Skunk Creek at Sioux Falls, SD
River level and flood forecast · Minnehaha County
Normal2.2 ftas of Mon 2:30 PM
The river is 9.3 ft below flood stage (11.5 ft).
Flow: 3 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 | 14 ft |
| Flood stage | 11.5 ft |
| Action stage | 9.5 ft |
| Record crest (March 14, 2019) | 18.23 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 26 ftThe levees near the gauge may be overtopped.
- 24 ftThe parking lot for the apartments southeast of the gage is under water.
- 22 ftSignificant flooding of the neighborhood south of 12th St and west of S Melrose Pl may take place. Portions of Marion Road begin to flood without sandbagging and levee protection.
- 21 ftSilver Valley Drive is flooded. Some homes along Skunk Creek are threatened as are a few industrial businesses and outbuildings just west of Sioux Falls.
- 18 ftDunham Park is flooded.
- 17 ftThe flow from Skunk Creek alone, even with all Big Sioux River flow diverted, can begin to cause flooding along the Big Sioux channel in southern Sioux Falls.
- 16 ftThe bridge on W 12th St is overtopped. 263rd also begins to flood.
- 15 ftThe lowest portion of the bike trail under Marion Rd begins to flood.
- 14 ftThe lowest portions of 467th St begin to flood.
- 13 ftWest Madison St near Le Mesa Drive is flooded.
- 12 ftWater approaches West 12th Street east of Sertoma Drive and may begin to flood the lowest portions. Much of the greenspace through the parks and bike trail system along creek in Sioux Falls also is flooded.
- 11.5 ftFlooding of rural agricultural land is ongoing, along with some flooding in the green space along the bike trail on the west side of Sioux Falls.
- 9.5 ftLegacy Park begins to flood.
- 7.5 ftThe lowest portion of the bike trail under 12th St may begin to flood.
Highest crests on record
- 18.23 ft — March 14, 2019
- 16.53 ft — June 22, 2024
- 15.54 ft — June 21, 1984
- 13.21 ft — April 7, 2006
- 13.1 ft — May 30, 2004
Recent crests: 4.98 ft (June 27, 2025) · 16.53 ft (June 22, 2024) · 7.52 ft (April 9, 2023) · 5.92 ft (August 7, 2022) · 7.96 ft (August 28, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamSkunk Creek near Hartford, SD
- Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls Maple Street, SD
- Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls Western Avenue, SD
- Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls N. Cliff Avenue, SD
- Silver Creek at Sioux Falls, SD
- Willow Creek near Crooks, SD
- Split Rock Creek at Corson, SD
- East Fork Vermillion River near Parker, SD
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SIFS2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.