Fox River Floods: When Will the Water Drop?

The Fox River is still swollen after last week’s heavy rains. A Chicago weather scientist says the water may settle back into its banks by mid‑next week, but only if no more big storms hit the area. He based this on a gauge in New Munster, Wisconsin, which topped 15 feet on Sunday and has been falling slowly. The river’s slow move south means it can take three or four days for lower gauges to see the crest. The weather service asks local residents and officials to report any changes on the ground because the river’s path can shift over time. If a home is bought out and turned into parkland, the flood line changes. Current readings show parts of the Chain O’ Lakes are in major flood stage and still rising a little each day. Fox Lake is just under the threshold but climbing. The highest level since July 2017 was eight feet; this week it’s at seven and a half, half a foot below that record.Downriver, the Stratton Lock and Dam’s tailwater hit major flood stage overnight. River Road near McHenry Dam was closed for a mile because of water over the road, and Rawson Bridge in Cary remains shut. The county sheriff warned people not to cross flooded bridges or ignore barricades. Nunda Township stopped its sandbag volunteer drive after a week of work. Water under the Algonquin dam is expected to keep rising until Thursday, reaching 12. 2 feet—again a major flood stage. Elgin has no official gauge, but staff at the water plant say the city stays below minor flood stage even as the river climbs. Minor versus major flood stages depend on how high a stretch of river rises and whether homes or businesses are affected. Some parkland in Elgin floods, but the town itself rarely does. The next gauge after Elgin is Montgomery, where water will stay at minor flood stage for several days. A long stretch of the river has no gauge because communities choose whether to fund them; if a town rarely sees damage, it may not pay for one.