forest Avenue

   Time: 2026/03/09 13:30 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-34

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Washington St, Gurnee

   Time: 2026/03/09 17:32 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-10

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change



Fox River...



 *0.25 mi south of Main Street Carpentersville

   Time: 2026/03/09 13:48 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-01

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Rt 47 bridge Yorkville

   Time: 2026/03/09 12:04 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-36

   Open             (0% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Quickly



North Branch Chicago River...



 *Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve

   Time: 2026/03/09 14:03 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02

   Open             (0% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Quickly



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