South Dakota River Levels & Streamflow
As of Nov 6, 2026, South Dakota rivers are running at 172% of normal across 92 USGS gauges — the highest is 996 cfs on the White River Near White River. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in South Dakota.
South Dakota river map
See South Dakota’s rivers on a live map
Every gauge, river and reservoir, one tap each:
- Rivers now — which are running high or low
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South Dakota river conditions today
Where rivers are running versus normal, what’s spiking and what’s coming — refreshed daily from USGS and NOAA.
Streamflow levels across South Dakota are currently 172% of normal, with the White River Near White River reporting the highest discharge in the state at 996 cfs and a gauge stage of 5.82 ft.
Meanwhile, the Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd is seeing a spike today — up 68% 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.
How South Dakota’s rivers compare to normal
Every gauge placed by its own percent of normal, and three years of the statewide trend.
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 Nov 2023. The dotted line is normal.
799 daily readings from 83 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 flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | Gage height | Water temp | Air temp | Elevation | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
White River Near White River, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447450 |
996 cfs | 5.82 ft | · | 33°F | 1,775 ft | Middle White |
|
James R At Huron Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06476000 |
818 cfs | 9.91 ft | · | 35°F | 1,233 ft | Middle James |
|
James R Near Forestburg Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477000 |
716 cfs | 6.96 ft | · | 36°F | 1,214 ft | Lower James |
|
Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06480000 |
715 cfs | 4.54 ft | · | 35°F | 1,562 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
James R Near Scotland Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478500 |
713 cfs | 5.39 ft | · | 38°F | 1,187 ft | Lower James |
|
Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482020 |
712 cfs | 6.54 ft | · | 38°F | 1,303 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
James River Nr Yankton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478513 |
707 cfs | 4.29 ft | · | 38°F | 1,164 ft | Lower James |
|
James R Near Mitchell Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478000 |
594 cfs | 12.05 ft | · | 37°F | 1,206 ft | Lower James |
|
Big Sioux River Near Bruce, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479770 |
574 cfs | 5.47 ft | · | 35°F | 1,630 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Big Sioux R Near Dell Rapids Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481000 |
468 cfs | 4.61 ft | · | 37°F | 1,464 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
White R Near Oacoma Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06452000 |
391 cfs | 8.65 ft | · | 33°F | 1,394 ft | Lower White |
|
Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479525 |
346 cfs | 7.18 ft | · | 31°F | 1,682 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
James R Near Redfield Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06475000 |
326 cfs | 4.86 ft | · | 29°F | 1,264 ft | Middle James |
|
Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482000 |
251 cfs | 2.17 ft | · | 38°F | 1,395 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
James R At Ashton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06473000 |
248 cfs | 4.97 ft | · | 29°F | 1,271 ft | Middle James |
|
James R Near Stratford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06472000 |
247 cfs | 7.98 ft | · | 30°F | 1,276 ft | Upper James |
|
Little White R Below White River Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06450500 |
234 cfs | 2.35 ft | · | 34°F | 1,927 ft | Little White |
|
Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479010 |
220 cfs | 3.36 ft | · | 40°F | 1,137 ft | Vermillion |
|
Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438500 |
179 cfs | 8.33 ft | 60°F | 32°F | 1,865 ft | Lower Cheyenne |
|
White R Near Kadoka Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447000 |
166 cfs | 4.55 ft | · | 32°F | 2,131 ft | Middle White |
|
Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05291000 |
162 cfs | 2.81 ft | · | 38°F | 1,017 ft | Upper Minnesota |
|
Inlet Canal Above Belle Fourche Reservoir Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06434505 |
162 cfs | 5.00 ft | · | 30°F | 2,985 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
James R At Columbia Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471000 |
160 cfs | 6.43 ft | · | 37°F | 1,287 ft | Upper James |
|
Redwater River Above Belle Fourche Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06433000 |
