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Flow report

South Dakota River Levels & Streamflow

As of Aug 16, 2026, South Dakota rivers are running at 59% of normal across 95 USGS gauges — the highest is 880 cfs on the White R Near Kadoka Sd. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in South Dakota.

USGS gauges
95
State percent normal
59%
Paddle runs
0
Updated
Aug 16
Open the South Dakota flow layer on the map Every USGS streamgauge filtered to South Dakota.
Open the map →
August
16
2026
Flow briefing

Streamflow levels across South Dakota are currently 59% of normal, with the White R Near Kadoka Sd reporting the highest discharge in the state at 880 cfs and a gauge stage of 6.11 ft.

Meanwhile, the White River Near White River is seeing a spike today — up 316% since yesterday and currently running near peak.

Tap any gauge below for the full hydrograph, paired weather forecast, and historical context. Use the rivers panel to jump into South Dakota's named rivers.

South Dakota at a glance

State-wide streamflow overview

The South Dakota flow picture in four data points -- where the state sits versus historical norms, what's flowing hardest, and what's spiking fastest.

Percent of normal

59%

100% is the historical norm. Below 70% indicates drought; above 130% can flag elevated flood risk.

Highest discharge

White R Near Kadoka Sd 880 cfs

Gauge stage 6.11 ft

Biggest 24h spike

White River Near White River +316%

Now 433 cfs

Network coverage

Gauges + rivers tracked 95 + 0

USGS gauges feeding 0 named rivers in South Dakota.

Full streamgauge inventory

South Dakota USGS streamgauges

Every USGS gauge Snoflo tracks in South Dakota. Sortable, quickly filterable. Numeric columns heat-mapped from light to deep. Tap any gauge for its full hydrograph and forecast.

