Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap water level

Name: Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Cheyenne River, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

2.33ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 21, 2026, 01:15 AM MDT (25 min ago)

Flow: 63.0 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap is at 2.33 ft, in the normal range.

It is 10.67 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.44 ft (−0.11 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.28 ft and 2.52 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: 2.44 ft−0.11 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 2.28 ft – 2.52 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 1.94 ft – 3.09 ft
Highest on record: 13.15 ftMay 21, 1978

Floating and fishing near Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 13.00 ft, 10.67 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

15.00 ft: Major flood stage. Extensive flooding along the creek with inundation of structures and roads.
14.00 ft: Moderate flood stage. Some inundation of structures and road near the creek are possible.
13.00 ft: Flood stage. Out buildings along the river may be flooded.
12.00 ft: Action stage. Water begins to approach out buildings near the gage.
10.50 ft: Water covers the fence line along the river.
2.33 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	13.15 ft	May 21, 1978
2	12.92 ft	June 8, 2015
3	11.44 ft	May 25, 1971
4	10.72 ft	March 23, 2019
5	9.89 ft	July 21, 1969
6	9.87 ft	May 26, 2010
7	9.10 ft	June 1, 2018
8	8.42 ft	March 14, 2011
9	7.49 ft	October 15, 2013
10	7.24 ft	June 10, 1972

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

17 Sat 78° 43° – Wind 19 mph

18 Sun 71° 47° – Wind 20 mph

19 Mon 64° 39° – Wind 7 mph

20 Tue 77° 50° – Wind 13 mph

21 Wed 73° 54° – Wind 8 mph

22 Thu 79° 55° 0.09 in Wind 17 mph

23 Fri 80° 55° 0.28 in, 44% Wind 18 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:14 AM Sunset 06:01 PM Daylight 10 hr, 47 min Waxing gibbous 75%

Map

Other gauges on the Cheyenne River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Cheyenne River near SpencerRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	3.77 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	53 mi
Cheyenne River at EdgemontRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	1.19 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	40 mi
Cheyenne River at Red ShirtRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	9.50 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	15 mi
Cheyenne River near ScenicRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	6.20 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	35 mi
Cheyenne River near WastaRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	0.46 ft	Below flood stage	±0	52 mi
Cheyenne River near PlainviewRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	8.17 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	91 mi
Cheyenne River near Eagle ButteRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	10.30 ft	Very low	−0.01 ft	124 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Beaver Creek near Buffalo GapRiver gauge, Beaver Creek	4.03 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	12 mi
Battle Creek below HermosaRiver gauge, Battle Creek	1.84 ft	Low	±0	18 mi
Fall River at Hot SpringsRiver gauge, Fall River	0.84 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	21 mi
French Creek above FairburnRiver gauge, French Creek	1.4 cfs	Very low	±0	21 mi
White River near OglalaRiver gauge, White River	6.81 ft	Below flood stage	+0.14 ft	21 mi
Angostura ReservoirReservoir	3,169.41 ft	Low		21 mi
Horsehead Creek at OelrichsRiver gauge, Horsehead Creek	1.73 ft	Below flood stage	±0	23 mi
Grace Coolidge Creek near Game Lodge near CusterRiver gauge, Grace Coolidge Creek	6.73 ft	Normal	±0	23 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap compare with last year?

It is 0.11 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.44 ft.

What is flood stage for the Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap?

The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 10.67 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 Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 01:15 AM MDT, the water level was 2.33 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap rising or falling?

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

Is the level of Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap?

The highest level on record is 13.15 ft on May 21, 1978.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06402600 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 43.50198, -103.07394 (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	2.33 ft	2026-10-21 07:15	Provisional
Flow	63.0 cfs	2026-10-21 07:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Cheyenne River near Buffalo Gap (usgs:06402600). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/cheyenne-river-near-buffalo-gap

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