James River near Scotland, SD

River level and flood forecast · Hutchinson County

Normal4.2 ftas of Mon 2:30 PM

The river is 8.8 ft below flood stage (13 ft).

Flow: 145 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	18 ft
Moderate flood stage	16 ft
Flood stage	13 ft
Action stage	11 ft
Record crest (September 13, 2019)	22.22 ft

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

27 ftPortions of the bridge on Maxwell Road begin to flood.
25 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge at the Maxwell Colony, and the bridge on Highway 18 near Olivet is overtopped.
24 ftThe bridge on 431st Avenue 4 miles southeast of the Maxwell Colony is overtopped.
22 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge on Highway 18 near Olivet and begins to flood the low spot of the road east of the bridge.
21 ftAdditional levees protecting structures along the river may be overtopped. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 431st Avenue 4 miles southeast of the Maxwell Colony. Maxwell road about 200 yards northeast of the bridge begins to flood.
20 ftHighway 44 between Parkston and Freeman, Highway 46 west of Irene, Stone Church Road between Highway 46 and Menno, Highway 81 north of Yankton, and the Jamesville Colony Road in northern Yankton County will all be flooded.
19 ftStructures near the mouth of Wolf Creek may flood if the flow from the creek is also high.
18 ftResidential structures are at risk of flooding, especially if levee protection fails. Highway 44 south of Milltown and Keiber Road in Milltown will be flooded.
17.5 ftFlooding begins to affect some farm buildings and rural structures and 431st Ave is flooded.
16 ftApproximately 22850 acres of farmland are flooded between Mitchell and Yankton. The lowest portions of SW Jim River Rd between Maxwell rd and Hwy 18 begin to flood and water approaches 431st Ave.
14 ftApproximately 4400 acres of farmland are flooded between Mitchell and Yankton.
13 ftSignificant agricultural flooding begins.
11 ftThe lower left bank overflows with some very minor flooding of low lying areas.

Highest crests on record

22.22 ft — September 13, 2019
20.45 ft — June 23, 1984
20.23 ft — June 21, 2024
19.88 ft — April 13, 2001
19.81 ft — April 8, 1997

Recent crests: 10.32 ft (August 7, 2025) · 20.23 ft (June 21, 2024) · 15.13 ft (May 2, 2023) · 12.51 ft (June 18, 2022) · 6.03 ft (March 26, 2021)

Up and down the river, and nearby

See it on the live map →Radar & warnings for Hutchinson County NWS gauge page USGS gauge 06478500

Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SCOS2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.