Is the James River flooding?

South Dakota · 10 gauges · South Dakota river levels

The James River is tracked by 10 USGS streamgauges in South Dakota. This page compares each gauge’s live water level against its official National Weather Service flood stage, refreshed every 15 minutes, so you can tell whether the James River is running normal, rising toward flood stage, or already flooding. 9 of 10 gauges have both a usable water-level reading and a published minor flood stage. Gauges without a published flood stage show water level and flow only. For nearby rivers, see all South Dakota river levels.

data refreshed 14 min ago

Readings may be delayed; check each observation time below. This gauge summary does not rule out flooding on unmonitored stretches or nearby streets.

River facts

The longest-running gauge on this river is James River at Huron, SD. The highest level ever recorded there was 21.28 ft on 6 April 1997, carrying 23,400 cfs. Peak records there go back to 1881 (88 annual peaks). It is currently at 9.17 ft, 12.1 ft below that record.

Drains 15,846 sq mi · gauge elevation 1,224 ft · source: USGS peak-flow record

GaugeStatusStageFlood stageUpdated
James River at Columbia, SDNo flooding4.11 ft13 ft
James River near Stratford, SDNo flooding5.61 ft14 ft
James River at Ashton, SDNo flooding3.75 ft13 ft
James River near Redfield, SDNo flooding3.44 ft20 ft
James River at Huron, SDNo flooding9.17 ft11.5 ft
James River near Forestburg, SDNo flooding5.01 ft12 ft
James River near Mitchell, SDNo flooding10.55 ft17 ft
James River near Scotland, SDNo flooding5.06 ft13 ft
James River near Yankton, SDNo flooding4.23 ft12 ft
James River below Columbia, SDNo current data
Provisional data: Real-time readings are provisional and subject to revision by the USGS — sensors can be affected by ice, debris, or equipment malfunction. Do not rely on this site for decisions involving personal safety; follow official guidance from the National Weather Service and local authorities.