Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls Western Avenue
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Warning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 06/20/2025 7:00 PM CDTRecord: 16.9 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 14 ft Moderate Flooding 12 ft Minor Flooding 8 ft Action 7 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
No forecasts are available for this location
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 20 - Many of the remaining levees between Skunk Creek and Western Ave are overtopped.
- 18.5 - The lower levees below Skunk Creek and above the Western Avenue gage will be overtopped.
- 16.5 - Numerous homes in southern Sioux Falls, especially between Minnesota Ave and S Phillips Ave, are in danger of flooding. The on and off ramps of I-229 at Cliff Ave begin to flood.
- 14.5 - Some houses in the Rose Street and Lotta Street areas near South Minnesota Avenue begin flooding.
- 14 - The bridge into Yanton Trail Park off of 57th St may be overtopped.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 15.44 ft | on 06-22-2024 |
| 2. | 5.56 ft | on 04-09-2023 |
| 3. | 5.73 ft | on 08-07-2022 |
| 4. | 8.94 ft | on 08-28-2021 |
| 5. | 5.45 ft | on 03-28-2020 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 15.44 ft | on 06-22-2024 |
| 2. | 5.56 ft | on 04-09-2023 |
| 3. | 5.73 ft | on 08-07-2022 |
| 4. | 8.94 ft | on 08-28-2021 |
| 5. | 5.45 ft | on 03-28-2020 |
| 6. | 16.90 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 7. | 12.00 ft | on 09-21-2018 |
| 8. | 8.04 ft | on 08-21-2017 |
| 9. | 8.98 ft | on 09-15-2016 |
| 10. | 13.17 ft | on 08-27-2015 |
| 11. | 10.73 ft | on 06-16-2014 |
| 12. | 11.26 ft | on 05-26-2013 |
| 13. | 5.19 ft | on 05-09-2012 |
| 14. | 10.89 ft | on 07-27-2011 |
| 15. | 12.44 ft | on 07-30-2010 |
| 16. | 5.46 ft | on 07-07-2009 |
| 17. | 5.94 ft | on 06-03-2008 |
| 18. | 11.92 ft | on 03-11-2007 |
| 19. | 12.71 ft | on 04-07-2006 |
| 20. | 5.29 ft | on 06-04-2005 |
| 21. | 13.00 ft | on 04-23-2001 |
| 22. | 9.30 ft | on 09-19-1986 |
| 23. | 9.32 ft | on 04-23-1985 |
| 24. | 15.80 ft | on 06-21-1984 |
| 25. | 11.75 ft | on 03-20-1979 |
| 26. | 11.25 ft | on 03-20-1978 |
| 27. | 14.20 ft | on 04-10-1969 |
| 28. | 15.56 ft | on 03-30-1960 |
| 29. | 7.58 ft | on 05-28-1959 |
| 30. | 3.49 ft | on 04-06-1958 |
| 31. | 16.01 ft | on 06-17-1957 |
| 32. | 4.03 ft | on 07-15-1956 |
| 33. | 8.43 ft | on 03-10-1955 |
| 34. | 8.79 ft | on 03-20-1954 |
| 35. | 8.28 ft | on 06-27-1953 |
| 36. | 14.50 ft | on 04-07-1952 |
| 37. | 14.30 ft | on 04-06-1951 |
| 38. | 8.10 ft | on 03-26-1950 |
| 39. | 9.75 ft | on 04-06-1949 |
| 40. | 13.90 ft | on 02-28-1948 |
| 41. | 10.80 ft | on 06-10-1947 |
| 42. | 8.20 ft | on 03-19-1946 |
| 43. | 9.40 ft | on 02-15-1945 |
| 44. | 10.24 ft | on 02-26-1944 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 16.90 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 2. | 16.01 ft | on 06-17-1957 |
| 3. | 15.80 ft | on 06-21-1984 |
| 4. | 15.56 ft | on 03-30-1960 |
| 5. | 15.44 ft | on 06-22-2024 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 16.90 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 2. | 16.01 ft | on 06-17-1957 |
| 3. | 15.80 ft | on 06-21-1984 |
| 4. | 15.56 ft | on 03-30-1960 |
| 5. | 15.44 ft | on 06-22-2024 |
| 6. | 14.50 ft | on 04-07-1952 |
| 7. | 14.30 ft | on 04-06-1951 |
| 8. | 14.20 ft | on 04-10-1969 |
| 9. | 13.90 ft | on 02-28-1948 |
| 10. | 13.17 ft | on 08-27-2015 |
| 11. | 13.00 ft | on 04-23-2001 |
| 12. | 12.71 ft | on 04-07-2006 |
| 13. | 12.44 ft | on 07-30-2010 |
| 14. | 12.00 ft | on 09-21-2018 |
| 15. | 11.92 ft | on 03-11-2007 |
| 16. | 11.75 ft | on 03-20-1979 |
| 17. | 11.26 ft | on 05-26-2013 |
| 18. | 11.25 ft | on 03-20-1978 |
| 19. | 10.89 ft | on 07-27-2011 |
| 20. | 10.80 ft | on 06-10-1947 |
| 21. | 10.73 ft | on 06-16-2014 |
| 22. | 10.24 ft | on 02-26-1944 |
| 23. | 9.75 ft | on 04-06-1949 |
| 24. | 9.40 ft | on 02-15-1945 |
| 25. | 9.32 ft | on 04-23-1985 |
| 26. | 9.30 ft | on 09-19-1986 |
| 27. | 8.98 ft | on 09-15-2016 |
| 28. | 8.94 ft | on 08-28-2021 |
| 29. | 8.79 ft | on 03-20-1954 |
| 30. | 8.43 ft | on 03-10-1955 |
| 31. | 8.28 ft | on 06-27-1953 |
| 32. | 8.20 ft | on 03-19-1946 |
| 33. | 8.10 ft | on 03-26-1950 |
| 34. | 8.04 ft | on 08-21-2017 |
| 35. | 7.58 ft | on 05-28-1959 |
| 36. | 5.94 ft | on 06-03-2008 |
| 37. | 5.73 ft | on 08-07-2022 |
| 38. | 5.56 ft | on 04-09-2023 |
| 39. | 5.46 ft | on 07-07-2009 |
| 40. | 5.45 ft | on 03-28-2020 |
| 41. | 5.29 ft | on 06-04-2005 |
| 42. | 5.19 ft | on 05-09-2012 |
| 43. | 4.03 ft | on 07-15-1956 |
| 44. | 3.49 ft | on 04-06-1958 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 1407.58 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 1405.58 ft |
| minor Flooding | 1401.58 ft |
| action | 1400.58 ft |
| Latest Value | 1394.73 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 1393.58 ft |
Probability Information
No Images Available
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.
Resources
Hydrologic Resource Links
- River Forecast Centers
- NWS Sioux Falls Flooding Resource Page
- NOHRSC Snow Information
- USACE Missouri River Water Management
- USGS National Water Dashboard
- FEMA Flood Insurance Information
- South Dakota Flood Information System
- Iowa Flood Information System
- Missouri River Flood Information System
- Minnesota DNR
- Nebraska Real-Time Flood Forecasting
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