2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00
...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR IN AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE FOOTHILLS, BETWEEN 5500 AND 9000 FEET, FOR BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES ON FRIDAY... Strong west winds, sustained 45-55 mph with gusts upwards of 85- 105 mph, are expected in the foothills of Larimer, Boulder and Jefferson Counties beginning early Friday morning. Relative humidity values are expected to drop into the low teens, possibly upper single digits. While Red Flag conditions, critical fire weather, are expected across a larger area in northern Colorado, the most extreme conditions are expected to be along Highway 93 from Jefferson County into Boulder County and along US-36 north of Boulder to the Larimer County line and westward. There will be a high potential for fast moving wildfires, should any new starts occur. Winds toward I-25 and eastward will be slower to develop, and also speeds will be considerably lighter. That said, gusts of 25- 40 mph are still expected to combine with very low humidity and cured grasses to support critical fire weather conditions. Such conditions may be a longer duration than usual, with potential for low humidity to extend well into the evening hours. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238, 240, 241, 242 and 243. * TIMING...From 10 AM this morning to midnight MST tonight. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible west of I-25, and gusts to 40 mph possible along and east of I- 25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 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.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Skokie River
was last observed at
54
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
107
acre-ft of water today; about 310%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
17 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 32.8 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Skokie River, with a gauge stage of
3.52 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.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-19 |
| Discharge Volume | 107 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
53.9 cfs
+46.38 cfs (+616.76%) |
| Percent of Normal | 309.95% |
| Maximum |
1,980.0 cfs
2017-07-13 |
| Seasonal Avg | 17 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 |
21 cfs | 2.5 ft | 846.19 | |||||
|
Skokie River Near Highland Park
USGS 05535070 |
33 cfs | 3.52 ft | 520.04 |
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