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
960
FGUS83 KLOT 191850
RVSLOT
Hydrologic Statement
National Weather Service Chicago IL
1153 AM CST Mon Jan 19 2026 /1253 PM EST Mon Jan 19 2026/
Summary of recent river ice conditions based upon spotter reports.
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Forecaster Comments
Recent cold weather has caused a rapid increase in river ice cover
across the area. An ice jam has been reported near Dundee. Additional
ice jams are possible.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following are river ice reports submitted to the
National Weather Service during the preceding 30 hours.
Rock River...
*4 miles downstream IL 2
Time: 2026/01/18 13:17 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-08
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*Bergstrom Drive, near Machesney Park
Time: 2026/01/18 20:39 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-11
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*Queen Oaks Drive, Machesney Park
Time: 2026/01/19 09:32 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-9
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) No Change
*4 miles downstream IL 2
Time: 2026/01/19 12:59 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-8
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*NEAR CHICKEY RIDGE
Time: 2026/01/19 14:39 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-04
Partly Frozen (10% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Shore Drive, Machesney Park
Time: 2026/01/19 14:43 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Baldwin Drive, Machesney Park
Time: 2026/01/19 14:48 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-28
Mostly Frozen (85% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Near IL-2, Rockton
Time: 2026/01/19 16:03 UTC | Source: Trained spotter RK-13
Partly Frozen (15% ice cover) Forming Slowly
Vermilion River...
*County Highway 23, Oglesby
Time: 2026/01/18 20:20 UTC | Source: Trained spotter IL-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
Illinois River...
*Highway 71 Starved Rock State Park
Time: 2026/01/18 20:33 UTC | Source: Trained spotter IL-02
Mostly Frozen (75% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
Du Page River...
*US-52, Shorewood
Time: 2026/01/18 17:00 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DU-7
Partly Frozen (20% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Lincoln Greenway
Time: 2026/01/19 14:27 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DU-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
Fox River...
*Downstream of Stolp Island
Time: 2026/01/19 12:43 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-05
Open (10% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Fox River Park, Ottawa
Time: 2026/01/19 13:23 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-18
Frozen Over (100% ice cover)
*Aldis Park
Time: 2026/01/19 13:56 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-17
Mostly Frozen (75% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*0.25 mi south of Main Street Carpentersville
Time: 2026/01/19 14:16 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-01
Mostly Frozen (75% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*South End Park, West Dundee
Time: 2026/01/19 15:25 UTC | Source: Trained spotter FX-02
Ice Jam (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
Kankakee River...
*IN-55, Shelby
Time: 2026/01/19 12:50 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-45
Partly Frozen (50% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*2.5 miles southeast of Langham Island, Limestone
Time: 2026/01/19 13:11 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-14
Partly Frozen (35% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*Wilmington Dam
Time: 2026/01/19 13:41 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-06
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*2 miles east of Momence
Time: 2026/01/19 13:47 UTC | Source: Trained spotter Kk-03
Partly Frozen (50% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Muskie Lane, Wilmington
Time: 2026/01/19 13:59 UTC | Source: Trained spotter kk-04
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Custer Park
Time: 2026/01/19 14:10 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-47
Partly Frozen (35% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*Downstream from Route 55, Shelby
Time: 2026/01/19 14:17 UTC | Source: Trained spotter kk-02
Partly Frozen (40% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee
Time: 2026/01/19 14:31 UTC | Source: Trained spotter KK-05
Partly Frozen (20% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*2 miles downstream IL-17
Time: 2026/01/19 14:39 UTC | Source: Trained spotter kk-07
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*1.5 miles down stream from rt 53 bridge
Time: 2026/01/19 15:39 UTC | Source: Trained spotter Kk-1
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
North Branch Chicago River...
*Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve
Time: 2026/01/19 14:50 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02
Frozen Over (100% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
Des Plaines River...
*Ryerson Conservation Area
Time: 2026/01/19 15:10 UTC | Source: Trained spotter CH-02
Mostly Frozen (55% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*BNSF trestle, Riverside
Time: 2026/01/19 15:33 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-34
Open (15% ice cover) Forming Slowly
*Continental Bridge at Half Day/Daniel Wright
Time: 2026/01/19 17:29 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-28
Partly Frozen (45% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*Continental Bridge at Half Day/Daniel Wright
Time: 2026/01/19 17:35 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-28
Partly Frozen (45% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*Continental Bridge at Half Day/Daniel Wright
Time: 2026/01/19 17:38 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-28
Mostly Frozen (70% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
*Little Bridge trail
Time: 2026/01/19 17:44 UTC | Source: Trained spotter DP-28
Partly Frozen (50% ice cover) Forming Rapidly
$$
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