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Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls N. Cliff Avenue

Highest listed crest 26.08 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft55 crests since 1972

The Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls N. Cliff Avenue crested above flood stage 21 times among the 55 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1972 to 2025. The highest, 26.08 ft on September 14, 2019, was moderate flooding, 10.08 feet above flood stage. 13 other gauges on the Big Sioux River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 8 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
26.08 ft
September 14, 2019; 25,900 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
16.0 ft
Major flooding from 31.0 ft
Crests at major
0
21 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
June 23, 2024
22.62 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Minnehaha County
Near Sioux Falls (2.1 mi), Brandon (6.6 mi), Harrisburg (9.2 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls N. Cliff Avenue
Action stage14.08Apr 11, 2023The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.07Apr 28, 2018Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage18.014Jun 23, 2024Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage31.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

55 crests from 1972 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls N. Cliff Avenue, 1972 to 2025 010203040ft Flood stage 16.0 ftMajor 31.0 ft Jun 4, 1972: 14.35 ft, action stage; 4,240 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1973: 16.38 ft, minor flooding; 5,880 cubic feet per secondOct 9, 1973: 10.32 ft, below flood stage; 1,670 cubic feet per secondAug 1, 1975: 9.05 ft, below flood stage; 1,200 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1976: 10.06 ft, below flood stage; 1,480 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1977: 12.78 ft, below flood stage; 2,380 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1978: 17.54 ft, minor flooding; 6,020 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1979: 16.95 ft, minor flooding; 5,990 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1980: 11.66 ft, below flood stage; 2,080 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1981: 8.13 ft, below flood stage; 896 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1982: 12.34 ft, below flood stage; 2,860 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1983: 19.65 ft, moderate flooding; 9,000 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1984: 25.40 ft, moderate flooding; 21,600 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1985: 18.67 ft, moderate flooding; 8,230 cubic feet per secondSep 24, 1986: 20.99 ft, moderate flooding; 9,730 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1987: 14.97 ft, action stage; 4,770 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1988: 8.63 ft, below flood stage; 1,130 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1989: 11.05 ft, below flood stage; 2,050 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 1990: 11.79 ft, below flood stage; 2,490 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1991: 10.08 ft, below flood stage; 1,800 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1992: 15.53 ft, action stage; 5,080 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 1993: 23.84 ft, moderate flooding; 18,000 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1994: 15.33 ft, action stage; 5,050 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1995: 18.98 ft, moderate flooding; 8,580 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1996: 13.92 ft, below flood stage; 4,160 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1997: 23.11 ft, moderate flooding; 17,700 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1998: 12.27 ft, below flood stage; 3,290 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1999: 13.79 ft, below flood stage; 4,340 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 2000: 9.57 ft, below flood stage; 1,740 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 2001: 20.99 ft, moderate flooding; 12,800 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 2002: 12.01 ft, below flood stage; 2,910 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 2003: 9.37 ft, below flood stage; 1,420 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2004: 16.52 ft, minor flooding; 7,140 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 2005: 9.48 ft, below flood stage; 1,700 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2006: 19.11 ft, moderate flooding; 10,200 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 2007: 15.75 ft, action stage; 5,810 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2008: 11.38 ft, below flood stage; 2,970 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2009: 12.10 ft, below flood stage; 3,390 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 2010: 21.57 ft, moderate flooding; 13,300 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2011: 21.53 ft, moderate flooding; 13,300 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2012: 17.22 ft, minor flooding; 7,850 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2013: 13.68 ft, below flood stage; 4,460 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 2014: 17.63 ft, minor flooding; 8,350 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 2015: 15.20 ft, action stage; 5,550 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 2016: 11.90 ft, below flood stage; 3,410 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 2017: 11.80 ft, below flood stage; 3,320 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2018: 16.90 ft, minor floodingMar 26, 2019: 22.06 ft, moderate floodingSep 14, 2019: 26.08 ft, moderate flooding; 25,900 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2020: 14.94 ft, action stage; 5,570 cubic feet per secondAug 29, 2021: 11.27 ft, below flood stage; 2,870 cubic feet per secondAug 7, 2022: 11.01 ft, below flood stage; 2,760 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2023: 14.70 ft, action stage; 5,820 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2024: 22.62 ft, moderate flooding; 15,000 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 2025: 12.18 ft, below flood stage; 3,690 cubic feet per second Highest, 26.08 ft, Sep 14, 2019 19801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls N. Cliff Avenue 1970s: 3 1980s: 4 1990s: 3 2000s: 3 2010s: 7 7 2020s: 1 1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 55 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls N. Cliff Avenue
1Sep 14, 201926.08+10.08Moderate25,900
2Jun 22, 198425.40+9.40Moderate21,600
3Jul 7, 199323.84+7.84Moderate18,000
4Apr 7, 199723.11+7.11Moderate17,700
5Jun 23, 202422.62+6.62Moderate15,000
6Mar 26, 201922.06+6.06Moderate—
7Sep 27, 201021.57+5.57Moderate13,300
8Mar 25, 201121.53+5.53Moderate13,300
9Sep 24, 198620.99+4.99Moderate9,730
10Apr 23, 200120.99+4.99Moderate12,800
11Mar 7, 198319.65+3.65Moderate9,000
12Apr 8, 200619.11+3.11Moderate10,200
13Apr 19, 199518.98+2.98Moderate8,580
14Mar 22, 198518.67+2.67Moderate8,230
15Jun 17, 201417.63+1.63Minor8,350
16Mar 24, 197817.54+1.54Minor6,020
17May 9, 201217.22+1.22Minor7,850
18Mar 23, 197916.95+0.95Minor5,990
19Apr 28, 201816.90+0.90Minor—
20May 30, 200416.52+0.52Minor7,140
21Mar 13, 197316.38+0.38Minor5,880
22Mar 18, 200715.75−0.25Action5,810
23Jul 1, 199215.53−0.47Action5,080
24Jun 27, 199415.33−0.67Action5,050
25Aug 28, 201515.20−0.80Action5,550
26Mar 25, 198714.97−1.03Action4,770
27Mar 15, 202014.94−1.06Action5,570
28Apr 11, 202314.70−1.30Action5,820
29Jun 4, 197214.35−1.65Action4,240
30Jun 2, 199613.92−2.08Below flood stage4,160
31Apr 11, 199913.79−2.21Below flood stage4,340
32May 26, 201313.68−2.32Below flood stage4,460
33Mar 15, 197712.78−3.22Below flood stage2,380
34Jul 18, 198212.34−3.66Below flood stage2,860
35Apr 9, 199812.27−3.73Below flood stage3,290
36Jul 10, 202512.18−3.82Below flood stage3,690
37Mar 31, 200912.10−3.90Below flood stage3,390
38Aug 21, 200212.01−3.99Below flood stage2,910
39Sep 15, 201611.90−4.10Below flood stage3,410
40Aug 21, 201711.80−4.20Below flood stage3,320
41Jun 28, 199011.79−4.21Below flood stage2,490
42Jun 30, 198011.66−4.34Below flood stage2,080
43Jun 13, 200811.38−4.62Below flood stage2,970
44Aug 29, 202111.27−4.73Below flood stage2,870
45Mar 29, 198911.05−4.95Below flood stage2,050
46Aug 7, 202211.01−4.99Below flood stage2,760
47Oct 9, 197310.32−5.68Below flood stage1,670
48Jun 10, 199110.08−5.92Below flood stage1,800
49Mar 25, 197610.06−5.94Below flood stage1,480
50May 19, 20009.57−6.43Below flood stage1,740

