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
044
FGUS83 KLOT 021940
RVSLOT
Hydrologic Statement
National Weather Service Chicago IL
0140 PM CST Mon Feb 02 2026 /0240 PM EST Mon Feb 02 2026/
Summary of recent river ice conditions based upon spotter reports.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Forecaster Comments
River ice coverage remains high in many areas along area rivers.
However, there have been no recent reports of ice jams or ice
jam-related flooding.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following are river ice reports submitted to the
National Weather Service during the preceding 30 hours.
Rock River...
*Near Hononegah Forest Preserve
Time: 2026/02/02 03:31 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-10
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*Near Chicory Ridge Park, Roscoe
Time: 2026/02/02 04:44 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-04
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*Just downstream of Ralston Road, Machesney Park
Time: 2026/02/02 10:53 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-9
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*4 miles downstream of IL-2 northeast of Dixon
Time: 2026/02/02 12:30 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-8
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*.25 miles south of Latham Bridge
Time: 2026/02/02 13:22 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-11
Frozen Over (95% ice cover) No Change
*Just upstream of Riverside Boulevard, Loves Park
Time: 2026/02/02 15:07 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-3
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*Just upstream of Bauer Parkway, Machesney Park
Time: 2026/02/02 15:39 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
Kankakee River...
*Rt 1-17 and Momence bridge
Time: 2026/02/02 01:03 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-43
Frozen Over (95% ice cover) No Change
*Route 55 bridge at Shelby
Time: 2026/02/02 12:46 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-45
Frozen Over (95% ice cover) No Change
*Near River Bend Subdivision, downstream of Kankakee
Time: 2026/02/02 13:09 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-14
Mostly Frozen (85% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*1 mile downstream from Route 55 bridge in Shelby
Time: 2026/02/02 13:15 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee
Time: 2026/02/02 13:31 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-05
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*1 mile east of Momence
Time: 2026/02/02 13:58 UTC | Source: Trained spotter Kk-03
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*2 miles downstream IL-17, Aroma Park
Time: 2026/02/02 13:56 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-07
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*Near Beckman Park, Kankakee
Time: 2026/02/02 14:14 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-13
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*Momence Dam/Channel
Time: 2026/02/02 14:55 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-32
Frozen Over (95% ice cover) No Change
*Phelan Acres, downstream of Wilmington
Time: 2026/02/02 15:30 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-04
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*Just downstream of Route 55 bridge in Shelby
Time: 2026/02/02 15:46 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-49
Mostly Frozen (90% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Wilmington Dam
Time: 2026/02/02 16:54 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-06
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Downstream of Lorenzo railroad bridge, near Kankakee Conservation Area boat launch
Time: 2026/02/02 14:00 UTC | Source: Will County EMA
Frozen Over (90% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly
Fox River...
*Downstream of Stolp Island
Time: 2026/02/02 12:19 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-05
Partly Frozen (35% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Jefferson Street, Ottawa
Time: 2026/02/02 13:26 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-18
Frozen Over (100% ice cover)
*Mill Street, Montgomery
Time: 2026/02/02 13:30 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-16
Partly Frozen (25% ice cover) No Change
*Rt 47 bridge in Yorkville
Time: 2026/02/02 14:04 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-36
Mostly Frozen (80% ice cover)
*South End Park, West Dundee
Time: 2026/02/02 14:15 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-02
Frozen Over (90% ice cover) No Change
*0.25 mi south of Main Street, Carpentersville
Time: 2026/02/02 14:55 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-01
Mostly Frozen (90% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly
*Bennett Park, Geneva
Time: 2026/02/02 14:59 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-30
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
Illinois River...
*Stratton Park, Morris
Time: 2026/02/02 14:06 UTC | Source: Trained spotter IL-01
Mostly Frozen (80% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly
Du Page River...
*Gartner Road, Naperville
Time: 2026/02/02 14:14 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DU-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
Des Plaines River...
*Continental Bridge, Wright Forest Preserve, Lincolnshire
Time: 2026/02/02 14:12 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-28
Partly Frozen (20% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly
*Upstream of Ogden Avenue, Riverside
Time: 2026/02/02 14:24 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-38
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*BNSF railroad bridge, Riverside
Time: 2026/02/02 14:39 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-34
Mostly Frozen (80% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Ryerson Conservation Area
Time: 2026/02/02 14:45 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
North Branch Chicago River...
*Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve
Time: 2026/02/02 14:27 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
Little Calumet River...
*Northcote Bridge
Time: 2026/02/02 14:53 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CL-01
Mostly Frozen (80% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly
$$
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