95 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow Gage height Water temp Air temp Elevation Watershed
White River Near White River, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06447450
1,020 cfs 5.86 ft · 58°F 1,775 ft Middle White
James R Near Scotland Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06478500
613 cfs 5.27 ft · 62°F 1,187 ft Lower James
James R Near Mitchell Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06478000
606 cfs 12.07 ft · 59°F 1,206 ft Lower James
James River Nr Yankton Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06478513
589 cfs 4.16 ft · 62°F 1,164 ft Lower James
James R Near Redfield Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06475000
559 cfs 5.96 ft · 56°F 1,264 ft Middle James
James R Near Forestburg Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06477000
544 cfs 6.44 ft · 59°F 1,214 ft Lower James
James R At Ashton Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06473000
512 cfs 6.23 ft · 56°F 1,271 ft Middle James
James R At Huron Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06476000
510 cfs 9.70 ft · 59°F 1,233 ft Middle James
Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06438500
445 cfs 8.83 ft 60°F 62°F 1,865 ft Lower Cheyenne
James R Near Stratford Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06472000
249 cfs 7.87 ft · 56°F 1,276 ft Upper James
White R Near Kadoka Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06447000
212 cfs 4.75 ft · 59°F 2,131 ft Middle White
Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06437000
183 cfs 3.25 ft · 61°F 2,546 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06482020
179 cfs 5.27 ft · 62°F 1,303 ft Lower Big Sioux
Big Sioux R Near Dell Rapids Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06481000
166 cfs 3.48 ft · 60°F 1,464 ft Lower Big Sioux
White R Near Oacoma Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06452000
165 cfs 8.09 ft · 63°F 1,394 ft Lower White
Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06480000
137 cfs 2.56 ft · 57°F 1,562 ft Lower Big Sioux
Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06438000
135 cfs 4.52 ft · 60°F 2,180 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 05050000
128 cfs 4.80 ft · 63°F 968 ft Bois De Sioux
Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06395000
111 cfs 1.90 ft · 57°F 3,422 ft Angostura Reservoir
Big Sioux River Near Bruce, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06479770
100 cfs 3.47 ft · 58°F 1,630 ft Upper Big Sioux
Cheyenne River Near Wasta, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06423500
99 cfs · · 61°F 2,269 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06428500
90 cfs 4.34 ft · 55°F 3,103 ft Lower Belle Fourche
White R Near Interior Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06446500
90 cfs 3.99 ft · 60°F 2,300 ft Middle White
Little White R Near Rosebud Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06449500
89 cfs 4.05 ft · 65°F 2,305 ft Little White
Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06482000
87 cfs 1.47 ft · 62°F 1,395 ft Lower Big Sioux
Grand R At Little Eagle Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06357800
85 cfs 2.84 ft · 54°F 1,640 ft Grand
James R At Columbia Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06471000
76 cfs 5.39 ft · 55°F 1,287 ft Upper James
Cheyenne River At Redshirt, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06403700
70 cfs 9.64 ft 74°F 62°F 2,670 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Inlet Canal Above Belle Fourche Reservoir Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06434505
69 cfs 4.56 ft · 58°F 2,985 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Little Minnesota River Near Peever, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 05290000
66 cfs 10.80 ft · 63°F 1,015 ft Upper Minnesota
Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06464500
61 cfs 2.32 ft · 65°F 2,053 ft Keya Paha
Little White R Below White River Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06450500
59 cfs 1.78 ft · 59°F 1,927 ft Little White
Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06411500
57 cfs 7.64 ft · 54°F 4,420 ft Rapid
Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06402600
56 cfs 2.24 ft · 61°F 2,820 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06440200
55 cfs 5.85 ft · 62°F 2,253 ft Bad
Rapid Cr At Rapid City Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06414000
53 cfs 3.60 ft · 58°F 3,246 ft Rapid
James River At Nd-Sd State Line, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06470878
50 cfs 87.69 ft 32°F 54°F 1,290 ft Upper James
Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06412500
50 cfs 2.19 ft 35°F 61°F 3,416 ft Rapid
Fall R At Hot Springs Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06402000
47 cfs · · 58°F 3,430 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06479525
41 cfs 4.93 ft · 57°F 1,682 ft Upper Big Sioux
Spearfish Cr At Spearfish Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06431500
40 cfs 4.82 ft · 60°F 3,669 ft Redwater
Rapid Cr Near Farmingdale Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06421500
38 cfs 5.58 ft · 59°F 2,711 ft Rapid
South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06356500
35 cfs 1.14 ft · 54°F 2,425 ft South Fork Grand
Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 05291000
30 cfs 1.75 ft · 59°F 1,017 ft Upper Minnesota
Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06410500
30 cfs 4.65 ft · 49°F 4,628 ft Rapid
Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06464100
28 cfs 4.53 ft · 64°F 2,220 ft Keya Paha
Little White R Near Vetal Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06449100
25 cfs 3.06 ft 42°F 58°F 2,789 ft Little White
Redwater River Above Belle Fourche Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06433000
19 cfs 2.27 ft · 58°F 3,018 ft Redwater
Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06430770
17 cfs 7.46 ft · 50°F 5,312 ft Redwater
Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06430850
15 cfs 4.70 ft · 50°F 5,053 ft Redwater
Murray Ditch Ab Headgate At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06429997
14 cfs 1.86 ft · 53°F 3,457 ft Redwater
Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06409000
12 cfs 2.81 ft · 50°F 5,929 ft Rapid
Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06479010
11 cfs 1.42 ft · 63°F 1,137 ft Vermillion
Elm R At Westport Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06471500
11 cfs 4.23 ft · 55°F 1,323 ft Elm
Castle Cr Below Deerfield Dam Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06410000
11 cfs 3.54 ft · 50°F 5,795 ft Rapid
Big Sioux R Near Watertown Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06479438
10 cfs 4.10 ft · 57°F 1,742 ft Upper Big Sioux
Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06412810
10 cfs 2.65 ft · 61°F 3,371 ft Rapid
Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06482610
8 cfs 1.71 ft · 60°F 1,307 ft Lower Big Sioux
Little White R Near Martin Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06447500
7 cfs · · 65°F 3,069 ft Little White
Redwater Cr At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06430500
7 cfs 2.44 ft · 53°F 3,424 ft Redwater
Belle Fourche R Near Fruitdale Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06436000
7 cfs 1.59 ft · 58°F 2,940 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06479500
6 cfs 3.67 ft · 57°F 1,717 ft Upper Big Sioux
Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06402500
5 cfs 4.44 ft · 62°F 3,161 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Whitewood Cr Above Whitewood, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06436180
5 cfs · · 60°F 3,681 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06408700
4 cfs 3.75 ft · 49°F 5,981 ft Rapid
Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06481500
4 cfs 2.24 ft · 62°F 1,411 ft Lower Big Sioux
East Fork Vermillion River Near Parker, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06478600
4 cfs 5.01 ft · 62°F 1,328 ft Vermillion
Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06446700
3 cfs 1.44 ft · 64°F 2,526 ft Middle White
Little Missouri R At Camp Crook Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06334500
3 cfs 1.68 ft · 54°F 3,102 ft Upper Little Missouri
Battle Cr At Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406000
3 cfs 2.59 ft · 60°F 3,284 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Moreau R Near Faith Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06359500
2 cfs · · 56°F 2,248 ft Lower Moreau
Bear Butte Creek Near Deadwood, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06437020
2 cfs 3.65 ft · 55°F 4,753 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06404000
1 cfs 3.37 ft · 58°F 3,815 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Whitewood Creek Near Whitewood Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06436190
1 cfs 5.35 ft · 57°F 3,173 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06441500
1 cfs 1.05 ft · 65°F 1,437 ft Bad
French Cr Above Fairburn Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06403300
1 cfs · · 59°F 3,825 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06404998
1 cfs 6.75 ft · 58°F 4,125 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06449000
1 cfs 2.43 ft · 59°F 2,991 ft Little White
Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06479215
1 cfs 2.27 ft · 58°F 1,787 ft Upper Big Sioux
Boxelder Cr Near Nemo Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06422500
0 cfs 1.23 ft · 54°F 4,334 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06425500
0 cfs 3.57 ft · 60°F 2,322 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06480650
0 cfs 4.17 ft · 58°F 1,571 ft Lower Big Sioux
West Fork Vermillion R Near Parker Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06478690
0 cfs · · 62°F 1,350 ft Vermillion
Platte Creek Near Platte, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06452320
0 cfs 1.39 ft · 64°F 1,373 ft Fort Randall Reservoir
Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06477500
0 cfs 2.10 ft · 59°F 1,304 ft Lower James
Foot Creek Near Aberdeen, Sd
13 hours ago · USGS 06471800
0 cfs 4.02 ft · 55°F 1,329 ft Upper James
Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06481480
0 cfs · · 60°F 1,563 ft Lower Big Sioux
Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd, Sd
4 days ago · USGS 06400875
0 cfs 1.89 ft · 63°F 3,315 ft Angostura Reservoir
Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06400000
0 cfs 6.56 ft · 58°F 3,301 ft Hat
Battle Cr Below Hermosa Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06406500
0 cfs 1.85 ft · 59°F 2,810 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06407500
0 cfs 3.31 ft · 57°F 3,898 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Whitewood Cr Above Vale Sd, Sd
15 hours ago · USGS 06436198
0 cfs · · 59°F 2,857 ft Lower Belle Fourche
North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06355500
0 cfs · · 52°F 2,318 ft North Fork Grand
Moreau R Near Whitehorse Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06360500
0 cfs 1.33 ft · 55°F 1,670 ft Lower Moreau
White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line, Sd
14 hours ago · USGS 06445685
0 cfs 3.04 ft · 61°F 3,041 ft Upper White
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Flow report FAQ

