Missouri River near St. James, NE
River level and flood forecast · Cedar County
Normal32.1 ftas of Mon 3:30 PM
The river is 12.9 ft below flood stage (45 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 | 50 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 48 ft |
| Flood stage | 45 ft |
| Action stage | 43 ft |
| Record crest (March 15, 2019) | 39.5 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 50 ftHouses along Blue Ribbon Lane downstream of the gauge on the Nebraska side will begin flooding.
- 48 ftSome cabins in and downstream of Brooky Bottom Park are flooded.
- 45 ftThe boat ramp and parking lot at Brooky Bottom Park begin to flood. Significant flooding of agricultural lands begins on the South Dakota side of the river, and water reaches into some yards on the Nebraska side.
- 43 ftMinor flooding of agricultural land begins on the South Dakota side of the river.
Highest crests on record
- 39.5 ft — March 15, 2019
- 36.61 ft — January 5, 2015
- 35.96 ft — September 12, 2014
- 35.85 ft — December 30, 2025
- 35.62 ft — June 25, 2024
Recent crests: 35.85 ft (December 30, 2025) · 35.62 ft (June 25, 2024) · 34 ft (September 27, 2023) · 34.43 ft (January 8, 2022) · 33.51 ft (August 20, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (MSJN1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.