147 cfs | 3.13 ft | · | 30°F | 3,018 ft | Redwater |
|
Little White R Near Rosebud Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449500 |
145 cfs | 4.41 ft | · | 34°F | 2,305 ft | Little White |
|
Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481500 |
143 cfs | 3.79 ft | · | 39°F | 1,411 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479500 |
138 cfs | 5.20 ft | · | 31°F | 1,717 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Cheyenne River Near Wasta, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06423500 |
136 cfs | · | · | 34°F | 2,269 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Big Sioux R Near Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479438 |
133 cfs | 5.58 ft | · | 31°F | 1,742 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
James River At Nd-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06470878 |
119 cfs | 87.83 ft | 32°F | 29°F | 1,290 ft | Upper James |
|
White R Near Interior Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446500 |
107 cfs | 4.07 ft | · | 32°F | 2,300 ft | Middle White |
|
Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464500 |
98 cfs | 2.59 ft | · | 34°F | 2,053 ft | Keya Paha |
|
Little Minnesota River Near Peever, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05290000 |
92 cfs | 10.93 ft | · | 37°F | 1,015 ft | Upper Minnesota |
|
Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482610 |
82 cfs | 2.37 ft | · | 36°F | 1,307 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Grand R At Little Eagle Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06357800 |
79 cfs | 2.80 ft | · | 29°F | 1,640 ft | Grand |
|
Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402600 |
78 cfs | 2.45 ft | · | 33°F | 2,820 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437000 |
62 cfs | 2.71 ft | · | 34°F | 2,546 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464100 |
61 cfs | 5.02 ft | · | 33°F | 2,220 ft | Keya Paha |
|
Cheyenne River At Redshirt, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403700 |
59 cfs | 9.59 ft | 50°F | 34°F | 2,670 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Little White R Near Vetal Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449100 |
57 cfs | 3.47 ft | 42°F | 34°F | 2,789 ft | Little White |
|
Rapid Cr Near Farmingdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06421500 |
44 cfs | 5.75 ft | · | 36°F | 2,711 ft | Rapid |
|
Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438000 |
39 cfs | 4.04 ft | · | 33°F | 2,180 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Spearfish Cr At Spearfish Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06431500 |
36 cfs | 4.81 ft | · | 38°F | 3,669 ft | Redwater |
|
Redwater Cr At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430500 |
34 cfs | 2.98 ft | · | 32°F | 3,424 ft | Redwater |
|
Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06410500 |
34 cfs | 4.75 ft | · | 27°F | 4,628 ft | Rapid |
|
Rapid Cr At Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06414000 |
31 cfs | 3.30 ft | · | 39°F | 3,246 ft | Rapid |
|
East Fork Vermillion River Near Parker, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478600 |
30 cfs | 6.67 ft | · | 38°F | 1,328 ft | Vermillion |
|
Black Pipe Creek Nr Belvidere, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447230 |
30 cfs | 3.00 ft | · | 33°F | 2,055 ft | Middle White |
|
Fall R At Hot Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402000 |
27 cfs | · | · | 37°F | 3,430 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Little White R Near Martin Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447500 |
23 cfs | 1.13 ft | · | 33°F | 3,069 ft | Little White |
|
Moreau R Near Whitehorse Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06360500 |
22 cfs | 2.06 ft | · | 30°F | 1,670 ft | Lower Moreau |
|
Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06441500 |
21 cfs | 1.39 ft | · | 34°F | 1,437 ft | Bad |
|
Moreau R Near Faith Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06359500 |
19 cfs | · | · | 29°F | 2,248 ft | Lower Moreau |
|
Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06428500 |
18 cfs | 3.48 ft | · | 30°F | 3,103 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Elm R At Westport Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471500 |
17 cfs | 4.38 ft | · | 37°F | 1,323 ft | Elm |
|
Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06411500 |
17 cfs | 7.21 ft | · | 30°F | 4,420 ft | Rapid |
|
Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05050000 |
15 cfs | 3.88 ft | · | 37°F | 968 ft | Bois De Sioux |
|
Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430850 |
12 cfs | 4.75 ft | · | 30°F | 5,053 ft | Redwater |
|
Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446700 |
11 cfs | 1.72 ft | · | 33°F | 2,526 ft | Middle White |
