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Flow report

South Dakota River Levels & Streamflow

As of Aug 16, 2026, South Dakota rivers are running at 62% of normal across 95 USGS gauges — the highest is 1,050 cfs on the White R Near Interior Sd. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in South Dakota.

USGS gauges
95
State percent normal
62%
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 62% of normal, with the White R Near Interior Sd reporting the highest discharge in the state at 1,050 cfs and a gauge stage of 6.24 ft.

Meanwhile, the Cheyenne River Near Wasta is seeing a spike today — up 2211% 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

62%

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

Highest discharge

White R Near Interior Sd 1,050 cfs

Gauge stage 6.24 ft

Biggest 24h spike

Cheyenne River Near Wasta +2211%

Now 818 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 R Near Kadoka Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447000
880 cfs 6.11 ft · 71°F 2,131 ft Middle White
Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438500
773 cfs 9.30 ft 60°F 62°F 1,865 ft Lower Cheyenne
James R Near Mitchell Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478000
596 cfs 12.04 ft · 71°F 1,206 ft Lower James
James R Near Scotland Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478500
586 cfs 5.23 ft · 72°F 1,187 ft Lower James
James R Near Redfield Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06475000
575 cfs 6.04 ft · 64°F 1,264 ft Middle James
James River Nr Yankton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478513
561 cfs 4.13 ft · 72°F 1,164 ft Lower James
James R Near Forestburg Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477000
544 cfs 6.44 ft · 70°F 1,214 ft Lower James
James R At Ashton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06473000
531 cfs 6.33 ft · 65°F 1,271 ft Middle James
James R At Huron Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06476000
519 cfs 9.71 ft · 70°F 1,233 ft Middle James
White River Near White River, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447450
433 cfs 4.78 ft · 71°F 1,775 ft Middle White
James R Near Stratford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06472000
262 cfs 7.98 ft · 65°F 1,276 ft Upper James
White R Near Interior Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446500
234 cfs 4.54 ft · 71°F 2,300 ft Middle White
Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482020
193 cfs 5.31 ft · 71°F 1,303 ft Lower Big Sioux
Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437000
170 cfs 3.20 ft · 60°F 2,546 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Big Sioux R Near Dell Rapids Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481000
170 cfs 3.50 ft · 71°F 1,464 ft Lower Big Sioux
Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438000
148 cfs 4.57 ft · 62°F 2,180 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Grand R At Little Eagle Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06357800
143 cfs 3.15 ft · 59°F 1,640 ft Grand
Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06480000
131 cfs 2.53 ft · 64°F 1,562 ft Lower Big Sioux
Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05050000
130 cfs 4.81 ft · 70°F 968 ft Bois De Sioux
Cheyenne River Near Wasta, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06423500
112 cfs · · 68°F 2,269 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
White R Near Oacoma Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06452000
109 cfs 7.86 ft · 70°F 1,394 ft Lower White
Big Sioux River Near Bruce, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479770
100 cfs 3.47 ft · 69°F 1,630 ft Upper Big Sioux
Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06428500
99 cfs 4.41 ft · 57°F 3,103 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Little White R Near Rosebud Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449500
95 cfs 4.09 ft · 73°F 2,305 ft Little White
Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482000
94 cfs 1.50 ft · 71°F 1,395 ft Lower Big Sioux
James R At Columbia Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471000
93 cfs 5.66 ft · 65°F 1,287 ft Upper James
Little Minnesota River Near Peever, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05290000
75 cfs 10.89 ft · 70°F 1,015 ft Upper Minnesota
Little White R Below White River Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06450500
72 cfs 1.84 ft · 71°F 1,927 ft Little White
South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06440200
68 cfs 6.04 ft · 70°F 2,253 ft Bad
Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402600
65 cfs 2.32 ft · 63°F 2,820 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Cheyenne River At Redshirt, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403700
65 cfs 9.59 ft 76°F 63°F 2,670 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Inlet Canal Above Belle Fourche Reservoir Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06434505
63 cfs 4.52 ft · 61°F 2,985 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464500
62 cfs 2.33 ft · 68°F 2,053 ft Keya Paha
South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06356500
59 cfs 1.45 ft · 57°F 2,425 ft South Fork Grand
Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06411500
57 cfs 7.64 ft · 53°F 4,420 ft Rapid
James River At Nd-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06470878
48 cfs 87.76 ft 32°F 65°F 1,290 ft Upper James
Rapid Cr At Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06414000
48 cfs 3.55 ft · 61°F 3,246 ft Rapid
Fall R At Hot Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402000
47 cfs · · 62°F 3,430 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412500
47 cfs 2.16 ft 35°F 66°F 3,416 ft Rapid
Rapid Cr Near Farmingdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06421500
44 cfs 5.66 ft · 67°F 2,711 ft Rapid
Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479525
40 cfs 4.92 ft · 70°F 1,682 ft Upper Big Sioux
Spearfish Cr At Spearfish Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06431500
40 cfs 4.82 ft · 58°F 3,669 ft Redwater
Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05291000
30 cfs 1.75 ft · 71°F 1,017 ft Upper Minnesota
Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464100
