South Dakota River Levels & Streamflow
As of Sep 3, 2026, South Dakota rivers are running at 36% of normal across 93 USGS gauges — the highest is 374 cfs on the James R Near Forestburg Sd. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in South Dakota.
Streamflow levels across South Dakota are currently 36% of normal, with the James R Near Forestburg Sd reporting the highest discharge in the state at 374 cfs and a gauge stage of 5.77 ft.
Meanwhile, the James R Near Forestburg Sd is seeing a spike today — up 13% 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.
Active weather warnings for South Dakota
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
100% is the historical norm. Below 70% indicates drought; above 130% can flag elevated flood risk.
Highest discharge
Gauge stage 5.77 ft
Biggest 24h spike
Now 374 cfs
Network coverage
USGS gauges feeding 0 named rivers in South Dakota.
Where every gauge actually sits
One dot per South Dakota streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The state average is a single line through all of it.
Percent of normal compares today's discharge with the historical average for this calendar day. Tap any dot to open that gauge.
South Dakota streamflow, three water years
Statewide percent of normal, every day since Aug 2023. The dotted line is normal.
799 daily readings from 85 reporting gauges. Percent of normal is today's statewide discharge against the historical average for the same calendar day — 100% is normal, not "good". The axis tops out at 250%: 100 readings above that — including the 469% peak in Dec 2025 — are drawn along the top edge, so a few flood days cannot flatten three years of everything else. The line breaks in 2 places where the record skips more than five days — those are gaps in reporting, not readings of zero.
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.
| Streamgage | Streamflow | Gage height | Water temp | Air temp | Elevation | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
James R Near Forestburg Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06477000 |
360 cfs | 5.72 ft | · | 67°F | 1,214 ft | Lower James |
|
James R At Huron Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06476000 |
255 cfs | 9.36 ft | · | 67°F | 1,233 ft | Middle James |
|
James River Nr Yankton Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06478513 |
234 cfs | 3.64 ft | · | 69°F | 1,164 ft | Lower James |
|
James R Near Scotland Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06478500 |
218 cfs | 4.54 ft | · | 70°F | 1,187 ft | Lower James |
|
James R Near Redfield Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06475000 |
205 cfs | 4.19 ft | · | 70°F | 1,264 ft | Middle James |
|
Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06438500 |
198 cfs | 8.48 ft | 60°F | 64°F | 1,865 ft | Lower Cheyenne |
|
James R At Ashton Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06473000 |
184 cfs | 4.27 ft | · | 69°F | 1,271 ft | Middle James |
|
Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06437000 |
181 cfs | 3.24 ft | · | 63°F | 2,546 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06482020 |
141 cfs | 5.01 ft | · | 69°F | 1,303 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06438000 |
138 cfs | 4.57 ft | · | 65°F | 2,180 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Big Sioux R Near Dell Rapids Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06481000 |
124 cfs | 3.30 ft | · | 72°F | 1,464 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06480000 |
115 cfs | 2.44 ft | · | 70°F | 1,562 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
White R Near Oacoma Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06452000 |
111 cfs | 7.87 ft | · | 72°F | 1,394 ft | Lower White |
|
James R Near Stratford Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06472000 |
104 cfs | 6.34 ft | · | 69°F | 1,276 ft | Upper James |
|
Little White R Near Rosebud Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06449500 |
96 cfs | 4.10 ft | · | 67°F | 2,305 ft | Little White |
|
Big Sioux River Near Bruce, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06479770 |
72 cfs | 3.31 ft | · | 71°F | 1,630 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Little White R Below White River Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06450500 |
69 cfs | 1.83 ft | · | 67°F | 1,927 ft | Little White |
|
Inlet Canal Above Belle Fourche Reservoir Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06434505 |
69 cfs | 4.56 ft | · | 62°F | 2,985 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06482000 |
63 cfs | 1.45 ft | · | 69°F | 1,395 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
James River At Nd-Sd State Line, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06470878 |
57 cfs | 87.42 ft | 32°F | 67°F | 1,290 ft | Upper James |
|
Little White R Near Vetal Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06449100 |
57 cfs | 3.31 ft | 42°F | 64°F | 2,789 ft | Little White |
|
Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06402600 |