|
Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06395000 |
10 cfs | 1.23 ft | · | 35°F | 3,422 ft | Angostura Reservoir |
|
White R Near Oglala Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446000 |
10 cfs | 6.46 ft | · | 31°F | 2,880 ft | Upper White |
|
Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412500 |
9 cfs | 1.62 ft | 35°F | 38°F | 3,416 ft | Rapid |
|
South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06356500 |
9 cfs | · | · | 27°F | 2,425 ft | South Fork Grand |
|
White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06445685 |
9 cfs | 3.74 ft | · | 31°F | 3,041 ft | Upper White |
|
Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06409000 |
9 cfs | 2.76 ft | · | 27°F | 5,929 ft | Rapid |
|
Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412810 |
8 cfs | 2.62 ft | · | 38°F | 3,371 ft | Rapid |
|
Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449000 |
8 cfs | 2.76 ft | · | 33°F | 2,991 ft | Little White |
|
Belle Fourche R Near Fruitdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436000 |
8 cfs | 1.57 ft | · | 30°F | 2,940 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402500 |
6 cfs | 4.05 ft | · | 36°F | 3,161 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Whitewood Cr Above Whitewood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436180 |
5 cfs | · | · | 37°F | 3,681 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Boxelder Cr Near Nemo Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06422500 |
4 cfs | 1.21 ft | · | 31°F | 4,334 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477500 |
4 cfs | 2.88 ft | · | 36°F | 1,304 ft | Lower James |
|
Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06408700 |
4 cfs | 3.68 ft | · | 28°F | 5,981 ft | Rapid |
|
Little Missouri R At Camp Crook Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06334500 |
3 cfs | 1.74 ft | · | 27°F | 3,102 ft | Upper Little Missouri |
|
Battle Cr At Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406000 |
3 cfs | 2.60 ft | · | 37°F | 3,284 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Whitewood Creek Near Whitewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436190 |
2 cfs | 5.55 ft | · | 35°F | 3,173 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
French Cr Above Fairburn Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403300 |
2 cfs | · | · | 39°F | 3,825 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481480 |
1 cfs | · | · | 37°F | 1,563 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404998 |
1 cfs | 6.82 ft | · | 38°F | 4,125 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Platte Creek Near Platte, Sd
3 days ago · USGS 06452320 |
1 cfs | 1.62 ft | · | 46°F | 1,373 ft | Fort Randall Reservoir |
|
Bear Butte Creek Near Deadwood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437020 |
1 cfs | 3.62 ft | · | 32°F | 4,753 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404000 |
0 cfs | 3.32 ft | · | 39°F | 3,815 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd, Sd
2 days ago · USGS 06425500 |
0 cfs | 3.48 ft | · | 34°F | 2,322 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd, Sd
3 days ago · USGS 06400875 |
0 cfs | 1.73 ft | · | 37°F | 3,315 ft | Angostura Reservoir |
|
Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06400000 |
0 cfs | 6.51 ft | · | 36°F | 3,301 ft | Hat |
|
Battle Cr Below Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406500 |
0 cfs | 1.84 ft | · | 35°F | 2,810 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06407500 |
0 cfs | 3.37 ft | · | 38°F | 3,898 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Whitewood Cr Above Vale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436198 |
0 cfs | 1.47 ft | · | 35°F | 2,857 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Murray Ditch Ab Headgate At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06429997 |
0 cfs | · | · | 32°F | 3,457 ft | Redwater |
|
North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06355500 |
0 cfs | · | · | 26°F | 2,318 ft | North Fork Grand |
|
South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06440200 |
0 cfs | 3.30 ft | · | 31°F | 2,253 ft | Bad |
|
Foot Creek Near Aberdeen, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471800 |
0 cfs | 3.94 ft | · | 37°F | 1,329 ft | Upper James |
About South Dakota streamflow
What are river levels like in South Dakota right now?
As of November 6, 2026, South Dakota rivers are running at 172% of normal across 92 USGS streamgauges, and the White River Near White River is reporting the highest discharge at 996 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.
Which South Dakota river is running highest right now?
As of November 6, 2026, the highest discharge in South Dakota is 996 cfs on the White River Near White River. 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.