South Branch Buffalo River at Sabin, MN
River level and flood forecast · Clay County
Normal7.1 ftas of Mon 2:45 PM
The river is 5.9 ft below flood stage (13 ft).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 19 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 15 ft |
| Flood stage | 13 ft |
| Action stage | 12 ft |
| Record crest (July 2, 1975) | 19.9 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 19 ftMAJOR FLOOD STAGE.
- 17 ftBridge deck at gage floods.
- 15 ftMODERATE FLOOD STAGE.
- 14.2 ftRoad to access gage floods.
- 14 ftAgricultural flooding begins.
- 13 ftMINOR FLOOD STAGE. Flooding on road cut at old meander scar east of gage begins.
- 12 ftACTION STAGE/FORECAST SERVICE STAGE.
Highest crests on record
- 19.9 ft — July 2, 1975
- 19.11 ft — April 6, 1997
- 19.08 ft — March 25, 2009
- 18.29 ft — April 1, 2006
- 18.12 ft — April 10, 1969
Recent crests: 10.45 ft (March 10, 2026) · 15.19 ft (August 10, 2025) · 13.63 ft (June 5, 2024) · 17.71 ft (April 14, 2023) · 14.3 ft (May 13, 2022)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- Red River of the North at Fargo, ND
- Wild Rice River (ND) near St. Benedict, ND
- Red River of the North at Hickson, ND
- Buffalo River (MN) near Dilworth, MN
- Sheyenne River Diversion near Horace, ND
- Sheyenne River above Sheyenne River Diversion near Horace, ND
- Buffalo River (MN) near Hawley, MN
- Sheyenne River at West Fargo, ND
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SABM5); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.