WILMINGTON — A day after 10 residents voluntarily evacuated their homes because of flooding along the Kankakee River northwest of Wilmington, the river was forecast to go below flood stage today, according to the National Weather Service at Chicago.

At 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, the 7-mile long ice jam that had formed Jan. 26 broke up.

It led to chucks of ice getting caught in bends and islands on the river, as well as bridge pilings of the Interstate 55 bridge west of Wilmington. The river level stood at 13.2 feet at 7 a.m.

The backup led to floodwaters coming close to 40 to 50 homes in the Phelan Acres and McIntosh subdivisions located 2 miles northwest of Wilmington near the Will/Grundy County line.

Multiple fire departments, ambulance companies and organizations were dispatched starting at 8 a.m. to check on residents and monitor the river.

The flood warning continues for the river near Wilmington, according to the National Weather Service.

At 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, the stage was 7.3 feet and was ice affected. Flood stage is 6.5 feet. Minor flooding is occurring, and minor flooding is forecast.

There was no warning or advisory posted this morning for the river from the Illinois/Indiana state line west to Aroma Park and the confluence of the Iroquois River.

The stage at Momence was at 4.5 feet. Flood stage is 5 feet.

A flood warning remained in effect for the river east of the state line east to Shelby, Ind.

As of the last gauge reading at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, the stage was 11.1 feet and was ice affected. Flood stage is 9.0 feet. Moderate flooding was occurring, and moderate flooding is forecast.

The river was forecast to continue to fall to a stage of 10.8 feet by Friday morning.

Iroquois County

The Iroquois River at Iroquois was under a flood watch. The stage was 17 feet this morning and forecast to rise to 18.9 feet by Saturday before receding. Flood stage is 18 feet. Minor flooding was possible.

A flood advisory remained in effect until Sunday afternoon for Sugar Creek near Milford downstream to the confluence with the Iroquois River at Watseka. The stage was 14.5 feet Wednesday night. Flood stage is 18 feet. The river was forecast to rise to near 17.3 feet by Friday night.