2026-02-16T18:00:00-07:00
...PROLONGED PERIOD OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EARLY TO MID NEXT WEEK... .Recent dry conditions combining with above normal temperatures and much stronger winds early next week will bring potentially critical fire weather conditions Monday and Tuesday, possibly lasting into Wednesday. There is potential for extreme fire weather conditions on Tuesday as widespread strong and gusty winds to around 60 mph are expected. The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Monday morning through Monday afternoon. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 216, 240, 241, 244, 245, 246, 247 and 249. * TIMING...For the first Fire Weather Watch, from late Monday morning through Monday afternoon. For the second Fire Weather Watch, from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. * WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph on Monday. On Tuesday, west winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts around 60 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 11 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire. There is potential for extreme fire weather conditions on Tuesday.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Skokie River
was last observed at
7
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
15
acre-ft of water today; about 33%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
22 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2017-07-13 when daily discharge volume was observed at
1,980 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Skokie River Near Highland Park
reporting a streamflow rate of 6.14 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Skokie River, with a gauge stage of
2.88 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Skokie River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 664 ft, the
Skokie River At Lake Forest.
15-Day Weather Outlook
River Details
| Last Updated | 2026-02-13 |
| Discharge Volume | 15 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
7.4 cfs
-1.27 cfs (-14.65%) |
| Percent of Normal | 33.07% |
| Maximum |
1,980.0 cfs
2017-07-13 |
| Seasonal Avg | 22 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Skokie River At Lake Forest
USGS 05535000 |
1 cfs | 1.96 ft | -43.5 | |||||
|
Skokie River Near Highland Park
USGS 05535070 |
6 cfs | 2.88 ft | -4.66 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Skokie River (or East Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River) is a 20-mile-long (32 km) river that flows through the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. It flows almost parallel to the shore of Lake Michigan, and historically discharged its outflow into that lake via the Chicago River. However, the construction of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in 1900 caused the drainage of the Chicago River, including its Skokie River tributary, to flow southwestward towards the Mississippi River.
The Skokie River rises from a flat area, historically a wetland, on the west side of the city of Waukegan. Flowing southward through the North Shore suburbs of Lake County, the river enters Cook County and discharges its flow into the North Branch of the Chicago River at Wilmette Golf Club between Morton Grove and Wilmette.
Skokie Ditch
Techny Reservoir
Wilmette Harbor
Beck Lake
Belleau Lake