Major Flood
24 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
21.5 ft
Minor Flood
17 ft
Action Stage
16 ft
What Floods at Each Level
30.5 ft
257th Street at the bridge is flooded.
27.5 ft
Water reaches the top of the bridge on 416th Ave
25 ft
Highway 42 east of Ethan will be flooded. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 257th Street at the gauge.
24 ft
Highway 38 east of Mitchell begins flooding. 416th Avenue and 257th Street are flooded.
23.5 ft
1st Avenue by the golf course is flooded.
23 ft
416th Avenue is flooded near Rosedale Colony.
22 ft
Water overtops 257th Street about 100 yards east of the bridge.
21.5 ft
Shannard/Old Mill Road east of Mitchell is flooded.
19 ft
Sizable areas of agricultural land near the river are flooded.
17 ft
Low lying agricultural land begins to flood.
15 ft
The lowest banks begin to be overtopped.
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 10, 2001 | 25.33 ft | 24,700 cfs |
| Mar 24, 2011 | 25.2 ft | 28,400 cfs |
| Sep 12, 2019 | 25.05 ft | 26,100 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 Mitchell?
The James River near Mitchell gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06478000) 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 Mitchell?
The NWS-defined flood stage for James River near Mitchell is 17 feet. Action stage begins at 16 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 21.5 feet, and major flooding at 24 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 Mitchell 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 Mitchell gauge located?
The gauge is located in Hanson County, South Dakota at coordinates 43.6589°N, 97.9189°W. USGS site number: 06478000. 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.