The worst floods along the Big Sioux River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Big Sioux River that crested above flood stage within a week.

September 14, 2019: 26.08 ft here, moderate flooding

  • FlandreauSD · Sep 13, 2019 · 1,545.29 ft · Major · its highest
  • EganSD · Sep 12, 2019 · 1,524.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • TrentSD · Sep 13, 2019 · 1,501.42 ft · Major · its highest
  • Dell RapidsSD · Sep 13, 2019 · 1,490.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • BrandonSD · Sep 14, 2019 · 1,313.53 ft · Major · its highest
  • CantonSD · Sep 13, 2019 · 1,245.88 ft · Major
  • RichlandIA · Sep 17, 2019 · 1,123.51 ft · Major
  • HawardenSD · Sep 15, 2019 · 32.42 ft · Major
  • Sioux Falls I-90SD · Sep 14, 2019 · 18.91 ft · Major · its highest
  • Dell RapidsSD · Sep 13, 2019 · 16.70 ft · Major · its highest

June 22, 1984: 25.40 ft here, moderate flooding

July 7, 1993: 23.84 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Big Sioux River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Big Sioux River
CantonSD1,235.01,248.35 ft, Jun 22, 20243
Dell RapidsSD1,481.01,490.00 ft, Sep 13, 20192
FlandreauSD1,540.01,545.29 ft, Sep 13, 20191
HawardenSD20.539.92 ft, Jun 22, 20244
AkronIA16.027.35 ft, Jun 22, 202424
FairviewSD1,202.01,213.14 ft, Sep 14, 20190
Lake KampeskaSD21.022.40 ft, Mar 15, 20100
Lake Poinsett Inlet/OutletSD1,654.01,657.60 ft, Apr 5, 20112
Sioux CitySD32.044.90 ft, Jun 23, 20241
Sioux Falls I-90SD12.018.91 ft, Sep 14, 20191
Sioux Falls N. Cliff Avenue this gaugeSD16.026.08 ft, Sep 14, 20190
Sioux Falls Western AvenueSD8.016.90 ft, Mar 14, 20194
TrentSD1,495.01,501.42 ft, Sep 13, 20192
Watertown Broadway AvenueSD10.513.67 ft, Apr 6, 19971
Watertown Sioux Conifer RoadSD9.011.18 ft, Apr 13, 20230
WatertownSD11.013.13 ft, Apr 2, 19975
BrandonSD1,304.01,313.53 ft, Sep 14, 20192
BrookingsSD9.014.77 ft, Apr 9, 19690
BruceSD8.012.16 ft, Mar 28, 20110
CastlewoodSD9.013.19 ft, Apr 7, 19970
Dell RapidsSD12.016.70 ft, Sep 13, 201910
EganSD1,516.51,524.20 ft, Sep 12, 20192
EstellineSD1,644.01,647.03 ft, Jun 30, 20250
FlorenceSD8.09.70 ft, Apr 13, 20236
JeffersonIA31.044.50 ft, Jun 24, 20242
RichlandIA1,117.01,128.70 ft, Jun 23, 20245
WatertownSD10.012.33 ft, Apr 7, 20012

Other gauges in Minnehaha County

Flood gauges in Minnehaha County
Dell Rapids1,481.01,490.00 ft, Sep 13, 20192
Sioux Falls I-9012.018.91 ft, Sep 14, 20191
Sioux Falls Western Avenue8.016.90 ft, Mar 14, 20194
Brandon1,304.01,313.53 ft, Sep 14, 20192
Dell Rapids12.016.70 ft, Sep 13, 201910
Sioux Falls6.09.63 ft, Sep 14, 20190
Sioux Falls11.518.23 ft, Mar 14, 20191
Hartford10.015.08 ft, Mar 14, 20190
Corson8.519.01 ft, Sep 12, 20194
Crooks9.012.65 ft, Mar 14, 20190

Minnehaha County: every hazard · River floods across the country · South Dakota

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge SXFS2, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.