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Overview
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| Hydrograph of the Kankakee River near Wilmington, IL from the afternoon of Saturday, January 27. The river remained in major flood stage at this location for several days after the ice jam developed before the ice jam broke up the evening of January 26th and water levels subsided significantly. | The Flash Flood Warning that was issued along the Kankakee River near Wilmington on the morning of Thursday, January 25th to highlight the risk of a rapid and sudden rise in water levels and flash flooding as a result of the break up of an ice jam. |
For detailed information about this event, see The Wilmington Area Ice Jam on the Lower Kankakee River During January 2024, a NWS Technical Paper which details the development and break-up of this ice jam, and the related impacts.
Ice Jam and Flooding Reports
Below is a listing of ice jam and flooding reports processed by the National Weather Service over the course of this event. Reports are listed in reverse chronological order.
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0130 PM Ice Jam 1 ENE Ottawa 41.36N 88.83W
01/27/2024 La Salle IL Emergency Mngr
Ice jam reported by the LaSalle County EMA
at the Route 6 bridge on the Fox River in
Ottawa. Some water and ice chunks spilled
out of the rivers banks near the Saint
Elizabeth Medical Center.
1150 AM Flood 1 ESE Wilmington 41.30N 88.13W
01/26/2024 Will IL Emergency Mngr
Kahler Road closed east of Wilmington due to
flooding, likely from Forked Creek.
1150 AM Flood Wilmington 41.31N 88.15W
01/26/2024 Will IL Emergency Mngr
Kankakee Street closed due to ice jam
flooding in Wilmington.
1015 AM Flood 1 NW Wilmington 41.32N 88.16W
01/26/2024 Will IL Emergency Mngr
Video from Will County EMA shows water
surrounding at least two residences on
Widows Road downstream of Wilmington.
Possible interior flooding.
0700 AM Flood 1 S Kankakee 41.11N 87.86W
01/26/2024 Kankakee IL Trained Spotter
Water flooding low-lying yards along the
Kankakee River. Ice jam has begun to break
up in the Kankakee and Aroma Park areas. Ice
left on banks.
0300 AM Flood 1 SSW Wilmington 41.30N 88.15W
01/26/2024 Will IL Emergency Mngr
Shifting of the ice jam located near and
downstream of Wilmington occurred and was
followed by a rapid rise in water levels.
Water flooded yards and neared homes along
Towpath Lane upstream of Wilmington.
1215 AM Flood Wilmington 41.31N 88.15W
01/26/2024 Will IL Emergency Mngr
Shifting of the ice jam located near and
downstream of Wilmington occurred and was
followed by a rapid rise in water levels by
up to 3 feet. Water inundated portions of
IL53 and Island Park near downtown
Wilmington. Approximately 14 people
evacuated from a motel and an apartment
building. Shifting ice also caused damage to
Park St on the upstream side of the island.
0300 PM Flood 2 SW Sun River Terrace 41.11N 87.76W
01/24/2024 Kankakee IL Emergency Mngr
Kankakee County EM reports full ditches and
minor flooding of roadway near Sand Bar Road
and Dudley Grove Road.
0300 PM Flood 3 SSE Aroma Park 41.03N 87.79W
01/24/2024 Kankakee IL Emergency Mngr
Kankakee County EM reports full ditches and
minor flooding of roadway near 6000 South
Road and 4000 East Road.
1100 AM Ice Jam 1 WNW Sumava Resorts 41.17N 87.46W
01/20/2024 Lake IN Other Federal
Ice spotter reports and satellite imagery
indicate that the ice jam located between
Momence and Shelby may now extend from near
the Illinois Indiana state line upstream to
near Shelby. Shelby river gauge has been
slowly rising over the last few days, and
now is near bankfull stage.
1100 AM Ice Jam Wilmington 41.30N 88.15W
01/20/2024 Will IL Other Federal
Ice spotter reports and satellite imagery
indicate that the ice jam located near
Wilmington may now extend from just upstream
of the Illinois River confluence upstream 13
miles to near Lakewood Shores. Wilmington
river gauge has been generally falling
slowly over the last few days, but remains
near major flood stage.
