James River at Jamestown water level
River gauge, James River, North Dakota, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 205 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at James River at Jamestown reads 4.27 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
That puts it 1.06 ft above the median of 3.21 ft for mid-October, based on 25 years of readings. It is 7.73 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.36 ft (+0.91 ft).
The level is falling, down 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.49 ft and 4.53 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 25 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 3.21 ft1.06 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.63 ft – 9.01 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (25 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.36 ft+0.91 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.49 ft – 4.53 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.49 ft – 5.68 ft
- Highest on record
- 16.94 ftApril 11, 1969
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 12.00 ft, still 7.73 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 16.00 ft
- Major damage to homes and businesses at this level.
- 15.00 ft
- Highways 10, 52 and 281 become flooded.
- 12.00 ft
- River is out of its banks at gaging station.
- 4.27 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.94 ft | April 11, 1969 |
| 2 | 15.73 ft | April 17, 1950 |
| 3 | 15.18 ft | March 19, 1966 |
| 4 | 14.20 ft | March 14, 1929 |
| 5 | 14.13 ft | May 4, 2009 |
| 6 | 13.58 ft | July 16, 1993 |
| 7 | 13.24 ft | October 28, 2019 |
| 8 | 13.01 ft | September 20, 2011 |
| 9 | 12.99 ft | October 11, 2011 |
| 10 | 12.40 ft | July 5, 1928 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.09 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the James River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James River near Grace CityRiver gauge, James River | 4.43 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 47 mi |
| James River above Arrowwood Lake near KensalRiver gauge, James River | 2.04 ft | Normal | +0.09 ft | 36 mi |
| James River at LamoureRiver gauge, James River | 8.09 ft | Normal | +0.05 ft | 41 mi |
| James River at Nd-Sd State LineRiver gauge, James River | 88.14 ft | Normal | −0.18 ft | 70 mi |
| James River at ColumbiaRiver gauge, James River | 9.42 ft | Below flood stage | +0.18 ft | 91 mi |
| James River near StratfordRiver gauge, James River | 7.78 ft | Below flood stage | +1.02 ft | 115 mi |
| James River at AshtonRiver gauge, James River | 3.84 ft | Below flood stage | +0.13 ft | 131 mi |
| James River near RedfieldRiver gauge, James River | 3.31 ft | Below flood stage | +0.09 ft | 137 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown Dam and ReservoirReservoir | 1,430.04 ft | Normal | 3.1 mi | |
| Pipestem Creek near BuchananRiver gauge, Pipestem Creek | 9.1 cfs | Normal | −3.7 cfs | 17 mi |
| James River on State Highway 46 near AdrianRiver gauge, James River on State Highway 46 | 19.67 ft | No reference yet | −0.07 ft | 19 mi |
| Pipestem Creek near PingreeRiver gauge, Pipestem Creek | 5.70 ft | Very high | +0.01 ft | 23 mi |
| Sheyenne River below Baldhill DamRiver gauge, Sheyenne River | 24.44 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 30 mi |
| Sheyenne River at Valley CityRiver gauge, Sheyenne River | 3.22 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 32 mi |
| Baldhill Creek near DazeyRiver gauge, Baldhill Creek | 6.85 ft | Very high | −0.01 ft | 35 mi |
| Sheyenne River near CooperstownRiver gauge, Sheyenne River | 10.09 ft | Low | +0.02 ft | 49 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the James River at Jamestown compare with last year?
It is 0.91 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.36 ft.
What is flood stage for the James River at Jamestown?
The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 7.73 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the James River at Jamestown in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 3.21 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.63 ft and 9.01 ft, based on 25 years of records.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of James River at Jamestown today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 04:15 PM CDT, the water level was 4.27 ft. Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is James River at Jamestown rising or falling?
Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.52 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of James River at Jamestown normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 25 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06470000(Agency page)- Coordinates
46.88972, -98.68167(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 4.27 ft | 2026-10-18 21:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 205 cfs | 2026-10-18 21:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: James River at Jamestown (usgs:06470000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-dakota/james-river-at-jamestown
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer