Elevated river levels and shifting river ice possible later this week... The risk for elevated river levels and shifting river ice will steadily increase this week due to warming temperatures and light rainfall. The highest risk for elevated river levels and shifting river ice is along the Kankakee, Iroquois, and Vermilion rivers, with a lower risk along the Fox and Illinois rivers. A substantial snow cover exists across most of northern Illinois, with water equivalent values ranging from 0.5-2.0 inches, which is above average for this time of year. In addition, heavy ice cover exists on most area rivers with multiple ongoing ice jams, and near surface soils are frozen to a depth of several inches. Temperatures are expected to warm into the mid and upper 30s by the late this week. This should begin to warm the very cold snowpack and eventually lead to slow melting. Light rainfall early this week will at first cause little runoff as it will be absorbed by the cold snowpack. Runoff will eventually occur as snowmelt is partially blocked by the frozen soils underneath. If temperatures remain in the 30s, snow melt will generally remain slow and steady, limiting rises on area rivers and streams to near bankfull or lower. Confidence in temperature forecasts is relatively high for the first part of this week, but decreases slightly by Thursday through early next week. If temperatures are able to warm well into the 40s, enough melting may occur for rivers to rise to above bankfull in some areas. Standing water would also be likely along small creeks and other poor drainage areas. Shifting river ice along area rivers would occur with a risk for break-up ice jams. This outlook means that elevated water levels and potential impacts are possible, but not yet certain. Persons with interests along area rivers should closely monitor the latest forecasts. This product will be updated by tomorrow afternoon.