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Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids

Highest listed crest 16.70 ftFlood stage 12.0 ft78 crests since 1949

The Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids crested at major flood stage 10 times among the 78 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1949 to 2025. The highest, 16.70 ft on September 13, 2019, was major flooding, 4.70 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
16.70 ft
September 13, 2019; 22,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
12.0 ft
Major flooding from 15.0 ft
Crests at major
10
6th of 155 gauges in South Dakota
Most recent flood crest
June 24, 2024
13.84 ft, minor flooding
Location
Minnehaha County
South Dakota

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 near Dell Rapids
Action stage10.015Jul 5, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)12.012Jun 24, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage14.010Apr 27, 2018Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage15.010Sep 13, 2019Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

78 crests from 1949 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids, 1949 to 2025 05101520ft Flood stage 12.0 ftMajor 15.0 ft Mar 28, 1949: 10.08 ft, action stageApr 1, 1950: 11.83 ft, action stage; 2,800 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1951: 14.36 ft, moderate flooding; 12,300 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1952: 14.85 ft, moderate flooding; 15,400 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1953: 8.34 ft, below flood stageMar 19, 1954: 11.22 ft, action stage; 2,960 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1955: 8.72 ft, below flood stage; 1,380 cubic feet per secondJul 14, 1956: 8.65 ft, below flood stage; 1,750 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1957: 14.93 ft, moderate flooding; 15,500 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1958: 4.78 ft, below flood stage; 450 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1959: 5.08 ft, below flood stageMar 31, 1960: 14.83 ft, moderate flooding; 11,900 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 1961: 9.68 ft, below flood stage; 1,600 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1962: 15.14 ft, major flooding; 18,400 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1963: 8.20 ft, below flood stage; 1,740 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1964: 6.63 ft, below flood stage; 1,060 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1965: 14.14 ft, moderate flooding; 7,860 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1966: 12.56 ft, minor flooding; 5,040 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1967: 8.92 ft, below flood stage; 2,080 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1968: 4.02 ft, below flood stage; 258 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1969: 16.47 ft, major flooding; 41,300 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1970: 10.68 ft, action stage; 2,870 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 1971: 9.97 ft, below flood stage; 1,600 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1972: 11.57 ft, action stage; 3,710 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1973: 12.06 ft, minor flooding; 3,700 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1974: 7.58 ft, below flood stage; 1,530 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1975: 5.64 ft, below flood stage; 732 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1976: 7.77 ft, below flood stage; 1,510 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1977: 11.58 ft, action stage; 2,450 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1978: 12.97 ft, minor flooding; 5,550 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1979: 12.07 ft, minor flooding; 4,830 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1980: 9.30 ft, below flood stage; 2,180 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1981: 3.66 ft, below flood stage; 125 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 1982: 10.27 ft, action stage; 2,740 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 1983: 13.11 ft, minor flooding; 5,410 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1984: 15.20 ft, major flooding; 17,400 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1985: 13.57 ft, minor flooding; 8,600 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 1986: 14.71 ft, moderate flooding; 8,830 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1987: 10.57 ft, action stage; 2,910 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1988: 6.74 ft, below flood stageMar 27, 1989: 9.11 ft, below flood stage; 2,450 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1990: 9.58 ft, below flood stage; 2,390 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1991: 7.42 ft, below flood stage; 1,470 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 1992: 12.31 ft, minor flooding; 4,710 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1993: 15.56 ft, major flooding; 16,400 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1994: 12.28 ft, minor flooding; 4,880 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1995: 14.12 ft, moderate flooding; 8,920 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1996: 11.62 ft, action stage; 3,900 