29 cfs 4.55 ft · 70°F 2,220 ft Keya Paha
Little White R Near Vetal Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449100
27 cfs 3.09 ft 42°F 64°F 2,789 ft Little White
Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06410500
18 cfs 4.55 ft · 57°F 4,628 ft Rapid
Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430770
17 cfs 7.46 ft · 54°F 5,312 ft Redwater
Redwater River Above Belle Fourche Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06433000
16 cfs 2.22 ft · 60°F 3,018 ft Redwater
Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430850
15 cfs 4.70 ft · 52°F 5,053 ft Redwater
Murray Ditch Ab Headgate At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06429997
14 cfs 1.82 ft · 56°F 3,457 ft Redwater
Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479010
12 cfs 1.45 ft · 72°F 1,137 ft Vermillion
Elm R At Westport Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471500
11 cfs 4.24 ft · 64°F 1,323 ft Elm
Castle Cr Below Deerfield Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06410000
11 cfs 3.53 ft · 52°F 5,795 ft Rapid
Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06395000
10 cfs 1.21 ft · 60°F 3,422 ft Angostura Reservoir
Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412810
9 cfs 2.64 ft · 66°F 3,371 ft Rapid
Big Sioux R Near Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479438
9 cfs 4.09 ft · 70°F 1,742 ft Upper Big Sioux
Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06409000
9 cfs 2.75 ft · 53°F 5,929 ft Rapid
Redwater Cr At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430500
8 cfs 2.47 ft · 56°F 3,424 ft Redwater
Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482610
8 cfs 1.71 ft · 71°F 1,307 ft Lower Big Sioux
Little White R Near Martin Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447500
7 cfs · · 71°F 3,069 ft Little White
Belle Fourche R Near Fruitdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436000
6 cfs 1.56 ft · 61°F 2,940 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06408700
4 cfs 3.74 ft · 55°F 5,981 ft Rapid
Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402500
4 cfs 4.36 ft · 63°F 3,161 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Whitewood Cr Above Whitewood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436180
4 cfs · · 60°F 3,681 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481500
4 cfs 2.24 ft · 71°F 1,411 ft Lower Big Sioux
East Fork Vermillion River Near Parker, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478600
4 cfs 5.02 ft · 71°F 1,328 ft Vermillion
Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479500
3 cfs 3.61 ft · 69°F 1,717 ft Upper Big Sioux
Little Missouri R At Camp Crook Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06334500
3 cfs 1.69 ft · 56°F 3,102 ft Upper Little Missouri
Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446700
3 cfs 1.41 ft · 63°F 2,526 ft Middle White
Battle Cr At Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406000
2 cfs 2.56 ft · 61°F 3,284 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Moreau R Near Faith Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06359500
2 cfs · · 59°F 2,248 ft Lower Moreau
Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06441500
2 cfs 1.08 ft · 72°F 1,437 ft Bad
Bear Butte Creek Near Deadwood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437020
1 cfs 3.64 ft · 57°F 4,753 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Whitewood Creek Near Whitewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436190
1 cfs 5.35 ft · 62°F 3,173 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449000
1 cfs 2.48 ft · 71°F 2,991 ft Little White
Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479215
1 cfs 2.39 ft · 70°F 1,787 ft Upper Big Sioux
Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06425500
1 cfs 3.62 ft · 61°F 2,322 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
Boxelder Cr Near Nemo Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06422500
0 cfs 1.24 ft · 53°F 4,334 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
French Cr Above Fairburn Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403300
0 cfs · · 63°F 3,825 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06480650
0 cfs 4.16 ft · 71°F 1,571 ft Lower Big Sioux
West Fork Vermillion R Near Parker Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478690
0 cfs · · 71°F 1,350 ft Vermillion
Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404998
0 cfs 6.60 ft · 62°F 4,125 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Foot Creek Near Aberdeen, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471800
0 cfs 4.07 ft · 63°F 1,329 ft Upper James
Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404000
0 cfs 3.24 ft · 61°F 3,815 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Platte Creek Near Platte, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06452320
0 cfs 1.32 ft · 71°F 1,373 ft Fort Randall Reservoir
Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481480
0 cfs · · 70°F 1,563 ft Lower Big Sioux
Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477500
0 cfs 2.05 ft · 69°F 1,304 ft Lower James
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
1 day ago · USGS 06400000
0 cfs 6.54 ft · 62°F 3,301 ft Hat
Battle Cr Below Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406500
0 cfs 1.85 ft · 68°F 2,810 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06407500
0 cfs 3.29 ft · 59°F 3,898 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Whitewood Cr Above Vale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436198
0 cfs · · 63°F 2,857 ft Lower Belle Fourche
North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06355500
0 cfs · · 62°F 2,318 ft North Fork Grand
Moreau R Near Whitehorse Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06360500
0 cfs 1.34 ft · 61°F 1,670 ft Lower Moreau
White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06445685
0 cfs 3.04 ft · 62°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 62% of normal across 95 USGS streamgauges, and the White R Near Interior Sd is reporting the highest discharge at 1,050 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 1,050 cfs on the White R Near Interior 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.