Major Flood
18 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
14.5 ft
Minor Flood
12 ft
Action Stage
10 ft
What Floods at Each Level
20 ft
405th Ave is flooded and thus most river crossings are impassible resulting in significant travel disruptions.
19 ft
Portions of Hwy 34 begin to flood and the bridge on 407th at the gauge is overtopped.
18 ft
County Road 21 in northern Davison County will be flooded and water may begin to impact the gauge house.
16 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gauge on 407th and the road north of the bridge may be flooded.
14.5 ft
Many of the county roads in the area are impassible including 407th, 240th, 241st and 243rd and some roads are under water for as much as 1/2 mile.
13 ft
241st St begins to flood where it crosses the river.
12 ft
Significant portions of the floodplain begin to flood and a couple county or township roads may begin to flood.
10 ft
The lowest banks 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 | 20.61 ft | 25,600 cfs |
| Mar 24, 2011 | 20.27 ft | 28,400 cfs |
| Mar 24, 2010 | 19.14 ft | 19,800 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for James 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 James River near Forestburg?
The James River near Forestburg gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06477000) 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 James River near Forestburg?
The NWS-defined flood stage for James River near Forestburg is 12 feet. Action stage begins at 10 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 14.5 feet, and major flooding at 18 feet.
How do I get alerts when James River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add James River near Forestburg 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 James River near Forestburg gauge located?
The gauge is located in Sanborn County, South Dakota at coordinates 43.9739°N, 98.0706°W. USGS site number: 06477000. 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 48 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 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- Gauge reading may be affected by ice.