About South Dakota streamflow

What are river levels like in South Dakota right now?

As of August 16, 2026, South Dakota rivers are running at 59% of normal across 95 USGS streamgauges, and the White R Near Kadoka Sd is reporting the highest discharge at 880 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.

Which South Dakota river is running highest right now?

As of August 16, 2026, the highest discharge in South Dakota is 880 cfs on the White R Near Kadoka Sd. See the sortable gauge table for the full statewide ranking.

Are South Dakota rivers high or low right now?

Compare the statewide percent-of-normal on this page: above 100% means South Dakota rivers are running higher than the seasonal average for the date, below 100% means lower (a dry spell or drought). Each gauge also shows its own percent of median.

Where does the South Dakota streamflow data come from?

The U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System. USGS streamgauges report continuously (every 15 minutes) and the data is the canonical real-time record for U.S. rivers. Snoflo pulls the latest readings and joins them to a 7-day NOAA weather forecast for each station.

What is cfs?

Cubic feet per second — the standard unit for streamflow. One cfs is about 7.5 gallons per second. Small creeks run at single-digit cfs; the Mississippi at hundreds of thousands.

What does Gauge Height mean?

The water level at the gauge in feet above the reference datum. Used together with discharge to track river state. Flood stage and runnable levels are typically expressed in gauge height (e.g., "flood at 16 ft").

How fresh is the South Dakota data?

USGS streamgauges report every 15 minutes; Snoflo re-pulls throughout the day. The AI briefing regenerates daily.

Can I get a flow alert for a South Dakota gauge?

Yes. Save any USGS gauge as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a discharge or stage threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 2,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.

Is this a substitute for an NWS flood warning?

No. Snoflo is informational. For flood life-safety decisions always follow guidance from your local NWS forecast office and state emergency management. Snoflo data is one input among several.