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SwedenJames River near Yankton water level
River gauge, James River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 112 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at James River near Yankton reads 3.36 ft, a normal level.
It is 8.64 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 4.46 ft, a difference of −1.10 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.07 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.81 ft and 3.84 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
- 4.46 ft−1.10 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.81 ft – 3.84 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.73 ft – 4.43 ft
- Highest on record
- 27.84 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 12.00 ft, still 8.64 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 28.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 309th St.
- 27.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the railroad bridge near 309th St.
- 25.00 ft
- Hwy 81 may be in danger of flooding. The bridge on 303rd St at the gauge will be overtopped
- 22.00 ft
- 303rd St east of the gauge location begins to flood. Some levees protecting structures along the river may be in danger of being overtopped.
- 21.00 ft
- Water approaches Hwy 46 and may begin to overtop it.
- 18.50 ft
- SW Jim River Road near 305th Street begins flooding as does NE Jim River Rd near 300th St.
- 17.00 ft
- SW Jim River Road north of 303rd Street begins flooding.
- 16.00 ft
- SW Jim River Road near 301st St floods.
- 14.00 ft
- Significant agricultural flooding with the floodplain roughly a mile wide in some areas.
- 12.00 ft
- Agricultural flooding begins off the left bank near the gauge.
- 3.36 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: 17 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27.84 ft | September 14, 2019 |
| 2 | 24.34 ft | June 23, 1984 |
| 3 | 22.94 ft | April 9, 1997 |
| 4 | 22.75 ft | March 20, 2010 |
| 5 | 22.24 ft | March 28, 2011 |
| 6 | 22.17 ft | June 25, 2024 |
| 7 | 21.95 ft | April 14, 2001 |
| 8 | 21.46 ft | May 30, 1995 |
| 9 | 21.15 ft | July 8, 1993 |
| 10 | 20.30 ft | April 18, 2019 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the James River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James River at AshtonRiver gauge, James River | 4.93 ft | Below flood stage | +0.52 ft | 149 mi |
| James River near RedfieldRiver gauge, James River | 4.44 ft | Below flood stage | +0.72 ft | 143 mi |
| James River at HuronRiver gauge, James River | 9.04 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 103 mi |
| James River near ForestburgRiver gauge, James River | 4.56 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 76 mi |
| James River near MitchellRiver gauge, James River | 9.95 ft | Low | −0.03 ft | 53 mi |
| James River near ScotlandRiver gauge, James River | 4.13 ft | Very low | +0.03 ft | 19 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri River at YanktonRiver gauge, Missouri River | 10.15 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 9 mi |
| Bow Creek near WynotRiver gauge, Bow Creek | 2.20 ft | Low | ±0 | 19 mi |
| Missouri River near St. JamesRiver gauge, Missouri River | 32.03 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 22 mi |
| Lewis and Clark Lake at SpringfieldRiver gauge, Lewis and Clark Lake | 9.59 ft | High | +0.01 ft | 28 mi |
| Missouri River near MaskellRiver gauge, Missouri River | 21.10 ft | Low | −0.07 ft | 28 mi |
| West Fork Vermillion River near ParkerRiver gauge, West Fork Vermillion River | 1.38 ft | Normal | ±0 | 30 mi |
| Howe Creek below Walker Draw near CenterRiver gauge, Howe Creek | 1.67 ft | Very low | ±0 | 33 mi |
| Bazile Creek near NiobraraRiver gauge, Bazile Creek | 1.92 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 33 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the James River near Yankton higher than last year?
No, it is 1.10 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.46 ft.
What is flood stage for the James River near Yankton?
The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 8.64 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 James River near Yankton today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 01:00 PM CDT, the water level was 3.36 ft. Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is James River near Yankton rising or falling?
Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.05 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of James River near Yankton normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at James River near Yankton?
The highest level on record is 27.84 ft on September 14, 2019.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06478513(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.99583, -97.36944(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 | 3.36 ft | 2026-10-20 18:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 112 cfs | 2026-10-20 18:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: James River near Yankton (usgs:06478513). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/james-river-near-yankton
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