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SwedenBelle Fourche River near Sturgis water level
River gauge, Belle Fourche River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 35.3 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Belle Fourche River near Sturgis reads 2.45 ft, a normal level.
It is 12.55 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 3.37 ft, a difference of −0.92 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.43 ft and 2.82 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
- 3.37 ft−0.92 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.43 ft – 2.82 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.43 ft – 4.42 ft
- Highest on record
- 20.10 ftJune 6, 2008
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 15.00 ft, still 12.55 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 19.00 ft
- Major flood stage. Extensive flooding of roads and agricultural land along the Belle Fourche River.
- 17.00 ft
- Moderate flood stage. Some inundation of roads may occur along the Belle Fourche River.
- 15.00 ft
- Flood stage. Flooding of agricultural land begins.
- 13.00 ft
- Low land flooding along the river.
- 2.45 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: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20.10 ft | June 6, 2008 |
| 2 | 19.10 ft | May 21, 1982 |
| 3 | 17.39 ft | May 25, 2011 |
| 4 | 17.10 ft | May 10, 1995 |
| 5 | 16.45 ft | May 28, 1996 |
| 6 | 16.04 ft | June 15, 1976 |
| 7 | 15.80 ft | April 13, 2009 |
| 8 | 15.76 ft | May 22, 2019 |
| 9 | 15.20 ft | October 12, 2013 |
| 10 | 14.96 ft | February 20, 1997 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Belle Fourche River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche River below MoorcroftRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 1.16 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 90 mi |
| Belle Fourche River at Wy-Sd State LineRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 3.43 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 48 mi |
| Belle Fourche River near FruitdaleRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 1.58 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 32 mi |
| Belle Fourche River near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 3.75 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 30 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewood Creek above ValeRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek | 0.0 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 18 mi |
| Elk Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Elk Creek | 4.14 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 19 mi |
| Bear Butte Creek at Avalanche Road at SturgisRiver gauge, Bear Butte Creek | 1.75 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 21 mi |
| Whitewood Creek near WhitewoodRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek | 5.47 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 22 mi |
| Bear Butte Creek near GalenaRiver gauge, Bear Butte Creek | 3.52 ft | Below flood stage | +0.11 ft | 23 mi |
| Whitewood Creek above WhitewoodRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek | 0.24 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 25 mi |
| Bear Butte Creek near DeadwoodRiver gauge, Bear Butte Creek | 3.59 ft | Very low | ±0 | 27 mi |
| Boxelder Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Boxelder Creek | 29.71 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 28 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Belle Fourche River near Sturgis higher than last year?
No, it is 0.92 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.37 ft.
What is flood stage for the Belle Fourche River near Sturgis?
The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 12.55 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 Belle Fourche River near Sturgis today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 03:15 PM MDT, the water level was 2.45 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Belle Fourche River near Sturgis rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Belle Fourche River near Sturgis normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Belle Fourche River near Sturgis?
The highest level on record is 20.10 ft on June 6, 2008.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06437000(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.51306, -103.13639(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 | 2.45 ft | 2026-10-20 21:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 35.3 cfs | 2026-10-20 21:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Belle Fourche River near Sturgis (usgs:06437000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/belle-fourche-river-near-sturgis
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