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White River (NE-SD) near White River

Highest listed crest 18.21 ftFlood stage 14.0 ft23 crests since 2002

The White River (NE-SD) near White River crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 23 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2002 to 2023. The highest, 18.21 ft on March 15, 2011, was major flooding, 4.21 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the White River (NE-SD) crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
18.21 ft
March 15, 2011
Flood stage
14.0 ft
Major flooding from 17.0 ft
Crests at major
1
62nd of 155 gauges in South Dakota
Most recent flood crest
March 24, 2019
15.64 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Jones 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, White River (NE-SD) near White River
Action stage12.010Oct 14, 2023The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)14.00—Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.03Mar 24, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage17.01Mar 15, 2011Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

23 crests from 2002 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the White River (NE-SD) near White River, 2002 to 2023 5101520ft Flood stage 14.0 ftMajor 17.0 ft Sep 11, 2002: 8.34 ft, below flood stage; 3,910 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 2003: 13.37 ft, action stageMay 3, 2003: 8.92 ft, below flood stage; 3,970 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 2004: 11.33 ft, below flood stage; 7,310 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2005: 12.90 ft, action stage; 11,800 cubic feet per secondSep 25, 2006: 9.49 ft, below flood stage; 4,730 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2007: 10.03 ft, below flood stage; 5,740 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2008: 13.35 ft, action stage; 9,140 cubic feet per secondFeb 10, 2009: 16.75 ft, moderate flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2010: 13.02 ft, action stage; 8,570 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2011: 18.21 ft, major floodingJun 23, 2013: 10.69 ft, below flood stage; 5,490 cubic feet per secondOct 17, 2013: 12.50 ft, action stage; 8,590 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2015: 13.13 ft, action stage; 8,270 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 2016: 7.07 ft, below flood stage; 1,840 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 2017: 15.03 ft, moderate floodingApr 12, 2017: 9.92 ft, below flood stage; 4,860 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 2018: 12.77 ft, action stage; 8,430 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2019: 15.64 ft, moderate flooding; 21,100 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2020: 12.71 ft, action stage; 3,500 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 2021: 7.97 ft, below flood stage; 3,620 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2023: 12.45 ft, action stage; 10,000 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 2023: 12.73 ft, action stage; 10,800 cubic feet per second Highest, 18.21 ft, Mar 15, 2011 2005201020152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, White River (NE-SD) near White River 2000s: 1 2010s: 3 3 2020s: 0 2000s2010s2020s
  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

Highest listed crests, White River (NE-SD) near White River
1Mar 15, 201118.21+4.21Major—
2Feb 10, 200916.75+2.75Moderate20,000
3Mar 24, 201915.64+1.64Moderate21,100
4Feb 19, 201715.03+1.03Moderate—
5Feb 19, 200313.37−0.63Action—
6Jun 7, 200813.35−0.65Action9,140
7May 20, 201513.13−0.87Action8,270
8Mar 10, 201013.02−0.98Action8,570
9May 13, 200512.90−1.10Action11,800
10Jun 21, 201812.77−1.23Action8,430
11Oct 14, 202312.73−1.27Action10,800
12Mar 4, 202012.71−1.29Action3,500
13Oct 17, 201312.50−1.50Action8,590
14Jun 12, 202312.45−1.55Action10,000
15Sep 7, 200411.33−2.67Below flood stage7,310
16Jun 23, 201310.69−3.31Below flood stage5,490
17May 7, 200710.03−3.97Below flood stage5,740
18Apr 12, 20179.92−4.08Below flood stage4,860
19Sep 25, 20069.49−4.51Below flood stage4,730
20May 3, 20038.92−5.08Below flood stage3,970
21Sep 11, 20028.34−5.66Below flood stage3,910
22Oct 15, 20217.97−6.03Below flood stage3,620
23Apr 18, 20167.07−6.93Below flood stage1,840

The worst floods along the White River (NE-SD)

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the White River (NE-SD) that crested above flood stage within a week.

March 15, 2011: 18.21 ft here, major flooding

  • OacomaSD · Mar 16, 2011 · 25.02 ft · Major · its highest
  • InteriorSD · Mar 13, 2011 · 15.52 ft · Moderate

February 10, 2009: 16.75 ft here, moderate flooding

  • OacomaSD · Feb 11, 2009 · 20.03 ft · Moderate

March 24, 2019: 15.64 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the White River (NE-SD)

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

Flood gauges on the White River (NE-SD)
Nebraska-South Dakota State LineSD15.020.11 ft, May 16, 20153
OglalaSD19.023.61 ft, Jun 16, 19672
InteriorSD14.016.08 ft, May 22, 20191
KadokaSD15.019.50 ft, Mar 8, 19051
White River this gaugeSD14.018.21 ft, Mar 15, 20111
OacomaSD17.025.02 ft, Mar 16, 20111

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WHRS2, 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.