National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Fresh Snow and Temperature Outlook Ahead of Christmas Day

If you are looking for fresh snow by Christmas morning or are curious about potential travel disruptions, the best chances for at least 1" of new snowfall early this week exist across the mountainous West, Great Lakes, and Northeast. Otherwise, temperatures this last full week of December will average above normal for much of the lower 48 states. Read More >

Major River Basins

 

A map of the major river basins in the NWS Chicago hydrologic services area

Several major river basins are within the NWS Chicago hydrologic service area. The large Illinois River Basin (dark gray) includes several smaller river basins, including the Fox (green), the Des Plaines (yellow), the Kankakee (orange), and the Vermilion (red). Headwaters of the Illinois River Basin are in southeast Wisconsin, northeast Illinois, and northwest Indiana. The Chicago River basin (light gray) once drained into Lake Michigan, but due to human alterations, most of its water is diverted into the Illinois River via the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

The Rock River Basin (blue) headwaters are in southern Wisconsin.

The Calumet River Basin (purple) covers the southern sections of the Chicago metro area. The Calumet River once drained into Lake Michigan, but due to human alterations, some of its water is diverted into the Illinois River via the Calumet-Saganashkee Canal and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

The Vermilion River Basin (red) covers a small portion of central Illinois between Chicago and Peoria.

Rock River Basin Fox River Basin Des Plaines River Basin Kankakee River Basin

More Information

 


Terrain

 

A map showing the elevation of the NWS Chicago hydrologic services area

The terrain of area river basins has been heavily affected by recent ice ages and the presence of glaciers. Most of the area, especially toward the southeast, has relatively flat terrain with small areas of hilly terrain at locations that were once edges of the glaciers (called moraines). Some rivers, such as the Calumet or the Chicago, flow in between glacial moraines.

Elevations range from about 580 feet near Lake Michigan to 440 feet near the Illinois River in LaSalle to near 1200 feet in Winnebago County.

 


Land Cover

 

The land cover of the area has changed dramatically since before the widespread settlement of the area in the 1800s. The area was once mostly covered with prairie, forest, and wetlands (below, left). Numerous large wetlands were present, including the Grand Kankakee Marsh in northwest Indiana, the Inlet Swamp in Lee & Ogle Counties at the headwaters of the Green River, the Winnebago Swamp along the Green River in Lee and Bureau Counties, and the Vermillion Swamp covering portions of Livingston, Ford, and Iroquois Counties at the headwaters of the Vermilion River. Today, much of the land has been altered by humans to support agricultural and large urbanized areas (below, right). Small areas of forest and wetland remain, mostly near rivers and streams. The significant changes to area land cover including the removal of large marshes impacted the hydrology of area rivers in ways that are still noticed today.

 

1800s 2011
  • A map showing land cover of area river basins in the early 1800s
  • A map showing land cover of area river basins in 2011
A legend for the land cover maps

 


Population

 

A map showing the population of the NWS Chicago hydrologic services area

Population density (below, right) is highest in the Chicago Metropolitan Area near Lake Michigan, and in the Rockford area. Other areas are generally more rural with agricultural land uses.

 

 

NOTE: Population data is "ambient population" - the average location of persons throughout the 24-hr day. Data was last updated in 2010.


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Rock River Basin Fox River Basin Des Plaines River Basin Kankakee River Basin