Lake Conditions
Illustrated map of Lake Michigan at Chicago

Lake levels

Fox Lake, IL

gauge height
4.13 ft
Condition
About average for this time of year
7-day change
-0.62 ft
30-day change
+0.03 ft
1-year change
+0.10 ft

Reading as of 2026-10-12 | the U.S. Geological Survey

Since yesterday
-0.06 ft
7-day change
-0.62 ft
30-day change
+0.03 ft
1-year change
+0.10 ft
Record high
8.01 ft

In brief

Fox Lake's gauge read 4.13 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 59% of October readings since 1993.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Gauge height above a local reference point; not elevation above sea level.

Lake level timeline

3.84.24.65.05.3SEP 12SEP 17SEP 22SEP 27OCT 02OCT 07OCT 12HIGH 5.16LOW 4.004.13 ft

Records and averages

Current level4.13 ft
Record high8.01 ft (2017-07-17)
Record low2.14 ft (2005-12-22)
Average of all readings3.89 ft
Data span32 years (11,533 readings)

Level schematic

1.913.495.076.668.24PUBLISHED HIGH 8.01 ft4.13 ftPUBLISHED LOW 2.14 ft

Frequently asked questions

Is Fox Lake full right now?

As of 2026-10-12, Fox Lake sits at 4.13 ft, which is about average for this time of year. Over the past 30 days the level has risen 0.03 ft.

What is the water level at Fox Lake today?

The most recent reading at Fox Lake is 4.13 ft (2026-10-12), sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings on this page refresh automatically as the agency publishes new data.

What is the highest Fox Lake has ever been?

The highest level for Fox Lake in our records is 8.01 ft on 2017-07-17. The lowest is 2.14 ft on 2005-12-22. Our record covers about 32 years of readings.

Is Fox Lake low for this time of year?

Compared with every October in our records, the current level is higher than 41% of them, which we classify as about average for this time of year. Seasonal comparison matters more than the raw number, because most reservoirs draw down predictably through late summer and refill over winter and spring.

Why is Fox Lake low right now?

Reservoir levels move for four main reasons: rainfall and runoff into the basin, releases through the dam for downstream water supply, power generation or flood control, evaporation during hot months, and seasonal drawdown schedules set by the operating agency. Fox Lake has risen 0.03 ft over the past 30 days. For the operational reason on any given week, check the U.S. Geological Survey directly.

How much has Fox Lake changed over the past year?

Fox Lake is +0.10 ft compared with this date last year (4.13 ft today). The full-history chart above covers 32 years, with a record high of 8.01 ft and a record low of 2.14 ft.

Download and cite

Quote this reading

Fox Lake's gauge read 4.13 feet on Oct 12, 2026. That is lower than 59% of October readings since 1993.

From the U.S. Geological Survey, updated daily. The sentence changes with every new reading, so quote it with its date.

Download the full record

fox-lake-il-water-level-history.csv

11,533 readings, Oct 20, 1993 to Oct 12, 2026. Daily readings. The longest gap since then is 75 days, from Dec 6, 2010. Columns: date, gauge_height_ft. 191 KB.

How to cite

MyWaterLevel, “Fox Lake water level, 1993 to 2026,” data from U.S. Geological Survey, https://mywaterlevel.com/lake/il/fox-lake/, accessed Oct 13, 2026.

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Source: the U.S. Geological Survey. All Illinois lake levels. Readings are provisional and may be revised. About our data and methods.