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 091953

RVSLOT



Hydrologic Statement

National Weather Service Chicago IL

0144 PM CST Mon Feb 09 2026 /0244 PM EST Mon Feb 09 2026/



Summary of recent river ice conditions based upon spotter reports.



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Forecaster Comments



Warming temperatures have allowed for ice along rivers to begin breaking

and melting.



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The following are river ice reports submitted to the

National Weather Service during the preceding 30 hours.



Vermilion River...



 *Hwy 23 Bridge Oglesby

   Time: 2026/02/08 17:26 UTC | Source: Trained spotter IL-02

   Frozen Over      (90% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly



Illinois River...



 *Highway 71 near Starved Rock State Park

   Time: 2026/02/08 17:39 UTC | Source: Trained spotter IL-02

   Mostly Frozen    (85% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Allen Park Ottawa

   Time: 2026/02/08 17:50 UTC | Source: Trained spotter IL-02

   Mostly Frozen    (90% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *William G Stratton Park

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:51 UTC | Source: Trained spotter IL-01

   Open             (10% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly



Rock River...



 *Hononegah Forest Preserve

   Time: 2026/02/08 23:24 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-10

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *Near Ralston Road

   Time: 2026/02/09 10:48 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-9

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *4 miles downstream IL 2

   Time: 2026/02/09 12:28 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-8

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *Near Latham Bridge

   Time: 2026/02/09 13:49 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-11

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *Baldwin drive

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:28 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-28

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *Near Bauer Parkway

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:46 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-02

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *Near Riverside Boulevard

   Time: 2026/02/09 15:25 UTC | Source: Trained spotter Rk-3

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change



Kankakee River...



 *2 miles downstream IL-17 Aroma Park

   Time: 2026/02/09 12:17 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-07

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *State Route 55, Shelby

   Time: 2026/02/09 12:25 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-49

   Mostly Frozen    (85% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Wilmington Dam

   Time: 2026/02/09 12:45 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-06

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *Near River Bend Subdivision

   Time: 2026/02/09 13:22 UTC | Source: Public (KK14)

   Mostly Frozen    (70% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Highway 55 bridge in Shelby

   Time: 2026/02/09 13:28 UTC | Source: Public

   Mostly Frozen    (95% ice cover) No Change

 *Riverside Medical Center

   Time: 2026/02/09 13:28 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-05

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover)

 *One mile east of Momence

   Time: 2026/02/09 13:43 UTC | Source: Trained spotter Kk-03

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *Phelan Acres

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:31 UTC | Source: Trained spotter kk-04

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *Shelby

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:57 UTC | Source: Trained spotter kk-02

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Beckman Park / KCC

   Time: 2026/02/09 18:36 UTC | Source: Trained spotter Kk-13

   Frozen Over      (95% ice cover) No Change



Du Page River...



 *Lincoln Greenway

   Time: 2026/02/09 13:29 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DU-02

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Route 52 DuPage River Bridge in Shorewood

   Time: 2026/02/08 20:00 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DU-7

   Partly Frozen    (50% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly



Fox River...



 *Near Main Street in Carpentersville

   Time: 2026/02/09 13:36 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-01

   Mostly Frozen    (90% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Aldis Park

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:47 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-1

   Mostly Frozen    (85% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Route 47 bridge in Yorkville

   Time: 2026/02/09 13:11 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-36

   Mostly Frozen    (80% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *South End Park, West Dundee

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:17 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-02

   Mostly Frozen    (65% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly



Des Plaines River...



 *Continental Bridge near Lincolnshire

   Time: 2026/02/09 13:55 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-28

   Partly Frozen    (30% ice cover) No Change

 *Upstream of Ogden bridge

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:21 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-38

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change

 *BNSF trestle in Riverside

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:40 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-34

   Mostly Frozen    (50% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Ryerson Conservation Area

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:43 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02

   Partly Frozen    (50% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Quickly

 *Independence Grove canoe launch

   Time: 2026/02/09 15:44 UTC | Source: Public

   Partly Frozen    (15% ice cover) No Change



North Branch Chicago River...



 *Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:26 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change



Little Calumet River...



 *Northcote Bridge

   Time: 2026/02/09 14:46 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CL-01

   Open             (10% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Quickly



$$