56 cfs | 2.21 ft | · | 62°F | 2,820 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Grand R At Little Eagle Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06357800 |
56 cfs | 2.66 ft | · | 63°F | 1,640 ft | Grand |
|
Cheyenne River At Redshirt, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06403700 |
53 cfs | 9.49 ft | 74°F | 63°F | 2,670 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06428500 |
51 cfs | 3.98 ft | · | 61°F | 3,103 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Cheyenne River Near Wasta, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06423500 |
50 cfs | · | · | 65°F | 2,269 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06411500 |
46 cfs | 7.55 ft | · | 58°F | 4,420 ft | Rapid |
|
Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06464500 |
45 cfs | 2.19 ft | · | 67°F | 2,053 ft | Keya Paha |
|
Spearfish Cr At Spearfish Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06431500 |
41 cfs | 4.82 ft | · | 66°F | 3,669 ft | Redwater |
|
Fall R At Hot Springs Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06402000 |
36 cfs | 1.03 ft | · | 63°F | 3,430 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06412500 |
33 cfs | 2.00 ft | 35°F | 66°F | 3,416 ft | Rapid |
|
Rapid Cr At Rapid City Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06414000 |
28 cfs | 3.32 ft | · | 66°F | 3,246 ft | Rapid |
|
Redwater River Above Belle Fourche Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06433000 |
27 cfs | 2.38 ft | · | 62°F | 3,018 ft | Redwater |
|
Rapid Cr Near Farmingdale Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06421500 |
23 cfs | 5.36 ft | · | 64°F | 2,711 ft | Rapid |
|
Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 05291000 |
21 cfs | 1.60 ft | · | 68°F | 1,017 ft | Upper Minnesota |
|
Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06430770 |
20 cfs | 7.47 ft | · | 54°F | 5,312 ft | Redwater |
|
James R At Columbia Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06471000 |
19 cfs | 4.24 ft | · | 68°F | 1,287 ft | Upper James |
|
Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06479525 |
19 cfs | 4.66 ft | · | 71°F | 1,682 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Murray Ditch Ab Headgate At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06429997 |
18 cfs | 2.00 ft | · | 60°F | 3,457 ft | Redwater |
|
Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06464100 |
17 cfs | 4.33 ft | · | 66°F | 2,220 ft | Keya Paha |
|
Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06410500 |
17 cfs | 4.52 ft | · | 56°F | 4,628 ft | Rapid |
|
White River Near White River, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06447450 |
17 cfs | 3.33 ft | · | 74°F | 1,775 ft | Middle White |
|
Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06430850 |
16 cfs | 4.73 ft | · | 57°F | 5,053 ft | Redwater |
|
Belle Fourche R Near Fruitdale Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06436000 |
16 cfs | 1.79 ft | · | 62°F | 2,940 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06449000 |
15 cfs | 2.97 ft | · | 64°F | 2,991 ft | Little White |
|
Redwater Cr At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06430500 |
13 cfs | 2.61 ft | · | 60°F | 3,424 ft | Redwater |
|
South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06356500 |
11 cfs | · | · | 60°F | 2,425 ft | South Fork Grand |
|
Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06412810 |
10 cfs | 2.69 ft | · | 66°F | 3,371 ft | Rapid |
|
Castle Cr Below Deerfield Dam Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06410000 |
9 cfs | 3.47 ft | · | 56°F | 5,795 ft | Rapid |
|
Elm R At Westport Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06471500 |
9 cfs | 4.18 ft | · | 67°F | 1,323 ft | Elm |
|
White R Near Kadoka Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06447000 |
8 cfs | 3.73 ft | · | 66°F | 2,131 ft | Middle White |
|
Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06409000 |
7 cfs | 2.75 ft | · | 56°F | 5,929 ft | Rapid |
|
Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06479010 |
6 cfs | 1.30 ft | · | 69°F | 1,137 ft | Vermillion |
|
Little White R Near Martin Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06447500 |
6 cfs | · | · | 64°F | 3,069 ft | Little White |
|
Little Minnesota River Near Peever, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 05290000 |
6 cfs | 9.91 ft | · | 63°F | 1,015 ft | Upper Minnesota |
|
Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06402500 |
5 cfs | 4.03 ft | · | 63°F | 3,161 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06446700 |
5 cfs | 1.51 ft | · | 67°F | 2,526 ft | Middle White |
|
Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06408700 |
4 cfs | 3.73 ft | · | 57°F | 5,981 ft | Rapid |
|
Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06479215 |
4 cfs | 2.71 ft | · | 69°F | 1,787 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06482610 |
4 cfs | 1.67 ft | · | 72°F | 1,307 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
White R Near Interior Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06446500 |
4 cfs | 3.38 ft | · | 67°F | 2,300 ft | Middle White |
