Kayak Love

Illinois · river

Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

94of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Stevens Creek flowing into the Sangamon River in Macon County, IL.jpg by J. Pinta ( Redline2200 ), CC BY-SA 3.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

4 mph

gusting to 5 mph

Air temp

69°F

45% chance of rain

River flow

11.6 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Tuesday · 98

  • Today

    44

  • Sun

    66

  • Mon

    93

  • Tue

    98

    Best

  • Wed

    97

  • Thu

    75

  • Fri

    81

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
12p45
1p67
2p68
3p79
4p79
5p813
6p1122
7p1125
8p1228
9p1332
10p1228
11p1126

Is this flow normal for August 1?

Today's 11.6 cfs is 28% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 16 cfs, across 42 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind4 mph — calm, ideal for any boat±0
  • Rain45% chance in the next 6 hours-6

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in Illinois