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SwedenSunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City water level
River gauge, Sunday Gulch, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Higher than ever recorded here
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Sunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City shows 4.44 ft, at a record high.
It has now passed the published record high of 4.33 ft (May 20, 2024). It is 2.56 ft below the flood stage of 7.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 4.55 ft (−0.11 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 4.43 ft and 4.50 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with the highest and lowest levels the agency has recorded at this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Same day last year
- 4.55 ft−0.11 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 4.43 ft – 4.50 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 4.36 ft – 4.69 ft
- Highest on record
- 4.33 ftMay 20, 2024
- Highest on record
- 0.11 ft above the highest level on record
High water at Sunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City
The National Weather Service splits flooding into minor, moderate and major flood stage, each tied to what starts to go under water at this particular gauge. Minor flooding usually means low roads, parks and farmland; major flooding reaches homes and businesses.
Keep children and dogs well back from the edge, and stay off flooded footpaths and towpaths.
What happens at each level
- 11.70 ft
- Spring Creek completely covers Needles Highway.
- 11.00 ft
- Major flood stage. Major and extensive flooding downstream in Hill City.
- 10.90 ft
- Water from Spring Creek begins to flood portions of Needles Highway.
- 9.00 ft
- Moderate Flood Stage. Some inundation of structures and roads are possible downstream in Hill City.
- 7.20 ft
- Water overflows both the left and right bank with water reaching the gage house footings.
- 7.00 ft
- Minor Flood Stage. Minor flooding of pasture land. The river begins to spread out. Minor flooding may begin downstream in Hill City.
- 6.00 ft
- Action Stage. The lowest areas along the left bank begins to flood.
- 5.80 ft
- Water begins to overflow the left bank near the gage.
- 4.44 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.33 ft | May 20, 2024 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.03 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Creek at Oreville, near Hill CityRiver gauge, Spring Creek | 4.04 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 2.1 mi |
| Reno Gulch near Hill CityRiver gauge, Reno Gulch | 3.64 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 3.2 mi |
| Battle Creek above KeystoneRiver gauge, Battle Creek | 3.69 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 6 mi |
| Grizzly Bear Creek near KeystoneRiver gauge, Grizzly Bear Creek | 2.23 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 7 mi |
| Battle Creek near KeystoneRiver gauge, Battle Creek | 3.34 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 12 mi |
| Grace Coolidge Creek near Game Lodge near CusterRiver gauge, Grace Coolidge Creek | 6.73 ft | Normal | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Spring Creek near KeystoneRiver gauge, Spring Creek | 3.33 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 14 mi |
| Victoria Creek below Victoria Dam near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Victoria Creek | 3.46 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 14 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Sunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City compare with last year?
It is 0.11 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.55 ft.
What is flood stage for the Sunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City?
The official flood stage is 7.00 ft. The level is currently 2.56 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 Sunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 02:45 AM MDT, the water level was 4.44 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Sunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Sunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City normal?
Higher than ever recorded here. Compared with the highest and lowest levels the agency has recorded at this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Sunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City?
The highest level on record is 4.33 ft on May 20, 2024.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06406740(Agency page)- Coordinates
43.86944, -103.58194(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 | 4.44 ft | 2026-10-21 08:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Sunday Gulch below Johnson Canyon near Hill City (usgs:06406740). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/sunday-gulch-below-johnson-canyon-near-hill-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