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SwedenBig Sioux River at Akron water level
River gauge, Big Sioux River, Iowa, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 849 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Big Sioux River at Akron is at 5.66 ft, in the normal range.
It is 10.34 ft below the flood stage of 16.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 5.70 ft (−0.04 ft).
It has dropped 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 5.53 ft and 7.40 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Same day last year
- 5.70 ft−0.04 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 5.53 ft – 7.40 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 4.30 ft – 9.71 ft
- Highest on record
- 27.35 ftJune 22, 2024
Floating and fishing near Big Sioux River at Akron
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 16.00 ft, 10.34 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 26.00 ft
- The western portions of Akron will be flooded with water reaching as far as the city park and baseball field to the downtown area, especially if water is able to come in through the storm drains.
- 25.00 ft
- The lowest levees in Akron will begin to be overtopped if not sandbagged, resulting in more significant flooding in the western edges of Akron.
- 23.25 ft
- Levee gates at Riverside in Sioux City will be closed.
- 23.00 ft
- Much of Highway 48 will be flooded on both sides of the bridge. Water begins to enter the northwest portions of Akron if levee protection fails, potentially flooding a couple of structures near the intersection of Hwy 48 and Hwy 12. Highway 50 near Westfield will be flooded, and the bridge east of Jefferson will be overtopped.
- 22.00 ft
- The lower portions of the railroad tracks in Akron begin to flood if levee protection fails.
- 20.00 ft
- Highway 48/Big Sioux River Rd just west of Akron begins to flood as does the parking lot at the boat ramp in Akron begins to flood.
- 19.50 ft
- A few farm houses may begin flooding.
- 17.00 ft
- About 6500 acres of farm land are flooded.
- 16.00 ft
- Several farm levees are overtopped with significant flooding of agricultural lands.
- 15.00 ft
- Some rural roads on the South Dakota side of the river begin to flood.
- 12.00 ft
- Some very minor flooding of the lowest lying areas along the river begins.
- 5.66 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 18 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27.35 ft | June 22, 2024 |
| 2 | 25.46 ft | June 18, 2014 |
| 3 | 23.94 ft | March 16, 2019 |
| 4 | 23.45 ft | June 23, 2018 |
| 5 | 23.38 ft | April 26, 2001 |
| 6 | 23.05 ft | May 10, 1993 |
| 7 | 22.99 ft | April 9, 1969 |
| 8 | 22.88 ft | September 27, 2010 |
| 9 | 22.64 ft | April 9, 1997 |
| 10 | 22.32 ft | April 10, 2006 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Big Sioux River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sioux River at Broadway at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.07 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 144 mi |
| Big Sioux River below WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 4.47 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 141 mi |
| Big Sioux River near CastlewoodRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 4.74 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 133 mi |
| Big Sioux River near BruceRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.15 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 114 mi |
| Big Sioux River near BrookingsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 2.29 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 93 mi |
| Big Sioux River near Dell RapidsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.25 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 66 mi |
| Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.12 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 52 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 1.48 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 47 mi |
| Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.07 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 51 mi |
| Big Sioux River near HawardenRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 12.04 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 15 mi |
| Big Sioux River near JeffersonRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 9.50 ft | Below flood stage | +0.10 ft | 15 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Sioux CityRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 10.03 ft | Very low | +0.14 ft | 22 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Creek near MillnervilleRiver gauge, Perry Creek | 0.98 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 14 mi |
| Perry Creek near HintonRiver gauge, Perry Creek | 15.22 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 18 mi |
| Missouri River near MaskellRiver gauge, Missouri River | 21.16 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 21 mi |
| Floyd River at JamesRiver gauge, Floyd River | 8.71 ft | Below flood stage | +0.07 ft | 22 mi |
| Perry Creek at 38th Street at Sioux CityRiver gauge, Perry Creek | 6.57 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 22 mi |
| Missouri River at Sioux CityRiver gauge, Missouri River | 10.54 ft | Below flood stage | +0.06 ft | 25 mi |
| Missouri River near St. JamesRiver gauge, Missouri River | 32.05 ft | Very low | −0.03 ft | 27 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Big Sioux River at Akron compare with last year?
It is 0.04 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.70 ft.
What is flood stage for the Big Sioux River at Akron?
The official flood stage is 16.00 ft. The level is currently 10.34 ft below it.
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 Big Sioux River at Akron today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 11:00 AM CDT, the water level was 5.66 ft. Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Big Sioux River at Akron rising or falling?
Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.09 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Big Sioux River at Akron normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Big Sioux River at Akron?
The highest level on record is 27.35 ft on June 22, 2024.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06485500(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.83751, -96.56193(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 | 5.66 ft | 2026-10-19 16:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 849 cfs | 2026-10-19 16:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Big Sioux River at Akron (usgs:06485500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/big-sioux-river-at-akron
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