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 021738

RVSLOT



Hydrologic Statement

National Weather Service Chicago IL

1106 AM CST Mon Mar 02 2026 /1206 PM EST Mon Mar 02 2026/



Summary of recent river ice conditions based upon spotter reports.



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Forecaster Comments

Recent mild temperatures have led to no widespread river ice.



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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: 2026/03/01 17:36 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DU-7

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Lincoln Greenway in Naperville, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 14:47 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DU-02

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change



Kankakee River...



 *Near IL-17 southwest of Sun River Terrace, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 01:00 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-43

   Open             (0% ice cover)

 *Hwy 55 bridge in Shelby, Indiana

   Time: 2026/03/02 12:39 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-45

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *2 miles upstream of IL-17 in Momence, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 12:52 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-03

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Wilmington Dam

   Time: 2026/03/02 13:00 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-06

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *State Route 55 in Shelby, Indiana

   Time: 2026/03/02 13:33 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-49

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change



Rock River...



 *Near Ralston Road in Machesney Park, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 10:23 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-9

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *4 miles downstream IL 2

   Time: 2026/03/02 11:55 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-8

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Near Chicory Ridge Park in Roscoe, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 13:18 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-04

   Open             (0% ice cover)

 *1 mile Downstream of Ralston Road in Machesney Park, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 13:45 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-28

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Near Bauer Parkway in Machesney Park, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 14:28 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-02

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change



Fox River...



 *Downstream of Stolp Island, in Aurora, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 12:44 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-05

   Open             (0% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Near Main Street Carpentersville

   Time: 2026/03/02 13:01 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-01

   Open             (0% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Aldis Park in West Dundee, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 13:55 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-17

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Route 47 Bridge in Yorkville, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 13:15 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-36

   Open             (0% ice cover)

 *South End Park, West Dundee, Illinois

   Time: 2026/03/02 14:05 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-02

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change



Des Plaines River...



 *Continental Bridge at Half Day/Daniel Wright

   Time: 2026/03/02 13:54 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-28

   Open             (0% ice cover) No Change

 *Ryerson Conservation Area

   Time: 2026/03/02 14:57 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02

   Open             (0% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly

 *Upstream of Ogden bridge

   Time: 2026/03/02 16:57 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-38

   Open             (5% ice cover) No Change



Little Calumet River...



 *Northcote Bridge

   Time: 2026/03/02 14:42 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CL-01

   Open             (0% ice cover) Melting or Breaking Slowly



North Branch Chicago River...



 *Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve

   Time: 2026/03/02 14:40 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02

   Frozen Over      (100% ice cover) No Change



Other rivers & streams...



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