Changing Temps Brings Risk for Ice Jams on Fox River
Kane County Emergency Management 2/6/2026 12:00PM
Kane County Emergency Management is cautioning that the deep January cold caused much of the Fox River to freeze and while the sudden warm up is welcome, it also increases the risk of ice jams forming. Kane County does not have a recent history of flooding caused by ice jams, but officials continue to monitor river conditions and encourage residents to stay informed.
What is an ice jam? Picture an ice-covered river with bank to bank surface ice. The river continues to flow underneath. In a February thaw, melting snow produces runoff, causing water levels rise in the river. and begin to push against and stress the If the process happens suddenly, the thawing surface ice can lift and break it into pieces that begin to move downstream.
Where the moving ice meets significant constrictions in the river – the abutments of narrow bridge, a river bend, an impoundment upstream of a dam, or another area with channel-bridging surface ice – it can slow or stop the ice. The jagged sections of ice back up and accumulate. In extreme cases, this temporarily damming water flow and causing upstream water levels to rise and flood areas above the dam.
If someone along the Fox River in Kane County sees an ice jam beginning to form, they can call the Kane County Office of Emergency Management at (630) 208-8911.
For more info about Ice Jams, go to https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-hazards and click on “Ice/Debris Jams”
