Major Flood
15 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
10.5 ft
Minor Flood
9 ft
Action Stage
8 ft
What Floods at Each Level
16 ft
The bridges on 473rd Avenue and 475th Avenue are overtopped.
14 ft
The water reaches the bottom of the bridges on 473rd Avenue and 475th Avenue.
13 ft
223rd St west of the bridge begins to flood. The bridge 1 mile south of Medary on 471st Avenue is overtopped.
12 ft
475th Avenue and 222nd Street begin to flood.
11.5 ft
473rd Avenue at 221st Street begins to flood.
11 ft
Some farm outbuildings begin to flood.
10.5 ft
473rd Avenue north of the gauge begins to flood.
10 ft
Flooding begins to affect agricultural lands along the right bank of the river.
9 ft
Significant amounts of pasture and farm lands begin flooding on the left bank of the river. The road south of the Brookings water treatment plant is flooded, as is 217th Street between 468th and 469th Avenues.
8 ft
There is some minor overflow of the lowest banks along this stretch of the river.
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 8, 1969 | 14.77 ft | 33,900 cfs |
| Sep 12, 2019 | 14.34 ft | 17,400 cfs |
| Jun 21, 1984 | 13.7 ft | 13,700 cfs |
About This Gauge
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 near Brookings?
The Big Sioux River near Brookings gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06480000) 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 near Brookings?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Big Sioux River near Brookings is 9 feet. Action stage begins at 8 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 10.5 feet, and major flooding at 15 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 near Brookings 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 near Brookings gauge located?
The gauge is located in Moody County, South Dakota at coordinates 44.1803°N, 96.7492°W. USGS site number: 06480000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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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.