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James River at Huron

Highest listed crest 21.28 ftFlood stage 11.5 ft83 crests since 1922

The James River at Huron crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 83 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1922 to 2025. The highest, 21.28 ft on April 6, 1997, was major flooding, 9.78 feet above flood stage. 10 other gauges on the James River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 4 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
21.28 ft
April 6, 1997; 23,400 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
11.5 ft
Major flooding from 19.0 ft
Crests at major
3
31st of 155 gauges in South Dakota
Most recent flood crest
August 23, 2025
11.98 ft, minor flooding
Location
Beadle County
Near Huron (0.5 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, James River at Huron
Action stage10.514Jun 29, 2024The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)11.514Aug 23, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.014Apr 24, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage19.03Mar 26, 2011Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

83 crests from 1922 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the James River at Huron, 1922 to 2025 510152025ft Flood stage 11.5 ftMajor 19.0 ft Mar 22, 1922: 16.50 ft, moderate floodingMar 20, 1929: 12.00 ft, minor flooding; 2,650 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1944: 10.48 ft, below flood stage; 2,460 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1945: 9.68 ft, below flood stage; 1,920 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1946: 9.60 ft, below flood stage; 1,850 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1947: 9.00 ft, below flood stage; 1,360 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1948: 14.48 ft, minor flooding; 4,630 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 1949: 8.44 ft, below flood stage; 672 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 1950: 14.30 ft, minor flooding; 4,840 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1951: 8.70 ft, below flood stage; 900 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1952: 15.23 ft, moderate flooding; 5,580 cubic feet per secondAug 6, 1953: 10.86 ft, action stage; 2,690 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 1954: 8.24 ft, below flood stage; 373 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1955: 9.60 ft, below flood stage; 835 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1956: 8.76 ft, below flood stage; 984 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 1957: 8.52 ft, below flood stage; 674 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1958: 8.63 ft, below flood stage; 809 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1959: 7.78 ft, below flood stage; 51 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1960: 15.42 ft, moderate flooding; 6,050 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 1961: 9.26 ft, below flood stage; 318 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1962: 15.80 ft, moderate flooding; 6,250 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1963: 9.42 ft, below flood stage; 708 cubic feet per secondJul 28, 1964: 9.54 ft, below flood stage; 704 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 1965: 9.81 ft, below flood stage; 1,000 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1966: 12.15 ft, minor flooding; 3,120 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1967: 11.28 ft, action stage; 2,670 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1968: 9.38 ft, below flood stage; 517 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 1969: 16.70 ft, moderate flooding; 9,000 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1970: 9.97 ft, below flood stage; 1,840 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 1971: 9.03 ft, below flood stageMar 23, 1972: 11.27 ft, action stage; 2,490 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1973: 9.19 ft, below flood stage; 1,060 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1974: 9.06 ft, below flood stage; 193 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 1975: 9.31 ft, below flood stage; 1,190 cubic feet per secondNov 21, 1975: 9.07 ft, below flood stageMar 14, 1977: 11.93 ft, minor flooding; 1,950 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1978: 15.22 ft, moderate flooding; 5,820 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1979: 10.62 ft, action stage; 2,130 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1980: 9.38 ft, below flood stage; 548 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 1981: 8.99 ft, below flood stage; 143 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1982: 10.11 ft, below flood stage; 1,150 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 1983: 9.99 ft, below flood stage; 929 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1984: 13.18 ft, minor flooding; 3,310 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1985: 11.14 ft, action stage; 2,040 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1986: 14.81 ft, minor flooding; 5,010 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1987: 11.36 ft, action stage; 2,190 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 1988: 9.94 ft, below flood stage; 814 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1989: 