River stage
Russell, Des Plaines River
- River level
- 4.46 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -2.32 ft
- Recent high
- 9.28 ft
- Recent low
- 3.31 ft
Last reported 2026-10-14 | NWS RUSI2
- 30-day change
- +0.00 ft
- Average
- 5.51 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 12.11 ft
In brief
The Des Plaines River at Russell, IL read 4.46 ft on Oct 14, 2026, 2.04 ft below action stage. That is unchanged from 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge RUSI2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.11 ft | 2017-07-14 |
| 2 | 11.09 ft | 2004-05-23 |
| 3 | 10.75 ft | 1986-09-27 |
| 4 | 10.75 ft | 1976-03-06 |
| 5 | 10.51 ft | 2007-08-24 |
| 6 | 10.48 ft | 2019-09-15 |
| 7 | 10.31 ft | 1978-08-21 |
| 8 | 10.01 ft | 2009-06-21 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 7.00 ft
Low-lying wetlands and agricultural land is inundated near the river.
- 8.00 ft
Agricultural and park land is inundated near the river. Residential property is threatened near the river.
- 9.50 ft
Residential structures threatened along Russell Road between the river and Kilbourne Road. Industrial parking lots threatened along Kilbourne Road.
- 12.00 ft
Residential structures threatened along Ingram Drive. Russell Road threatened. Roadways and trails threatened at Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve.
- 12.50 ft
Rosecrans Road (IL-173) threatened near Wadsworth.
- 13.00 ft
Skokie Highway (US-41) threatened south of Wadsworth Road in Wadsworth. Widespread inundation reaches up to a half mile from the river in Russell and Wadsworth.
- 13.50 ft
Wadsworth Road threatened in Wadsworth.
- 15.00 ft
Kilbourne Road threatened. Commercial parking lots threatened along Dilleys Road.
- 16.00 ft
Commercial parking lots threatened along Skokie Highway (US-41).
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Des Plaines River flooding at Russell?
No. The Des Plaines River at Russell is at 4.46 ft, 2.04 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Russell?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 6.5 ft, minor flooding 7 ft, moderate flooding 9 ft and major flooding 10 ft.
What is the highest the Des Plaines River has been at Russell?
The highest crest on record is 12.11 ft, on 2017-07-14.
Is the Des Plaines River high or low right now at Russell?
At 4.46 ft it is higher than 18% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge RUSI2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05527800). Last reading 2026-10-14. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.