Flow report

South Dakota streamflow

Live discharge, gauge height, water temperature, and percent-of-normal readings from every USGS streamgauge in South Dakota. Built for paddlers, anglers, water managers, and flood researchers.

USGS gauges
97
State percent normal
67%
Paddle runs
0
Updated
Jul 13
Open the South Dakota flow layer on the map Every USGS streamgauge filtered to South Dakota.
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July
13
2026
Flow briefing

Streamflow levels across South Dakota are currently 67% of normal, with the Big Sioux River Near Bruce reporting the highest discharge in the state at 1,510 cfs and a gauge stage of 7.94 ft.

Meanwhile, the Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd is seeing a spike today — up 691% 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

67%

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

Highest discharge

Big Sioux River Near Bruce 1,510 cfs

Gauge stage 7.94 ft

Biggest 24h spike

Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd +691%

Now 257 cfs

Network coverage

Gauges + rivers tracked 97 + 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.

97 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow Gage height Water temp Air temp Elevation Watershed
Big Sioux River Near Bruce, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479770
1,510 cfs 7.94 ft · 69°F 1,630 ft Upper Big Sioux
Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06480000
1,130 cfs 5.91 ft · 68°F 1,562 ft Lower Big Sioux
James River Nr Yankton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478513
1,060 cfs 3.01 ft · 68°F 1,164 ft Lower James
James R Near Scotland Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478500
929 cfs 5.34 ft · 69°F 1,187 ft Lower James
Big Sioux R Near Dell Rapids Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481000
756 cfs 5.48 ft · 68°F 1,464 ft Lower Big Sioux
James R At Ashton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06473000
747 cfs 7.22 ft · 69°F 1,271 ft Middle James
James R Near Redfield Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06475000
736 cfs 6.71 ft · 68°F 1,264 ft Middle James
Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482020
733 cfs 6.81 ft · 70°F 1,303 ft Lower Big Sioux
James R Near Forestburg Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477000
611 cfs 6.35 ft · 70°F 1,214 ft Lower James
James R Near Mitchell Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478000
570 cfs 12.10 ft · 70°F 1,206 ft Lower James
James R At Huron Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06476000
558 cfs 9.74 ft · 71°F 1,233 ft Middle James
James R Near Stratford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06472000
541 cfs 10.24 ft · 69°F 1,276 ft Upper James
Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479525
443 cfs 7.78 ft · 68°F 1,682 ft Upper Big Sioux
Big Sioux R Near Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479438
328 cfs 7.43 ft · 68°F 1,742 ft Upper Big Sioux
James River At Nd-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06470878
296 cfs 88.82 ft 32°F 67°F 1,290 ft Upper James
Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
2 days ago · USGS 06402500
257 cfs 9.43 ft · 68°F 3,161 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05291000
254 cfs 3.19 ft · 71°F 1,017 ft Upper Minnesota
Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482000
236 cfs 1.99 ft · 69°F 1,395 ft Lower Big Sioux
Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479500
222 cfs 7.45 ft · 69°F 1,717 ft Upper Big Sioux
White R Near Oacoma Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06452000
154 cfs 8.05 ft · 70°F 1,394 ft Lower White
White River Near White River, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447450
138 cfs 3.77 ft · 69°F 1,775 ft Middle White
Little White R Near Rosebud Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449500
133 cfs 4.31 ft · 68°F 2,305 ft Little White
Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437000
120 cfs 2.98 ft · 69°F 2,546 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Little White R Below White River Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06450500
120 cfs 2.02 ft · 70°F 1,927 ft Little White
James R At Columbia Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471000
108 cfs 6.46 ft · 68°F 1,287 ft Upper James
Elm R At Westport Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471500
94 cfs 4.81 ft · 67°F 1,323 ft Elm
Little White R Near Vetal Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449100
89 cfs 3.51 ft 42°F 66°F 2,789 ft Little White
Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438500
87 cfs 8.32 ft 60°F 72°F 1,865 ft Lower Cheyenne
Cheyenne River Near Wasta, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06423500
84 cfs · · 73°F 2,269 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438000
83 cfs 4.24 ft · 72°F 2,180 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06411500
74 cfs 7.75 ft · 64°F 4,420 ft Rapid
Rapid Cr At Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06414000
71 cfs 3.76 ft · 71°F 3,246 ft Rapid
Little Minnesota River Near Peever, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05290000
69 cfs 10.83 ft · 72°F 1,015 ft Upper Minnesota
Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479010
68 cfs 1.97 ft · 69°F 1,137 ft Vermillion
Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464500
57 cfs 2.32 ft · 67°F 2,053 ft Keya Paha
Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412500
56 cfs 2.30 ft 35°F 70°F 3,416 ft Rapid
Cheyenne River At Redshirt, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403700
53 cfs 9.46 ft 80°F 70°F 2,670 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
East Fork Vermillion River Near Parker, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478600
51 cfs 5.81 ft · 69°F 1,328 ft Vermillion
Spearfish Cr At Spearfish Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06431500
46 cfs 4.95 ft · 72°F 3,669 ft Redwater
Fall R At Hot Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402000
41 cfs · · 68°F 3,430 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402600
41 cfs 2.11 ft · 68°F 2,820 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
White R Near Interior Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446500
40 cfs 3.71 ft · 71°F 2,300 ft Middle White
White R Near Kadoka Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447000
