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
Most Recent Weekly River Ice Summary
630
FGUS83 KLOT 231821
RVSLOT
Hydrologic Statement
National Weather Service Chicago IL
1125 AM CST Mon Feb 23 2026 /1225 PM EST Mon Feb 23 2026/
Summary of recent river ice conditions based upon spotter reports.
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Forecaster Comments
Recent mild temperatures have led to a widespread, significant reduction in river ice across the region. Spotter reports and satellite imagery indicates that only isolated areas of river ice coverage remain in place.
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The following are river ice reports submitted to the
National Weather Service during the preceding 30 hours.
Du Page River...
*rt 52 DuPage River Bridge in Shorewood
Time: 2026/02/22 19:00 UTC | Source: Public (DU-07)
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
*Lincoln Greenway in Naperville, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 14:09 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DU-02
Open (5% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Quickly
Kankakee River...
*State Route 55 in Shelby, Indiana
Time: 2026/02/23 12:19 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-49
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
*Near Riverbend subdivision
Time: 2026/02/23 12:42 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-14
Open (0% ice cover)
*Wilmington Dam
Time: 2026/02/23 13:15 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-06
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
*2 miles downstream IL-17 Aroma Park, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 14:10 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-07
Open (0% ice cover)
*Phalen Acres in Wilmington, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 14:18 UTC | Source: Trained spotter kk-04
Open (0% ice cover)
*Beckman Park / KCC
Time: 2026/02/23 14:30 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-13
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
*Riverside Medical Center
Time: 2026/02/23 15:15 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-05
Open (0% ice cover)
Fox River...
*Downstream of Stolp Island in Aurora, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 12:19 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-05
Open (5% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly
*Aldis Park in West Dundee, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 12:57 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-17
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
*Near Main Street in Carpentersville
Time: 2026/02/23 13:32 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-01
Open (0% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly
*Bennett Park in Deneva, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 14:54 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-30
Partly Frozen (10% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly
*Route 47 Bridge in Yorkville, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 13:12 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-36
Open (5% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Quickly
Rock River...
*4 miles downstream IL 2
Time: 2026/02/23 12:34 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-8
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
*Near Ralston Road in Machesney Park, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 13:00 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-9
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
*1 mile Downstream of Ralston Road in Machesney Park, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 13:21 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-28
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
*Near Chicory Ridge Park in Roscoe, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 13:30 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-04
Open (0% ice cover)
*Near IL-2, Rockton
Time: 2026/02/23 13:49 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-13
Open (5% ice cover) No Change
*Near Bauer Parkway in Machesney Park, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 14:53 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-02
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
*Near Riverside Boulevard in Loves Park, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 15:02 UTC | Source: Trained spotter Rk-3
Open (0% ice cover) No Change
Vermilion River...
*County Highway 23, Oglesby
Time: 2026/02/23 13:01 UTC | Source: Trained spotter IL-02
Frozen Over (90% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
Des Plaines River...
*Continental Bridge at Half Day/Daniel Wright
Time: 2026/02/23 13:16 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-28
Open (5% ice cover) No Change
*BNSF trestle, Riverside
Time: 2026/02/23 14:40 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-34
Open (0% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly
*Ryerson Conservation Area
Time: 2026/02/23 15:07 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02
Open (5% ice cover) Forming Slowly
Illinois River...
*Highway 71 near Starved Rock State Park
Time: 2026/02/23 13:17 UTC | Source: Trained spotter IL-02
Partly Frozen (60% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
North Branch Chicago River...
*Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve in Highland Park, Illinois
Time: 2026/02/23 14:43 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
Little Calumet River...
*Northcote bridge
Time: 2026/02/23 14:51 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CL-01
Open (5% ice cover) Forming Slowly
$$
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