|
Whitewood Cr Above Whitewood, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06436180 |
4 cfs | · | · | 68°F | 3,681 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Moreau R Near Faith Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06359500 |
3 cfs | · | · | 62°F | 2,248 ft | Lower Moreau |
|
Little Missouri R At Camp Crook Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06334500 |
3 cfs | 1.75 ft | · | 59°F | 3,102 ft | Upper Little Missouri |
|
Boxelder Cr Near Nemo Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06422500 |
3 cfs | 1.10 ft | · | 58°F | 4,334 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Big Sioux R Near Watertown Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06479438 |
2 cfs | 3.94 ft | · | 70°F | 1,742 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06481500 |
2 cfs | 1.99 ft | · | 69°F | 1,411 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
East Fork Vermillion River Near Parker, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06478600 |
2 cfs | 4.94 ft | · | 69°F | 1,328 ft | Vermillion |
|
Battle Cr At Hermosa Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06406000 |
2 cfs | 2.50 ft | · | 64°F | 3,284 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Whitewood Creek Near Whitewood Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06436190 |
2 cfs | 5.38 ft | · | 67°F | 3,173 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06395000 |
1 cfs | · | · | 61°F | 3,422 ft | Angostura Reservoir |
|
Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 05050000 |
1 cfs | 3.32 ft | · | 67°F | 968 ft | Bois De Sioux |
|
Bear Butte Creek Near Deadwood, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06437020 |
1 cfs | 3.64 ft | · | 61°F | 4,753 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
French Cr Above Fairburn Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06403300 |
1 cfs | · | · | 67°F | 3,825 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06479500 |
1 cfs | 3.22 ft | · | 70°F | 1,717 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06480650 |
1 cfs | 4.21 ft | · | 71°F | 1,571 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06404998 |
0 cfs | 6.55 ft | · | 65°F | 4,125 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
White R Near Oglala Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06446000 |
0 cfs | 5.79 ft | · | 62°F | 2,880 ft | Upper White |
|
Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06425500 |
0 cfs | 3.48 ft | · | 64°F | 2,322 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06445685 |
0 cfs | 3.39 ft | · | 63°F | 3,041 ft | Upper White |
|
Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06404000 |
0 cfs | 3.23 ft | · | 67°F | 3,815 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Platte Creek Near Platte, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06452320 |
0 cfs | 1.37 ft | · | 68°F | 1,373 ft | Fort Randall Reservoir |
|
Foot Creek Near Aberdeen, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06471800 |
0 cfs | 4.02 ft | · | 67°F | 1,329 ft | Upper James |
|
Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06481480 |
0 cfs | · | · | 72°F | 1,563 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06477500 |
0 cfs | 1.97 ft | · | 67°F | 1,304 ft | Lower James |
|
Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06400000 |
0 cfs | 6.52 ft | · | 62°F | 3,301 ft | Hat |
|
Battle Cr Below Hermosa Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06406500 |
0 cfs | 1.84 ft | · | 62°F | 2,810 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06407500 |
0 cfs | 3.28 ft | · | 65°F | 3,898 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Whitewood Cr Above Vale Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06436198 |
0 cfs | · | · | 64°F | 2,857 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd, Sd
3 days ago · USGS 06355500 |
0 cfs | · | · | 51°F | 2,318 ft | North Fork Grand |
|
Moreau R Near Whitehorse Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06360500 |
0 cfs | 1.10 ft | · | 68°F | 1,670 ft | Lower Moreau |
|
South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06440200 |
0 cfs | 4.10 ft | · | 65°F | 2,253 ft | Bad |
|
Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06441500 |
0 cfs | · | · | 74°F | 1,437 ft | Bad |
See every South Dakota gauge ranked against normal.
- Percentile rank & % of median for all 93 gauges
- 15-day PULSE forecast on every gauge
- Custom flow alerts & full daily history
About South Dakota streamflow
What are river levels like in South Dakota right now?
As of September 3, 2026, South Dakota rivers are running at 36% of normal across 93 USGS streamgauges, and the James R Near Forestburg Sd is reporting the highest discharge at 374 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.
Which South Dakota river is running highest right now?
As of September 3, 2026, the highest discharge in South Dakota is 374 cfs on the James R Near Forestburg 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.
Streamflow in every state
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