Vermillion River at Vermillion, SD
River level and flood forecast · Clay County
Normal1.6 ftas of Mon 3:15 PM
The river is 19.4 ft below flood stage (21 ft).
Flow: 25 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 | 30 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 22 ft |
| Flood stage | 21 ft |
| Action stage | 18 ft |
| Record crest (June 23, 2024) | 33.15 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 35 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge on Highway 19.
- 31 ftThe University Road bridge at the gauge is overtopped.
- 30 ftWater reaches the bottom deck of the railroad bridge west of Vermillion. Flood waters are 10 feet deep in some farm houses, and the terminal grain corporation is flooded.
- 29 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge on University Road at the gauge.
- 28 ftThe lowest portions of University Rd north of the gauge location bridge begin to flood.
- 26 ftThe bridge on North Crawford Avenue northeast of the gauge is overtopped
- 24 ftThe bridge on University Road near 312th Street is overtopped.
- 23 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge on North Crawford Avenue northeast of the gauge.
- 21 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge on University Road near 312th Street, significant agricultural flooding begins, and a few farm houses are affected by high water.
- 18 ftMinor flooding of some low lying agricultural land begins. Portions of the bike trail at Cotton Park in Vermillion begin to flood.
Highest crests on record
- 33.15 ft — June 23, 2024
- 29.87 ft — March 16, 2019
- 23.8 ft — June 28, 2018
- 15.57 ft — May 3, 2016
- 13.58 ft — March 29, 2020
Recent crests: 5.61 ft (August 1, 2025) · 33.15 ft (June 23, 2024) · 9.81 ft (April 5, 2023) · 9.05 ft (June 2, 2022) · 4.34 ft (March 26, 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 (VERS2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.