Chicago, IL

Weather Forecast Office

March 2019 River Flooding

Overview

A combination of high soil moisture, frozen ground, quick snow melt, and rainfall caused major river flooding across the Rock River Basin of southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Crests occurred primarily during March 15-17 in the local area.

Several locations recorded the highest river levels in 11 years, with a couple locations seeing their highest levels in over 40 years. The Rock River at Latham Park reached the highest water level on record (preliminary), based upon continuous observations back to 2007 and intermittent observations back to the 1950s.

Winnebago County EMA estimated over 500 residential properties along the rivers in their county were affected by flooding (includes homes surrounded by water).

Ingredients
Rivers
Photos
Service
Additional

Ingredients for Major to Record Flooding


High Soil Moisture	Frozen Ground / Frost Depth


Significant Snow Cover	Rainfall

Snow Melt

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Rivers

NOTE: These are static images of the crests. For the latest river stages and forecasts, please see our AHPS Page.

Observed Stages (in blue) on the Rock River

Rockton Hydrograph	Latham Park Hydrograph	Rockford Hydrograph


Byron Hydrograph	Dixon Hydrograph

Observed Stages (in blue) on the Pecatonica River

Shirland Hydrograph

Photos


Rock River - Roscoe Road Looking West	Rock River - Country Club Beach Road, courtesy of Chief Pankow	Rock River - Industrial areas south of downtown Rockford, courtesy of Chief Pankow


Courtesy of Winnebago County, IL Sheriff	Courtesy of Winnebago County, IL Sheriff	Courtesy of Winnebago County, IL Sheriff


Courtesy of Winnebago County, IL Sheriff	Courtesy of Winnebago County, IL Sheriff	Courtesy of Winnebago County, IL Sheriff


Shirland, IL on the Pecatonica River. Courtesy of Winnebago County, IL Sheriff	Kishwaukee River flood impacts in Kishwaukee State Park. Courtesy of Joey Marino.

Service

The potential for flooding in these northern Illinois basins, as well as into Wisconsin and other Midwest basins, increased during the late winter. As this potential grew, NWS offices coordinated to issue outlooks, statements, and other messages of increasing flooding risk. Some of this is provided below.

Timeline:

Spring Flood Outlook #1 - February 21, 2019
Spring Flood Outlook #2 - March 7, 2019
Hydrologic Outlook for Rock and Fox River Basins - March 11, 2019
Flood Warning first issued for the Shirland River at Pectaonica - March 11, 2019
Daily NWS Situation Report for river flooding issued to partners and our web page - Daily beginning March 12, 2019
Flood Warning first issued for the Rock River at Byron, Latham Park - March 12, 2019
Flood Warning first issued for the Rock River at Rockton and Rockford - March 13, 2019

Weather Story Graphics Issued in Advance of Flooding

March 12	March 13	March 14	March 15

Additional

Satellite View Showing Swollen River

Image from MODIS taken March 19

Northwest Illinois (NWS Quad Cities)
Central Illinois (NWS Central Illinois)
Southern Wisconsin (NWS Milwaukee)
Northern Indiana (NWS Northern Indiana)
Central Indiana (NWS Indianapolis)
NWS Chicago Science & Past Events Page (NWS Chicago)

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Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site.

Additional recaps can be found on the NWS Chicago Past Events Page