Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls N. Cliff Avenue, SD
River level and flood forecast · Minnehaha County
Normal5.2 ftas of Mon 3:30 PM
The river is 10.8 ft below flood stage (16 ft).
Flow: 161 cubic feet per second (USGS).
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 | 31 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 18 ft |
| Flood stage | 16 ft |
| Action stage | 14 ft |
| Record crest (September 14, 2019) | 26.08 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 30 ftThe levees upstream of the gauge will begin to be overtopped.
- 28 ftThe levees downstream of the gage will be overtopped.
- 22 ftPortions of Rice St between Cleveland and Veterans Pkwy begin to flood.
- 18 ftSignificant amounts of rural land downstream of Sioux Falls, and the salvage yard in extreme eastern Sioux Falls, will begin to flood. If levees fail, significant flooding around the city street department shops will result.
- 17.5 ft60th Street North and Timberline Road begin to flood.
- 16 ftRural flooding downstream of Sioux Falls begins, and the Glenwood Stable begins to flood.
Highest crests on record
- 26.08 ft — September 14, 2019
- 25.4 ft — June 22, 1984
- 23.84 ft — July 7, 1993
- 23.11 ft — April 7, 1997
- 22.62 ft — June 23, 2024
Recent crests: 12.18 ft (July 10, 2025) · 22.62 ft (June 23, 2024) · 14.7 ft (April 11, 2023) · 11.01 ft (August 7, 2022) · 11.27 ft (August 29, 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 (SXFS2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.