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 1st through March 31st. 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, see the Volunteer River Ice Spotter Network flyer, or 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 041807

RVSLOT



HYDROLOGIC STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO

0928 AM CST MON MAR 04 2024



WEEKLY RIVER ICE CONDITIONS



REPORTED BY RIVER ICE SPOTTERS

ID        LOCATION            RIVER             ICE              PCT ICE

                              CONDITION         STATUS             COVER

CHICAGO RIVER...



LITTLE CALUMET RIVER...



DES PLAINES RIVER...

DP-06     ELMWOOD PARK        OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :NORTH AVENUE

DP-31     DES PLAINES         OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :MINER STREET



DU PAGE RIVER...

DU-02     NAPERVILLE          OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :LINCOLN GREENWAY



FOX RIVER...

FX-01     CARPENTERSVILLE     OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :NEAR MAIN STREET

FX-16     MONTGOMERY          OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :MILL STREET



ILLINOIS RIVER...

IL-02     OTTAWA              OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :STARVED ROCK STATE PARK 2 MILES UPSTREAM STARVED ROCK DAM



KANKAKEE RIVER...

KK-04     WILMINGTON          OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :PHELAN ACRES

KK-06     WILMINGTON          OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :WILMINGTON DAM

KK-07     AROMA PARK          OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :2 MILES DOWNSTREAM IL-17

KK-45     SHELBY              OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :NEAR IN-55

KK-49     SHELBY              OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :NEAR IN-55



KYTE CREEK...



KISHWAUKEE RIVER...



NIPPERSINK CREEK...



ROCK RIVER...

RK-04     ROSCOE              OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :NEAR CHICORY RIDGE PARK

RK-02     MACHESNEY PARK      OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :NEAR BAUER PARKWAY

RK-08     DIXON               OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :4 MILES DOWNSTREAM IL-2



SALT CREEK...

SL-02     BROOKFIELD          OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :WASHINGTON AVENUE





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