12.91 ft, minor flooding; 3,320 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1990: 9.40 ft, below flood stage; 291 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1991: 10.46 ft, below flood stage; 1,580 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1992: 10.11 ft, below flood stage; 1,110 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 1993: 13.41 ft, minor flooding; 3,440 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1994: 16.17 ft, moderate flooding; 8,100 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1995: 16.86 ft, moderate flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1996: 11.94 ft, minor flooding; 3,020 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1997: 21.28 ft, major flooding; 23,400 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1998: 14.17 ft, minor flooding; 4,800 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1999: 13.86 ft, minor flooding; 4,060 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 1999: 10.52 ft, action stage; 1,660 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 2001: 18.14 ft, moderate flooding; 12,100 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2002: 9.60 ft, below flood stage; 500 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2003: 9.92 ft, below flood stage; 827 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 2004: 10.10 ft, below flood stage; 1,070 cubic feet per secondJul 20, 2005: 10.79 ft, action stage; 2,100 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2006: 10.95 ft, action stage; 2,430 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2007: 17.58 ft, moderate flooding; 11,400 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2008: 9.85 ft, below flood stage; 1,778 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 2009: 16.64 ft, moderate flooding; 9,340 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2010: 19.72 ft, major flooding; 17,500 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 2011: 20.07 ft, major flooding; 19,900 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2012: 10.55 ft, action stage; 1,850 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2013: 11.28 ft, action stage; 2,870 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 2014: 10.55 ft, action stage; 1,680 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2015: 10.58 ft, action stage; 1,770 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2016: 9.87 ft, below flood stage; 791 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 2017: 10.40 ft, below flood stage; 1,450 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2019: 17.25 ft, moderate flooding; 12,800 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 2020: 16.75 ft, moderate flooding; 7,400 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 2021: 9.95 ft, below flood stage; 649 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2022: 13.16 ft, minor flooding; 4,600 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2023: 15.69 ft, moderate flooding; 8,660 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2024: 10.55 ft, action stage; 1,600 cubic feet per secondAug 23, 2025: 11.98 ft, minor flooding; 3,620 cubic feet per second Highest, 21.28 ft, Apr 6, 1997 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, James River at Huron 1920s: 2 1930s: 0 1940s: 1 1950s: 2 1960s: 4 1970s: 2 1980s: 3 1990s: 7 7 2000s: 3 2010s: 3 2020s: 4 1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 83 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, James River at Huron
1Apr 6, 199721.28+9.78Major23,400
2Mar 26, 201120.07+8.57Major19,900
3Mar 25, 201019.72+8.22Major17,500
4Apr 10, 200118.14+6.64Moderate12,100
5May 7, 200717.58+6.08Moderate11,400
6Apr 24, 201917.25+5.75Moderate12,800
7May 19, 199516.86+5.36Moderate10,000
8Mar 21, 202016.75+5.25Moderate7,400
9Apr 13, 196916.70+5.20Moderate9,000
10May 3, 200916.64+5.14Moderate9,340
11Mar 22, 192216.50+5.00Moderate—
12Mar 22, 199416.17+4.67Moderate8,100
13Apr 2, 196215.80+4.30Moderate6,250
14Apr 24, 202315.69+4.19Moderate8,660
15Apr 2, 196015.42+3.92Moderate6,050
16Apr 15, 195215.23+3.73Moderate5,580
17Mar 30, 197815.22+3.72Moderate5,820
18May 3, 198614.81+3.31Minor5,010
19Mar 27, 194814.48+2.98Minor4,630
20May 24, 195014.30+2.80Minor4,840
21May 19, 199814.17+2.67Minor4,800
22May 19, 199913.86+2.36Minor4,060
23Jul 31, 199313.41+1.91Minor3,440
24Jun 22, 198413.18+1.68Minor3,310
25Jun 13, 202213.16+1.66Minor4,600
26Apr 3, 198912.91+1.41Minor3,320
27Mar 22, 196612.15+0.65Minor3,120
28Mar 20, 192912.00+0.50Minor2,650
29Aug 23, 202511.98+0.48Minor3,620
30May 29, 199611.94+0.44Minor3,020
31Mar 14, 197711.93+0.43Minor1,950
32Mar 27, 198711.36−0.14Action2,190
33Jun 19, 196711.28−0.22Action2,670
34Jun 26, 201311.28−0.22Action2,870
35Mar 23, 197211.27−0.23Action2,490
36Mar 23, 198511.14−0.36Action2,040
37Apr 11, 200610.95−0.55Action2,430
38Aug 6, 195310.86−0.64Action2,690
39Jul 20, 200510.79−0.71Action2,100
40May 19, 197910.62−0.88Action2,130
41Jun 22, 201510.58−0.92Action1,770
42Mar 15, 201210.55−0.95Action1,850
43Jul 12, 201410.55−0.95Action1,680
44Jun 29, 202410.55−0.95Action1,600
45Oct 1, 199910.52−0.98Action1,660
46Mar 31, 194410.48−1.02Below flood stage2,460
47Jun 12, 199110.46−1.04Below flood stage1,580
48Apr 10, 201710.40−1.10Below flood stage1,450
49May 11, 198210.11−1.39Below flood stage1,150
50Jun 19, 199210.11−1.39Below flood stage1,110

