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 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

    
                        

476

FGUS83 KLOT 171729 CCA

RVSLOT



HYDROLOGIC STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO

1129 AM CST MON FEB 17 2025



WEEKLY RIVER ICE CONDITIONS



REPORTED BY RIVER ICE SPOTTERS

ID        LOCATION            RIVER             ICE              PCT ICE

                              CONDITION         STATUS             COVER

CHICAGO RIVER...

CH-02     DEERFIELD           FROZEN OVER       NO CHANGE            100

          :PRAIRIE WOLF FOREST PRESERVE



CALUMET RIVER...

CL-01     MUNSTER             OPEN              ICE FORMING            0

          :NORTHCOTE AVENUE



SALT CREEK...

SL-02     BROOKFIELD          OPEN              ICE FORMING           10

          :WASHINGTON AVENUE



DES PLAINES RIVER...

DP-03     LINCOLNSHIRE        PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           60

          :RYERSON CONSERVATION AREA

DP-06     ELMWOOD PARK        OPEN              ICE FORMING           10

          :NORTH AVENUE

DP-28     VERNON HILLS        OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :HALF DAY FOREST PRESERVE

DP-34     RIVERSIDE           PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           20

          :DOWNSTREAM OF FOREST AVENUE



DU PAGE RIVER...

DU-02     NAPERVILLE          FROZEN OVER       ICE FORMING          100

          :LINCOLN GREENWAY

DU-03     SHOREWOOD           PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           80

          :SEIL ROAD

DU-11     CHANNAHON           PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           70

          :NEAR US-6

DU-07     SHOREWOOD           OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :NEAR US-52



FOX RIVER...

FX-01     CARPENTERSVILLE     FROZEN OVER       ICE FORMING           90

          :NEAR MAIN STREET

FX-02     WEST DUNDEE         FROZEN OVER       ICE FORMING           90

          :SOUTH END PARK

FX-05     AURORA              PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           30

          :DOWNSTREAM OF STOLP ISLAND

FX-16     MONTGOMERY          OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :MILL STREET

FX-17     WEST DUNDEE         PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           70

          :ALDIS PARK

FX-18     DAYTON              PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           10

          :DAYTON DAM

FX-40     AURORA              PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           30

          :SOUTH END OF STOLP ISLAND

FX-41     AURORA              FROZEN OVER       ICE FORMING           90

          :GREGORY ISLAND



ILLINOIS RIVER...No reports submitted.



KANKAKEE RIVER...

                              PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           40

          :

KK-02     SHELBY              OPEN              NO CHANGE              0

          :JUST DOWNSTREAM OF IN-55

KK-04     WILMINGTON          FROZEN OVER       ICE FORMING          100

          :PHELAN ACRES

KK-06     WILMINGTON          FROZEN OVER       ICE FORMING          100

          :WILMINGTON DAM

KK-07     AROMA PARK          PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           30

          :2 MILES DOWNSTREAM IL-17

KK-01     WILMINGTON          FROZEN OVER       ICE FORMING          100

          :2 MILES DOWNSTREAM IL-53

KK-14     KANKAKEE            OPEN              ICE FORMING           10

          :NEAR RIVER BEND SUBDIVISION

KK-43     SUN RIVER TERRACE     OPEN              NO CHANGE             10

          :NEAR IL-17

KK-47     CUSTER PARK         PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           50

          :NEAR WAUPONSEE GLACIAL TRAIL

KK-49     SHELBY              OPEN              NO CHANGE             10

          :JUST DOWNSTREAM OF IN-55



KISHWAUKEE RIVER...No reports submitted.



ROCK RIVER...

RK-02     MACHESNEY PARK      FROZEN OVER       ICE FORMING          100

          :NEAR BAUER PARKWAY

RK-04     ROSCOE              PARTLY FROZEN     ICE FORMING           50

          :NEAR CHICORY RIDGE PARK

RK-10     ROSCOE              OPEN              ICE FORMING           10

          :NEAR HONONEGAH FOREST PRESERVE

RK-11     MACHESNEY PARK      FROZEN OVER       NO CHANGE            100

          :NEAR RALSTON ROAD

RK-03     LOVES PARK          FROZEN OVER       NO CHANGE            100

          :NEAR RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD

RK-30     STERLING            OPEN              ICE FORMING          100

          :NEAR NELSON RAILROAD BRIDGE

RK-08     DIXON               FROZEN OVER       NO CHANGE            100

          :4 MILES DOWNSTREAM IL-2

RK-09     MACHESNEY PARK      FROZEN OVER       ICE FORMING           90

          :NEAR RALSTON ROAD





$$