1100 AM Ice Jam Aroma Park 41.08N 87.81W
01/20/2024 Kankakee IL Other Federal
Ice spotter reports and satellite imagery
indicate that the ice jam located near
Kankakee and Aroma Park may now extend from
near Schuyler Avenue in Kankakee upstream 8
miles to just downstream of Sun River
Terrace. The ice jam also may extend up the
Iroquois River about 3 miles.
0430 PM Ice Jam 4 WSW Schneider 41.17N 87.52W
01/19/2024 Lake IN Local Official
Kankakee Yellow River Basin Commission
reports water nearing low-lying overbank
areas near the Illinois Indiana state line
bridge due to an ice jam on the Kankakee
River. Upstream river gauge at Shelby now at
bankfull.
0115 PM Ice Jam 4 WSW Schneider 41.17N 87.52W
01/18/2024 Newton IN Law Enforcement
Kankakee County Sheriffs Office reports
possible ice jam on the Kankakee River near
the Illinois Indiana Stateline Bridge. Water
levels on the upstream river gauge near
Shelby continue to slowly rise.
1110 AM Flood 1 W Aroma Park 41.08N 87.82W
01/18/2024 Kankakee IL Public
Flooding of overbank areas along the
Kankakee River in Aroma Park. Likely due to
developing ice jam downstream in Kankakee
area.
1000 AM Ice Jam 1 SSW Kankakee 41.11N 87.86W
01/18/2024 Kankakee IL Trained Spotter
River ice spotter reports ice jam on the
Kankakee River beginning near the Schuyler
Avenue bridge in Kankakee.
1000 AM Ice Jam 1 SW Wilmington 41.29N 88.15W
01/17/2024 Will IL NWS Storm Survey
Ice jam previously located near Phelan Acres
and I-55 has grown significantly upstream
since yesterday. Ice jam now extends from
near the confluence with the Illinois River
upstream approximately 10 miles to near
Towpath Lane in Wilmington.
0325 PM Ice Jam 1 WNW Lyons 41.82N 87.83W
01/16/2024 Cook IL Fire Dept/Rescue
Riverside Fire Department reports ice jam on
the Des Plaines river has continued to grow.
The ice jam now extends from near McCook
upstream through Lyons and Riverside, to
near Salt Creek. Water levels on the
Riverside gauge now exceeding bankfull.
1200 PM Ice Jam Warrenville 41.82N 88.17W
01/16/2024 DuPage IL Other Federal
USGS river gauge indicates likely ice jam on
the West Branch DuPage River near
Warrenville. Ice jam likely began during the
day on Jan 14. Water levels currently about
1 foot below bankfull.
1200 PM Ice Jam 2 SE Rockton 42.43N 89.05W
01/16/2024 Winnebago IL Other Federal
USGS river gauge and satellite imagery
indicates likely ice jam on the Rock River
between Rockton and Roscoe. Ice jam began
approximately the morning of Jan 15. No
flooding currently reported.
1130 AM Ice Jam 1 SSE Riverside 41.82N 87.81W
01/16/2024 Cook IL Public
USGS river gauges indicate likely ice jam on
the Des Plaines River extending from near
Lyons upstream to near Riverside. Ice jam
likely began Jan 14 overnight into Jan 15
with a steady accumulation of ice and
increase in water levels. Water levels
currently just below bankfull in the
Riverside area.
1100 AM Ice Jam 1 SSW Shelby 41.18N 87.36W
01/16/2024 Lake IN Other Federal
USGS river gauge indicates likely ice jam
just downstream of Shelby. Ice jam began
approximately midday on Jan 15. Water levels
currently just under bankfull in the Shelby
area.
