National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

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

    
                        
096
FGUS83 KLOT 031556
RVSLOT

HYDROLOGIC STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO
0933 AM CST MON FEB 03 2025

WEEKLY RIVER ICE CONDITIONS

REPORTED BY RIVER ICE SPOTTERS
ID LOCATION RIVER ICE PCT ICE
CONDITION STATUS COVER
CHICAGO RIVER...
CH-02 DEERFIELD OPEN ICE MELTING 10
:PRAIRIE WOLF FOREST PRESERVE

CALUMET RIVER...
CL-01 MUNSTER OPEN ICE MELTING 0
:NORTHCOTE AVENUE

SALT CREEK...
SL-02 BROOKFIELD OPEN ICE MELTING 0
:WASHINGTON AVENUE

DES PLAINES RIVER...
DP-03 LINCOLNSHIRE OPEN ICE MELTING 0
:RYERSON CONSERVATION AREA
DP-06 ELMWOOD PARK OPEN ICE MELTING 0
:NORTH AVENUE
DP-28 VERNON HILLS OPEN ICE MELTING 0
:HALF DAY FOREST PRESERVE
DP-34 RIVERSIDE OPEN ICE MELTING 0
:DOWNSTREAM OF FOREST AVENUE

DU PAGE RIVER...
DU-03 SHOREWOOD OPEN NO CHANGE 0
:SEIL ROAD
OPEN NO CHANGE 0
:

FOX RIVER...
FX-01 CARPENTERSVILLE OPEN ICE MELTING 10
:NEAR MAIN STREET
FX-10 MILLINGTON ICE JAM NO CHANGE 90
:BRIDGE STREET
FX-16 MONTGOMERY OPEN NO CHANGE 30
:MILL STREET
FX-17 WEST DUNDEE OPEN ICE MELTING 10
:ALDIS PARK
FX-18 DAYTON OPEN ICE MELTING 0
:DAYTON DAM
FX-36 YORKVILLE PARTLY FROZEN ICE MELTING 40
:IL-47
FX-40 AURORA PARTLY FROZEN ICE MELTING 20
:SOUTH END OF STOLP ISLAND
FX-41 AURORA FROZEN OVER ICE MELTING 90
:GREGORY ISLAND

ILLINOIS RIVER...

KANKAKEE RIVER...
KK-04 WILMINGTON FROZEN OVER ICE MELTING 100
:PHELAN ACRES
KK-06 WILMINGTON PARTLY FROZEN ICE MELTING 70
:WILMINGTON DAM
KK-07 AROMA PARK FROZEN OVER ICE MELTING 90
:2 MILES DOWNSTREAM IL-17
KK-47 CUSTER PARK PARTLY FROZEN ICE MELTING 50
:NEAR WAUPONSEE GLACIAL TRAIL
KK-49 SHELBY OPEN ICE MELTING 10
:JUST DOWNSTREAM OF IN-55

KISHWAUKEE RIVER...

ROCK RIVER...
RK-02 MACHESNEY PARK FROZEN OVER NO CHANGE 100
:NEAR BAUER PARKWAY
RK-04 ROSCOE PARTLY FROZEN ICE MELTING 20
:NEAR CHICORY RIDGE PARK
RK-03 LOVES PARK PARTLY FROZEN ICE MELTING 90
:NEAR RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD
RK-30 STERLING PARTLY FROZEN ICE MELTING 70
:NEAR NELSON RAILROAD BRIDGE
RK-08 DIXON FROZEN OVER NO CHANGE 100
:4 MILES DOWNSTREAM IL-2
RK-09 MACHESNEY PARK FROZEN OVER NO CHANGE 100
:NEAR RALSTON ROAD


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