James River near Scotland

1. 27.00 ftPortions of the bridge on Maxwell Road begin to flood.
2. 25.00 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge at the Maxwell Colony, and the bridge on Highway 18 near Olivet is overtopped.
3. 24.00 ftThe bridge on 431st Avenue 4 miles southeast of the Maxwell Colony is overtopped.
4. 22.00 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge on Highway 18 near Olivet and begins to flood the low spot of the road east of the bridge.
5. 21.00 ftAdditional levees protecting structures along the river may be overtopped. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 431st Avenue 4 miles southeast of the Maxwell Colony. Maxwell road about 200 yards northeast of the bridge begins to flood.
6. 20.00 ftHighway 44 between Parkston and Freeman, Highway 46 west of Irene, Stone Church Road between Highway 46 and Menno, Highway 81 north of Yankton, and the Jamesville Colony Road in northern Yankton County will all be flooded.
7. 19.00 ftStructures near the mouth of Wolf Creek may flood if the flow from the creek is also high.
8. 18.00 ftResidential structures are at risk of flooding, especially if levee protection fails. Highway 44 south of Milltown and Keiber Road in Milltown will be flooded.
9. 17.50 ftFlooding begins to affect some farm buildings and rural structures and 431st Ave is flooded.
10. 16.00 ftApproximately 22850 acres of farmland are flooded between Mitchell and Yankton. The lowest portions of SW Jim River Rd between Maxwell rd and Hwy 18 begin to flood and water approaches 431st Ave.
11. 14.00 ftApproximately 4400 acres of farmland are flooded between Mitchell and Yankton.
12. 13.00 ftSignificant agricultural flooding begins.
13. 11.00 ftThe lower left bank overflows with some very minor flooding of low lying areas.

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

• August 7, 2025: 10.32 ft
• June 21, 2024: 20.23 ft
• May 2, 2023: 15.13 ft
• June 18, 2022: 12.51 ft
• March 26, 2021: 6.03 ft
• March 15, 2020: 16.18 ft
• September 13, 2019: 22.22 ft
• April 18, 2019: 18.62 ft
• September 21, 2018: 15.10 ft
• June 12, 2017: 9.76 ft

• UpstreamJames River at Mitchell
• DownstreamJames River at Yankton
• Wolf Creek (SD)
• Wolf Creek (SD) at Freeman
• Marne Creek at Yankton
• Missouri River at Gavins Point Dam
• Marne Creek at Yankton
• Missouri River at Yankton
• Missouri River at Springfield

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 48 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 24 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.