39 cfs 3.86 ft · 70°F 2,131 ft Middle White
Grand R At Little Eagle Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06357800
36 cfs 2.54 ft · 71°F 1,640 ft Grand
Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479215
35 cfs 4.04 ft · 68°F 1,787 ft Upper Big Sioux
Redwater River Above Belle Fourche Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06433000
34 cfs 2.31 ft · 66°F 3,018 ft Redwater
Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05050000
28 cfs 4.04 ft · 75°F 968 ft Bois De Sioux
Moreau R Near Whitehorse Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06360500
24 cfs 2.21 ft · 71°F 1,670 ft Lower Moreau
Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449000
22 cfs 3.15 ft · 66°F 2,991 ft Little White
Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06410500
20 cfs 4.57 ft · 63°F 4,628 ft Rapid
Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481500
18 cfs 2.59 ft · 69°F 1,411 ft Lower Big Sioux
Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464100
17 cfs 4.36 ft · 67°F 2,220 ft Keya Paha
Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430770
17 cfs 7.50 ft · 65°F 5,312 ft Redwater
Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482610
17 cfs 1.86 ft · 68°F 1,307 ft Lower Big Sioux
Rapid Cr Near Farmingdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06421500
17 cfs 5.31 ft · 70°F 2,711 ft Rapid
Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430850
15 cfs 4.63 ft · 64°F 5,053 ft Redwater
South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06356500
11 cfs · · 70°F 2,425 ft South Fork Grand
Castle Cr Below Deerfield Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06410000
11 cfs 3.53 ft · 61°F 5,795 ft Rapid
Murray Ditch Ab Headgate At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06429997
11 cfs 1.84 ft · 74°F 3,457 ft Redwater
Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412810
9 cfs 2.63 ft · 70°F 3,371 ft Rapid
Belle Fourche R Near Fruitdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436000
9 cfs 1.50 ft · 66°F 2,940 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06409000
9 cfs 2.74 ft · 61°F 5,929 ft Rapid
Little White R Near Martin Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447500
9 cfs · · 66°F 3,069 ft Little White
Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06480650
8 cfs 4.02 ft · 68°F 1,571 ft Lower Big Sioux
Whitewood Cr Above Whitewood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436180
6 cfs · · 72°F 3,681 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446700
6 cfs 1.56 ft · 69°F 2,526 ft Middle White
Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06441500
5 cfs 1.07 ft · 73°F 1,437 ft Bad
Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06408700
5 cfs 3.71 ft · 63°F 5,981 ft Rapid
Foot Creek Near Aberdeen, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471800
3 cfs 4.80 ft · 66°F 1,329 ft Upper James
Little Missouri R At Camp Crook Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06334500
3 cfs 1.69 ft · 66°F 3,102 ft Upper Little Missouri
Boxelder Cr Near Nemo Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06422500
3 cfs 1.61 ft · 64°F 4,334 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
Whitewood Creek Near Whitewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436190
3 cfs 5.34 ft · 69°F 3,173 ft Lower Belle Fourche
White R Near Oglala Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446000
2 cfs 6.11 ft · 68°F 2,880 ft Upper White
Battle Cr At Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406000
2 cfs 2.52 ft · 68°F 3,284 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Bear Butte Creek Near Deadwood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437020
2 cfs 3.66 ft · 66°F 4,753 ft Lower Belle Fourche
French Cr Above Fairburn Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403300
1 cfs · · 70°F 3,825 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06445685
1 cfs 3.51 ft · 69°F 3,041 ft Upper White
Inlet Canal Above Belle Fourche Reservoir Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06434505
1 cfs 3.90 ft · 66°F 2,985 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Platte Creek Near Platte, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06452320
1 cfs 1.79 ft · 70°F 1,373 ft Fort Randall Reservoir
Redwater Cr At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430500
1 cfs 2.51 ft · 74°F 3,424 ft Redwater
Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06401500
1 cfs 2.83 ft · 68°F 3,065 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06425500
1 cfs 3.61 ft · 72°F 2,322 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06395000
0 cfs · · 69°F 3,422 ft Angostura Reservoir
Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06407500
0 cfs 3.62 ft · 70°F 3,898 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06428500
0 cfs 2.91 ft · 67°F 3,103 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477500
0 cfs 2.14 ft · 70°F 1,304 ft Lower James
Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404998
0 cfs 6.49 ft · 69°F 4,125 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481480
0 cfs · · 68°F 1,563 ft Lower Big Sioux
Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404000
0 cfs 3.21 ft · 71°F 3,815 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06355500
0 cfs · · 70°F 2,318 ft North Fork Grand
South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06440200
0 cfs 4.43 ft · 71°F 2,253 ft Bad
Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06400875
0 cfs 1.89 ft · 68°F 3,315 ft Angostura Reservoir
Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06400000
0 cfs 6.55 ft · 68°F 3,301 ft Hat
Battle Cr Below Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406500
0 cfs 1.84 ft · 69°F 2,810 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Whitewood Cr Above Vale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436198
0 cfs 1.30 ft · 67°F 2,857 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Moreau R Near Faith Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06359500
0 cfs · · 71°F 2,248 ft Lower Moreau
West Fork Vermillion R Near Parker Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478690
0 cfs · · 68°F 1,350 ft Vermillion
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Flow report FAQ

About South Dakota streamflow

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.