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SwedenBig Sioux River near Jefferson water level
River gauge, Big Sioux River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 840 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Big Sioux River near Jefferson reads 9.35 ft, a normal level.
It is 21.65 ft below the flood stage of 31.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 9.41 ft (−0.06 ft).
The level is falling, down 0.09 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 9.33 ft and 10.98 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
- 9.41 ft−0.06 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 9.33 ft – 10.98 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 7.97 ft – 13.91 ft
- Highest on record
- 44.50 ftJune 24, 2024
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 31.00 ft, still 21.65 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 42.00 ft
- The lowest portions of Hwy 12 may begin to flood.
- 40.50 ft
- At least a couple farmsteads begin to flood.
- 37.00 ft
- Water begins to surround some farmsteads near 329th.
- 35.00 ft
- The lowest portions of 329th are flooded and the floodplain on the South Dakota side is over a mile wide in some areas.
- 31.00 ft
- Significant flooding of crop and pasture land begins.
- 9.35 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44.50 ft | June 24, 2024 |
| 2 | 40.42 ft | March 17, 2019 |
| 3 | 38.40 ft | June 26, 2018 |
| 4 | 36.74 ft | September 18, 2019 |
| 5 | 24.55 ft | April 1, 2020 |
| 6 | 24.04 ft | May 4, 2016 |
| 7 | 22.39 ft | April 15, 2023 |
| 8 | 20.92 ft | May 24, 2017 |
| 9 | 17.57 ft | June 2, 2022 |
| 10 | 15.40 ft | July 8, 2025 |
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 near CastlewoodRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 4.82 ft | Below flood stage | +0.05 ft | 148 mi |
| Big Sioux River near BruceRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.12 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 129 mi |
| Big Sioux River near BrookingsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 2.26 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 108 mi |
| Big Sioux River near Dell RapidsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.23 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 81 mi |
| Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.13 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 67 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 1.49 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 62 mi |
| Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.06 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 66 mi |
| Big Sioux River near HawardenRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 11.97 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 29 mi |
| Big Sioux River at AkronRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.55 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 15 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Sioux CityRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 9.94 ft | Very low | −0.03 ft | 7 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Creek near HintonRiver gauge, Perry Creek | 15.23 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 7 mi |
| Perry Creek at 38th Street at Sioux CityRiver gauge, Perry Creek | 6.57 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 8 mi |
| Perry Creek near MillnervilleRiver gauge, Perry Creek | 0.97 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 9 mi |
| Floyd River at JamesRiver gauge, Floyd River | 8.67 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 11 mi |
| Missouri River at Sioux CityRiver gauge, Missouri River | 10.51 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 11 mi |
| Elliott Creek at LawtonRiver gauge, Elliott Creek | 72.29 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 20 mi |
| Omaha Creek at HomerRiver gauge, Omaha Creek | 2.17 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 21 mi |
| Missouri River near MaskellRiver gauge, Missouri River | 21.09 ft | Low | −0.06 ft | 23 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Big Sioux River near Jefferson compare with last year?
It is 0.06 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 9.41 ft.
What is flood stage for the Big Sioux River near Jefferson?
The official flood stage is 31.00 ft. The level is currently 21.65 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 near Jefferson today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 01:30 AM CDT, the water level was 9.35 ft. Down 0.09 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Big Sioux River near Jefferson rising or falling?
Down 0.09 ft over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Big Sioux River near Jefferson 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 near Jefferson?
The highest level on record is 44.50 ft on June 24, 2024.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06485910(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.62639, -96.51528(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 | 9.35 ft | 2026-10-21 06:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 840 cfs | 2026-10-21 06:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Big Sioux River near Jefferson (usgs:06485910). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/big-sioux-river-near-jefferson
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