0900 AM Ice Jam 5 S Channahon 41.36N 88.23W
01/16/2024 Will IL Emergency Mngr
Will County EMA reports a significant ice
jam extending from near Phalen Acres and
Bardwell Island upstream to near the I-55
bridge. The ice jam is causing flooding of
Kelly Road and Blodgett Road due to river
flow bypassing the ice jam. Flooding of
yards and garages is occurring in the Phalen
Acres neighborhood. The river gauge upstream
of the jam near the Interstate 55 bridge has
climbed above major flood stage.
0800 AM Ice Jam 4 WSW Naplate 41.32N 88.94W
01/16/2024 La Salle IL Other Federal
USACE river gauges and satellite imagery
indicate ice jam on the Illinois River
upstream of Starved Rock Lock and Dam
extending upstream to near Naplate. The ice
jam is currently causing minor flooding near
Ottawa.
1200 AM Ice Jam 5 S Channahon 41.36N 88.23W
01/15/2024 Will IL Public
Local EMA and ice spotters reported that an
ice jam developed in the vicinity of Phalen
Acres and Bardwell island at some point
overnight from January 14 to 15, and caused
flooding of low-lying bank areas and yards
of nearby homes.
$$
Photos
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| Ice jam on the Kankakee River at I-55 near Wilmington, IL on January 21st. Drone footage courtesy of the Will County Emergency Management Agency. | Ice jam on the Kankakee River at I-55 near Wilmington, IL on January 21st. Drone footage courtesy of the Will County Emergency Management Agency. | Ice jam on the Kankakee River at I-55 near Wilmington, IL on January 26th. Drone footage courtesy of Luke Henderson. |
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| Ice jam on the Kankakee River in Aroma Park, IL on January 24th. Drone footage courtesy of the Kankakee County Emergency Management Agency. | Ice jam on the Kankakee River in Kankakee, IL on January 24th. Drone footage courtesy of the Kankakee County Emergency Management Agency. | Flooding along the Sugar Creek in Watseka, IL Photo courtesy of the Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency. |
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| Ice jam on the Fox River in Ottawa, IL on January 28th. Photo courtesy of the LaSalle County Emergency Management Agency. | The Kankakee River at I-55 near Wilmington, IL on January 27th after the ice jam broke up. Drone footage courtesy of the Manhattan Weather Channel. | The aftermath of the ice jam near Wilmington, IL on January 27th. Drone footage courtesy of the Manhattan Weather Channel. |
About Ice Jams
Ice jams occur when significant ice coverage on a river blocks the river's flow, potentially leading to rising water levels and/or localized flooding in the vicinity of the ice jam.
In order for significant ice coverage to develop on a river, air temperatures need to remain well below freezing for an extended period of time. Once this occurs, ice can then start to either pile up and/or freeze into a larger sheet of ice, leading to what is known as a “freeze-up” ice jam, where the recently frozen ice restricts the flow of water in the river and can lead to flooding upstream of the ice jam.
Then, when temperatures warm above freezing again, ice on rivers starts to melt and the streamflow on rivers starts to increase, which can cause existing ice jams to break up into smaller ice chunks. The sudden break-up of ice jams can release a surge of water than can cause flash flooding downstream of the original ice jam location. The smaller, broken up chunks of ice can also start to pile up again and get stuck, leading to "break-up" ice jams that also restrict the flow of the river and cause flooding upstream of their location.
Ice jams are not uncommon in our area during the winter and early spring. In fact, there are some chronic ice jam locations along the Rock, Fox, and Kankakee rivers that have about a 1-in-2 (or 50%) chance of seeing an ice jam occur in any given year and up to about a 1-in-3 (or 33%) chance of seeing flooding caused by an ice jam in any given year. Ice jams are less common on other rivers in the area, but can still happen from time to time when significant ice cover develops.
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| Map showing the annual risk of ice jams occurring at different locations along area rivers. | Map showing the annual risk of flooding caused by ice jams at different locations along area rivers. |
The National Weather Service relies on a volunteer network of river ice spotters to relay information about river ice coverage on area rivers in order to assess the risk for ice jams and associated potential for flooding. For more information about river ice spotting in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, see this page.
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Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged! Additional recaps can be found on the NWS Chicago Past Events Page. |
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