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1997: 15.47 ft, major flooding; 15,900 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1998: 9.29 ft, below flood stage; 2,440 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1999: 9.97 ft, below flood stage; 2,680 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2000: 7.01 ft, below flood stage; 1,340 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2001: 14.32 ft, moderate flooding; 9,040 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2002: 8.90 ft, below flood stage; 2,330 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 2003: 7.19 ft, below flood stage; 1,050 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2004: 8.52 ft, below flood stage; 2,000 cubic feet per secondSep 25, 2005: 8.11 ft, below flood stage; 1,800 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2006: 11.79 ft, action stage; 4,000 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2007: 16.02 ft, major flooding; 5,600 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2008: 10.10 ft, action stage; 2,880 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2009: 11.27 ft, action stage; 3,390 cubic feet per secondSep 25, 2010: 16.29 ft, major flooding; 16,400 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2011: 15.63 ft, major flooding; 13,600 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2012: 14.07 ft, moderate flooding; 7,550 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2013: 10.57 ft, action stage; 3,040 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2014: 11.60 ft, action stage; 3,820 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2015: 12.41 ft, minor flooding; 4,320 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2016: 7.43 ft, below flood stage; 1,480 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 2017: 9.37 ft, below flood stage; 2,400 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 2018: 14.20 ft, moderate floodingMar 24, 2019: 15.69 ft, major floodingSep 13, 2019: 16.70 ft, major flooding; 22,500 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 2020: 13.38 ft, minor floodingApr 13, 2021: 7.32 ft, below flood stage; 1,440 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2022: 9.56 ft, below flood stage; 2,530 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 2023: 12.90 ft, minor flooding; 5,220 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2024: 13.84 ft, minor flooding; 6,400 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 2025: 10.59 ft, action stage; 3,210 cubic feet per second Highest, 16.70 ft, Sep 13, 2019 19501960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids 1940s: 0 1950s: 3 1960s: 5 1970s: 3 1980s: 4 1990s: 5 2000s: 2 2010s: 7 7 2020s: 3 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 78 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids
1Sep 13, 201916.70+4.70Major22,500
2Apr 9, 196916.47+4.47Major41,300
3Sep 25, 201016.29+4.29Major16,400
4Mar 15, 200716.02+4.02Major5,600
5Mar 24, 201915.69+3.69Major—
6Mar 24, 201115.63+3.63Major13,600
7Jul 4, 199315.56+3.56Major16,400
8Apr 7, 199715.47+3.47Major15,900
9Jun 23, 198415.20+3.20Major17,400
10Mar 30, 196215.14+3.14Major18,400
11Jun 18, 195714.93+2.93Moderate15,500
12Apr 5, 195214.85+2.85Moderate15,400
13Mar 31, 196014.83+2.83Moderate11,900
14Sep 22, 198614.71+2.71Moderate8,830
15Apr 4, 195114.36+2.36Moderate12,300
16Apr 24, 200114.32+2.32Moderate9,040
17Apr 27, 201814.20+2.20Moderate—
18Apr 8, 196514.14+2.14Moderate7,860
19Apr 22, 199514.12+2.12Moderate8,920
20May 7, 201214.07+2.07Moderate7,550
21Jun 24, 202413.84+1.84Minor6,400
22Mar 21, 198513.57+1.57Minor8,600
23Mar 14, 202013.38+1.38Minor—
24Mar 3, 198313.11+1.11Minor5,410
25Mar 23, 197812.97+0.97Minor5,550
26Apr 10, 202312.90+0.90Minor5,220
27Mar 16, 196612.56+0.56Minor5,040
28Jun 7, 201512.41+0.41Minor4,320
29Jun 24, 199212.31+0.31Minor4,710
30Mar 16, 199412.28+0.28Minor4,880
31Apr 16, 197912.07+0.07Minor4,830
32Mar 9, 197312.06+0.06Minor3,700
33Apr 1, 195011.83−0.17Action2,800
34Apr 7, 200611.79−0.21Action4,000
35Jun 1, 199611.62−0.38Action3,900
36Jun 16, 201411.60−0.40Action3,820
37Mar 14, 197711.58−0.42Action2,450
38Jun 3, 197211.57−0.43Action3,710
39Mar 31, 200911.27−0.73Action3,390
40Mar 19, 195411.22−0.78Action2,960
41Mar 9, 197010.68−1.32Action2,870
42Jul 5, 202510.59−1.41Action3,210
43Mar 26, 198710.57−1.43Action2,910
44Jul 2, 201310.57−1.43Action3,040
45Jul 17, 198210.27−1.73Action2,740
46Jun 13, 200810.10−1.90Action2,880
47Mar 28, 194910.08−1.92Action—
48Mar 18, 19719.97−2.03Below flood stage1,600
49Apr 11, 19999.97−2.03Below flood stage2,680
50Mar 3, 19619.68−2.32Below flood stage1,600

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 13, 2019: 16.70 ft here, major 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
  • FairviewSD · Sep 14, 2019 · 1,213.14 ft · Moderate · its highest

April 9, 1969: 16.47 ft here, major flooding

September 25, 2010: 16.29 ft here, major 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 AvenueSD16.026.08 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 Rapids this gaugeSD12.016.70 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 N. Cliff Avenue16.026.08 ft, Sep 14, 20190
Sioux Falls Western Avenue8.016.90 ft, Mar 14, 20194
Brandon1,304.01,313.53 ft, Sep 14, 20192
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 DERS2, 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.