Whitewood Creek near Whitewood water level

Name: Whitewood Creek near Whitewood 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, Whitewood Creek, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

5.47ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 21, 2026, 02:15 AM MDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 1.3 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Whitewood Creek near Whitewood is at 5.47 ft, in the normal range.

It is 7.53 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 5.70 ft, a difference of −0.23 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 5.40 ft and 5.62 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: 5.70 ft−0.23 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 5.40 ft – 5.62 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 5.32 ft – 5.93 ft
Highest on record: 11.01 ftMay 8, 1995

Floating and fishing near Whitewood Creek near Whitewood

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

Flood stage here is 13.00 ft, 7.53 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

23.00 ft: Water will reach the bottom of the bridge. Flooding of nearby yards and homes may be possible.
19.00 ft: Major flood stage. Extensive flooding along Whitewood Creek with inundation of structures and roads.
17.00 ft: Moderate flooding of pasture land. Water at the gage house floor. Some inundation of structures and roads are possible.
13.00 ft: Minor flooding of pasture land.
10.50 ft: Action stage. The lowest areas along the river begin to flood.
5.47 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	11.01 ft	May 8, 1995
2	9.62 ft	June 18, 1998
3	9.52 ft	September 24, 1986
4	9.52 ft	May 20, 1982
5	9.51 ft	June 2, 2007
6	9.45 ft	July 5, 2019
7	9.42 ft	August 3, 2010
8	9.23 ft	October 11, 2013
9	8.76 ft	April 23, 1994
10	8.54 ft	May 23, 2011

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

17 Sat 81° 43° – Wind 8 mph

18 Sun 67° 50° – Wind 13 mph

19 Mon 65° 46° – Wind 24 mph

20 Tue 76° 49° – Wind 8 mph

21 Wed 70° 51° – Wind 9 mph

22 Thu 82° 55° 0.03 in Wind 11 mph

23 Fri 78° 43° 0.37 in, 37% Wind 30 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:18 AM Sunset 06:01 PM Daylight 10 hr, 44 min Waxing gibbous 76%

Map

Other gauges on Whitewood Creek

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Whitewood Creek at DeadwoodRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek	3.42 ft	Below flood stage	±0	13 mi
Whitewood Creek above WhitewoodRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek	0.26 ft	Below flood stage	±0	7 mi
Whitewood Creek above ValeRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek	0.0 cfs	Very low	±0	7 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Bear Butte Creek at Avalanche Road at SturgisRiver gauge, Bear Butte Creek	1.76 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	8 mi
Bear Butte Creek near GalenaRiver gauge, Bear Butte Creek	3.50 ft	Below flood stage	+0.08 ft	10 mi
Belle Fourche River near FruitdaleRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River	1.56 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	13 mi
Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche ReservoirRiver gauge, Inlet Canal	4.91 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	14 mi
Belle Fourche ReservoirReservoir	2,956.96 ft	Normal		14 mi
Bear Butte Creek near DeadwoodRiver gauge, Bear Butte Creek	3.59 ft	Very low	±0	15 mi
Spearfish Creek at SpearfishRiver gauge, Spearfish Creek	4.81 ft	Below flood stage	±0	15 mi

Questions and answers

Is Whitewood Creek near Whitewood higher than last year?

No, it is 0.23 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.70 ft.

What is flood stage for Whitewood Creek near Whitewood?

The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 7.53 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 Whitewood Creek near Whitewood today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 02:15 AM MDT, the water level was 5.47 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Whitewood Creek near Whitewood rising or falling?

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

Is the level of Whitewood Creek near Whitewood normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Whitewood Creek near Whitewood?

The highest level on record is 11.01 ft on May 8, 1995.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06436190 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 44.54177, -103.57152 (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	5.47 ft	2026-10-21 08:15	Provisional
Flow	1.3 cfs	2026-10-21 08:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Whitewood Creek near Whitewood (usgs:06436190). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/whitewood-creek-near-whitewood

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