Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids

1. 22.00 ftThe bridge on 250th Street just west of Baltic is overtopped.
2. 21.00 ftThe bridge at the gauge on 248th St is overtopped and several outbuildings near the gauge are flooded.
3. 17.50 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge on 250th Street west of Baltic.
4. 16.50 ftMuch of the area between the railroad on the north bank of the river and about 250 yards north of Centennial Pl on the south bank is flooded resulting in significant impacts. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 254th St.
5. 16.00 ft248th Street east of the gauge is flooded, along with several other county roads. Flooding will affect the city of Renner with water going over the main road in town.
6. 15.50 ftSignificant flooding is ongoing south of the railroad track in Dell Rapids on the north bank of the river with significant flooding of the athletic fields and campground on the south bank. County Road 130 in Renner is flooded.
7. 15.00 ftSeveral homes and businesses south of the railroad track in Dell Rapids begin to flood. Some homes in Renner are flooded.
8. 14.50 ft250th St west of Baltic begins to flood, River Park Road in Baltic is flooded, and a couple of homes and outbuildings west of 1st Avenue in Baltic are in danger of flooding. Portions of Garfield Ave in Dell Rapids south of the bridge may begin to flood.
9. 14.00 ftSignificant amounts of agricultural lands are flooded through the basin, and River Park in Baltic begins to flood.
10. 12.00 ftThe city parks and athletic fields in Dell Rapids begin to flood. Water approaches at least one outbuilding in Dell Rapids along the river. Agricultural land flooding also begins to increase in coverage.
11. 10.00 ftThe lowest banks begin to be overtopped. The bike trail under the Garfield Ave bridge in Dell Rapids begins to flood.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2026.

Most recent crests

• July 5, 2025: 10.59 ft
• June 24, 2024: 13.84 ft
• April 10, 2023: 12.90 ft
• May 13, 2022: 9.56 ft
• April 13, 2021: 7.32 ft
• March 14, 2020: 13.38 ft
• September 13, 2019: 16.70 ft
• March 24, 2019: 15.69 ft
• April 27, 2018: 14.20 ft
• May 24, 2017: 9.37 ft

• UpstreamBig Sioux River at Dell Rapids
• DownstreamBig Sioux River at Sioux Falls I-90
• Skunk Creek at Chester
• Big Sioux River at Trent
• Bachelor Creek (SD) at Trent
• Willow Creek at Crooks
• Silver Creek at Sioux Falls
• Skunk Creek at Hartford

Forecasts by the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. 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. 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. Gauge reading may be affected by ice.

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.