Kress Creek At West Chicago flow report
As of July 13, 2026, Kress Creek At West Chicago is flowing at 14 cfs with a gage height of 4.31 ft, receding 27% over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #05540060, refreshed throughout the day.
Historical Data
Kress Creek At West Chicago at a glance
How Kress Creek At West Chicago is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.
Kress Creek At West Chicago is flowing at 14 cfs, with the water sitting 4.31 ft at the gage. Flow is down 27% since yesterday as the gauge recedes.
This is USGS gauge #05540060 in Illinois. Over the past 10 days the average has been 93 cfs, peaking at 211 cfs.
Over the next 5 days, Kress Creek At West Chicago is expected to recede from today's 20 cfs, toward roughly 13 cfs by 2026-07-17 (likely range 4-38 cfs) -- drier than normal for the date.
For real-time updates and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other gauges in the Illinois flow report.
Streamflow Forecast
Powered by PULSE — Snoflo’s Predictive Unified Learning & Simulation Engine, which learns from how this river has answered every past storm, snowmelt, and dry spell to forecast where it’s headed with a precision generic models can’t match.
How does this compare to past years?
Year-over-year overlay, annual peak discharge, the full distribution of daily flows on record, and the gauge's rating curve.
Weather Forecast
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day forecast
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Kress Creek At West Chicago
The watershed is predominantly urbanized and includes several small tributaries that contribute flow to the Kress Creek, including Winfield Creek and Illinois Prairie Path Creek. The stream gauge shows considerable seasonal variation, with peak flows occurring in the spring due to snowmelt and precipitation, and low flows in the summer and fall. There are no major dams on the Kress Creek, but the stream gauge does measure several smaller control structures. One interesting fact about the hydrology of the Kress Creek is that it is part of the larger Chicago Area Waterway System, which connects the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River.
Nearby streamflow levels
Cross-check Kress Creek At West Chicago's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.
| Gauge | Streamflow |
|---|---|
| Kress Creek At West Chicago | 14 cfs |
| Spring Bk At Forest Preserve Nr Warrenville | 12 cfs |
| West Br Du Page River Near Warrenville | 73 cfs |
| W Branch Du Page River Nr West Chicago | 40 cfs |
| Mill Creek Near Batavia | 25 cfs |
| St. Joseph Creek At U.S. Route 34 At Lisle | 4 cfs |
Nearby snowpack data
Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near Kress Creek At West Chicago. Spring snowmelt is the dominant driver of streamflow in mountain basins -- a deep snowpack upstream means more runoff later in the season.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack |
|---|---|
| Dupage Airport | 0 in |
| Batavia | 0 in |
| Batavia 0.7 Wsw | 0 in |
| North Aurora 1.5 Ne | 0 in |
| Naperville 1.1 Nw | 0 in |
| Batavia 1.3 Wnw | 0 in |
Plan a trip
Reservoirs, boat launches, river runs, and fishing spots within driving distance of Kress Creek At West Chicago.
Boat launches
See all →
River levels & flood safety
- Read the level before you go
- A river that's runnable at one flow can be deadly at another. Check current discharge and gage height — like the values shown above — against the flood-stage thresholds, and remember levels can spike fast after rain or a dam release.
- Respect cold water
- Snowmelt rivers run cold even in summer. Sudden immersion triggers cold-water shock and saps strength within minutes. Wear a PFD, dress for the water temperature (not the air), and never wade or paddle alone.
- Watch for swiftwater hazards
- Strainers (downed trees), undercut rocks, and low-head dams are the deadliest features on moving water. High, fast, muddy water hides them. If in doubt, scout from shore and portage.
- Mind flash floods & releases
- Narrow canyons can flood from a storm miles upstream, and dam-controlled reaches can rise without warning. Know the forecast, the release schedule, and your exit before you launch.
Track Kress Creek At West Chicago in the Snoflo app
Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Kress Creek At West Chicago crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About Kress Creek At West Chicago
Where does the streamflow data for Kress Creek At West Chicago come from?
Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 05540060. Snoflo refreshes the time series throughout the day. Forecasts come from the NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
USGS gauges report continuously (typically every 15 minutes). Snoflo pulls fresh values throughout the day — look for the "as of" timestamp on the streamflow hero card.
What's the difference between discharge and gage height?
Discharge (cubic feet per second, or cfs) is the volume of water flowing past the gauge each second. Gage height is how high the water sits at the gauge (feet). They're related by a rating curve specific to each gauge — higher water means more flow, but the exact ratio depends on channel shape.
How is "percent of median" calculated?
Today's discharge is compared to the historical median discharge on this calendar day across the gauge's full record. 100% = right on median; 200% = a very high year; 30% = a drought-level low.
What are flood stages, and is this river safe right now?
Flood stages are NWS-defined gage-height thresholds — Action, Minor, Moderate, Major — marking when nearby roads or floodplains start to be affected. "Safe" depends on your activity and skill: a level that's a fun paddle for an expert can be lethal for a wader. Always check the current level against the thresholds above and the safety links, and when in doubt, stay off the water.
Can I get alerts when Kress Creek At West Chicago rises?
Yes — flow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this gauge, set a streamflow threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 5,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
Access the free Kress Creek At West Chicago report
Create your free account to track this river — and everything else you love on the water.
- Flow alerts — get pinged the moment this river hits your range
- Save favorites — every river, lake & snowpack in one place
- Full history & forecasts — plus the free iPhone app