The worst floods along the James River

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

April 6, 1997: 21.28 ft here, major flooding

  • HeclaND · Apr 1, 1997 · 98.04 ft · Major · its highest
  • RedfieldSD · Apr 6, 1997 · 31.10 ft · Major · its highest
  • AshtonSD · Apr 6, 1997 · 26.64 ft · Major · its highest
  • YanktonSD · Apr 9, 1997 · 22.94 ft · Major
  • ForestburgSD · Apr 6, 1997 · 20.61 ft · Major · its highest
  • ScotlandSD · Apr 8, 1997 · 19.81 ft · Major
  • StratfordSD · Apr 6, 1997 · 19.48 ft · Major
  • KensalND · Apr 7, 1997 · 14.00 ft · Major
  • LaMoureND · Apr 1, 1997 · 16.09 ft · Moderate
  • Grace CityND · Apr 3, 1997 · 14.77 ft · Moderate

March 26, 2011: 20.07 ft here, major flooding

  • MitchellSD · Mar 25, 2011 · 25.20 ft · Major
  • YanktonSD · Mar 28, 2011 · 22.24 ft · Major
  • ForestburgSD · Mar 25, 2011 · 20.27 ft · Major
  • ScotlandSD · Mar 27, 2011 · 19.52 ft · Major

March 25, 2010: 19.72 ft here, major flooding

  • RedfieldSD · Mar 21, 2010 · 29.40 ft · Major
  • AshtonSD · Mar 22, 2010 · 25.25 ft · Major
  • YanktonSD · Mar 20, 2010 · 22.75 ft · Major
  • StratfordSD · Mar 29, 2010 · 20.08 ft · Major
  • ScotlandSD · Mar 19, 2010 · 19.79 ft · Major
  • ForestburgSD · Mar 25, 2010 · 19.14 ft · Major
  • HeclaND · Mar 27, 2010 · 95.51 ft · Moderate
  • LaMoureND · Mar 21, 2010 · 15.80 ft · Minor

Gauges on the James River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the James River
Grace CityND12.017.74 ft, Apr 17, 20093
KensalND9.016.69 ft, Apr 28, 20095
JamestownND12.016.94 ft, Apr 11, 19691
LaMoureND14.017.56 ft, Apr 15, 20090
HeclaND93.098.04 ft, Apr 1, 19972
ColumbiaSD13.019.81 ft, Jul 16, 20118
StratfordSD14.021.57 ft, Jul 19, 20116
AshtonSD13.026.64 ft, Apr 6, 199716
RedfieldSD20.031.10 ft, Apr 6, 19976
Huron this gaugeSD11.521.28 ft, Apr 6, 19973
ForestburgSD12.020.61 ft, Apr 6, 19977
MitchellSD17.025.33 ft, Apr 11, 20015
ScotlandSD13.022.22 ft, Sep 13, 201916
YanktonSD12.027.84 ft, Sep 14, 20199

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge HURS2, 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.