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Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls water level

River gauge, Big Sioux River, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

5.05ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
154 cfs
10 20 Highest onrecord 26.08 ft Minor floodstage 16.00 ft

History

5.15.2ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 20Oct 215.15.2ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 21
5.05.56.0ftSep 22Sep 29Oct 6Oct 13Oct 215.05.56.0ftSep 22Oct 6Oct 21
5678ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20265678ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
5678ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20265678ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The gauge at Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls reads 5.05 ft, a normal level.

It is 10.95 ft below the flood stage of 16.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 6.78 ft (−1.73 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 5.04 ft and 6.28 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
6.78 ft−1.73 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
5.04 ft – 6.28 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
4.95 ft – 7.87 ft
Highest on record
26.08 ftSeptember 14, 2019

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 16.00 ft, still 10.95 ft away.

What happens at each level

30.00 ft
The levees upstream of the gauge will begin to be overtopped.
28.00 ft
The levees downstream of the gage will be overtopped.
22.00 ft
Portions of Rice St between Cleveland and Veterans Pkwy begin to flood.
18.00 ft
Significant amounts of rural land downstream of Sioux Falls, and the salvage yard in extreme eastern Sioux Falls, will begin to flood. If levees fail, significant flooding around the city street department shops will result.
17.50 ft
60th Street North and Timberline Road begin to flood.
16.00 ft
Rural flooding downstream of Sioux Falls begins, and the Glenwood Stable begins to flood.
5.05 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 %.

RankLevelDate
126.08 ftSeptember 14, 2019
225.40 ftJune 22, 1984
323.84 ftJuly 7, 1993
423.11 ftApril 7, 1997
522.62 ftJune 23, 2024
622.06 ftMarch 26, 2019
721.57 ftSeptember 27, 2010
821.53 ftMarch 25, 2011
920.99 ftSeptember 24, 1986
1020.99 ftApril 23, 2001

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 70° 42° – Wind 14 mph
21 Wed 72° 47° – Wind 7 mph
22 Thu 75° 47° – Wind 13 mph
23 Fri 77° 61° 0.04 in Wind 21 mph
24 Sat 68° 54° 0.46 in, 27% Wind 18 mph
25 Sun 52° 37° 0.29 in, 39% Wind 15 mph
26 Mon 42° 34° 0.32 in, 41% Wind 13 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:49 AM Sunset 06:35 PM Daylight 10 hr, 46 min Waxing gibbous 75%

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 5.04 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 94 mi
Big Sioux River below WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 4.48 ft Below flood stage ±0 90 mi
Big Sioux River near CastlewoodRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 4.83 ft Below flood stage +0.06 ft 82 mi
Big Sioux River near BruceRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.12 ft Below flood stage ±0 63 mi
Big Sioux River near BrookingsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 2.27 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 42 mi
Big Sioux River near Dell RapidsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.22 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 16 mi
Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.13 ft Below flood stage ±0 2.7 mi
Big Sioux River at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 1.48 ft Below flood stage ±0 4.9 mi
Big Sioux River near HawardenRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 11.99 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 37 mi
Big Sioux River at AkronRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 5.55 ft Below flood stage −0.06 ft 51 mi
Big Sioux River near JeffersonRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 9.35 ft Below flood stage −0.07 ft 66 mi
Big Sioux River at Sioux CityRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 9.95 ft Very low −0.01 ft 73 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Silver Creek at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Silver Creek 0.92 ft Below flood stage ±0 2.6 mi
Skunk Creek at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Skunk Creek 2.21 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 4.6 mi
Willow Creek near CrooksRiver gauge, Willow Creek 3.70 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 7 mi
Split Rock Creek at CorsonRiver gauge, Split Rock Creek 1.83 ft Below flood stage ±0 8 mi
Skunk Creek near HartfordRiver gauge, Skunk Creek 3.57 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 11 mi
Skunk Creek near ChesterRiver gauge, Skunk Creek 0.75 ft Below flood stage ±0 20 mi
East Fork Vermillion River near ParkerRiver gauge, East Fork Vermillion River 5.94 ft Below flood stage −4.97 ft 22 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls compare with last year?

It is 1.73 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 6.78 ft.

What is flood stage for the Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls?

The official flood stage is 16.00 ft. The level is currently 10.95 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 North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 02:30 AM CDT, the water level was 5.05 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls 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 North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls?

The highest level on record is 26.08 ft on September 14, 2019.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:06482020 (Agency page)
Coordinates
43.56703, -96.71100 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 5.05 ft 2026-10-21 07:30 Provisional
Flow 154 cfs 2026-10-21 07:30 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls (usgs:06482020). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/big-sioux-river-at-north-cliff-ave-at-sioux-falls

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