Major Flood
13.5 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
11 ft
Minor Flood
10.5 ft
Action Stage
10 ft
What Floods at Each Level
18 ft
The bridge on Hwy 81 is overtopped.
17.5 ft
The Broadway Avenue bridge at the gauge is overtopped.
17 ft
4th Avenue SW begins to flood near Kampeska Blvd.
16.5 ft
Broadway Avenue begins to flood.
16 ft
The levees on the north side of the river upstream of the gauge are overtopped, and the gas station will begin flooding.
15 ft
The railroad upstream of Thunder Road begins to flood, and water reaches the bottom of the bridges on Broadway Ave and 4th Ave SW.
14 ft
The levee on the south side of the river upstream from the gauge is overtopped.
11 ft
The lower banks on both sides of the river downstream of the gauge are overtopped, and the lower lying areas along Kampeska Blvd, 4th Ave SW, and Riverside Park on Kemp Ave begin to flood.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 1997 | 13.67 ft | 2,760 cfs |
| Apr 6, 2001 | 12.71 ft | 2,020 cfs |
| Apr 11, 2011 | 11.97 ft | 1,350 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
WBWS2
River
Big Sioux River
County
Codington, SD
Coordinates
44.8894°N, 97.1186°W
Get Flood Alerts for Big Sioux River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Big Sioux River at Watertown Broadway Avenue?
The Big Sioux River at Watertown Broadway Avenue gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06479512) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Big Sioux River at Watertown Broadway Avenue?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Big Sioux River at Watertown Broadway Avenue is 10.5 feet. Action stage begins at 10 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 11 feet, and major flooding at 13.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when Big Sioux River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Big Sioux River at Watertown Broadway Avenue to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Big Sioux River at Watertown Broadway Avenue gauge located?
The gauge is located in Codington County, South Dakota at coordinates 44.8894°N, 97.1186°W. USGS site number: 06479512. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Big Sioux River
On This River
Upstream: Big Sioux River at Watertown Sioux Conifer Road
Downstream: Big Sioux River below Watertown
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- Gauge reading may be affected by ice.