Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City water level

Name: Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City 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, Rapid Creek, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

3.40ft Up 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 21, 2026, 03:15 AM MDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 22.1 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City, where the gauge shows 3.40 ft.

It is 5.60 ft below the flood stage of 9.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 3.57 ft, a difference of −0.17 ft.

It is on the way up, by 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours. There is still 5.60 ft of room before flood stage. The 30-day range is 3.34 ft – 3.53 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: 3.57 ft−0.17 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.34 ft – 3.53 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.21 ft – 4.56 ft
Highest on record: 11.23 ftMay 28, 2019

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 9.00 ft.

What happens at each level

13.00 ft: Major Flood Stage. Homes and property in the Green Valley area would be flooded. Several roads in Rapid Valley would be inundated.
11.00 ft: Moderate Flood Stage. Water approaches Anderson Road and may begin to flood homes in the Green Valley area. Other roads in Rapid Valley may be inundated.
10.00 ft: Water approaches Green Valley Drive near 53rd Street also known as Reservoir Road.
9.00 ft: Flood Stage. Minor flooding of agricultural land along Rapid Creek begins. Water begins to fill lower areas along Rapid Creek near Reservoir Rd, Green Valley Drive, and also along Anderson Road.
8.00 ft: Action stage. Water will begin to enter the lower portions of some yards along Rapid Creek.
3.40 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	11.23 ft	May 28, 2019
2	9.30 ft	July 22, 2018
3	8.24 ft	July 25, 2022
4	7.49 ft	June 5, 2020
5	7.15 ft	August 15, 2017
6	7.01 ft	May 29, 2023
7	6.99 ft	April 7, 2024
8	6.50 ft	May 24, 2021

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

19 Mon 64° 37° – Wind 13 mph

20 Tue 75° 41° – Wind 11 mph

21 Wed 67° 47° – Wind 12 mph

22 Thu 81° 57° – Wind 17 mph

23 Fri 80° 61° – Wind 24 mph

24 Sat 66° 47° – Wind 22 mph

25 Sun 53° 38° – Wind 14 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:15 AM Sunset 06:00 PM Daylight 10 hr, 45 min Waxing gibbous 76%

Map

Other gauges on Rapid Creek

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	4.75 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	24 mi
Rapid Creek below Pactola DamRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	7.22 ft	Below flood stage	±0	19 mi
Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola DamRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	2.87 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	17 mi
Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	2.82 ft	Below flood stage	±0	16 mi
Rapid Creek above Victoria Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	5.23 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	12 mi
Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	1.55 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	11 mi
Rapid Creek at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	3.23 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	8 mi
Rapid Creek below Hawthorn Ditch at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	9.36 ft	Below flood stage	±0	4.8 mi
Rapid Creek near FarmingdaleRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	5.62 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	14 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Cleghorn Springs at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Cleghorn Springs	8.2 cfs	Very low	−0.4 cfs	10 mi
South Canyon near Rapid CityRiver gauge, South Canyon	3.59 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	12 mi
Boxelder Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Boxelder Creek	29.70 ft	Below flood stage	±0	12 mi
Spring Creek near KeystoneRiver gauge, Spring Creek	3.33 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	13 mi
Wild Irishman Gulch near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Wild Irishman Gulch	3.55 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	14 mi

Questions and answers

Is Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City higher than last year?

No, it is 0.17 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.57 ft.

What is flood stage for Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City?

The official flood stage is 9.00 ft. The level is currently 5.60 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 Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 03:15 AM MDT, the water level was 3.40 ft. Up 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City rising or falling?

Up 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City?

The highest level on record is 11.23 ft on May 28, 2019.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06418800 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 44.02681, -103.10111 (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	3.40 ft	2026-10-21 09:15	Provisional
Flow	22.1 cfs	2026-10-21 09:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City (usgs:06418800). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/rapid-creek-above-wrf-near-rapid-city

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