Skunk Creek at Sioux Falls
Observed Sun, Sep 27, 8:30 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 11.50 ft
- Record crest
- 18.23 ft2019
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 18.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 14.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 11.50 ft |
| Action | 9.50 ft |
- 26.00 ftThe levees near the gauge may be overtopped.
- 24.00 ftThe parking lot for the apartments southeast of the gage is under water.
- 22.00 ftSignificant flooding of the neighborhood south of 12th St and west of S Melrose Pl may take place. Portions of Marion Road begin to flood without sandbagging and levee protection.
- 21.00 ftSilver Valley Drive is flooded. Some homes along Skunk Creek are threatened as are a few industrial businesses and outbuildings just west of Sioux Falls.
- 18.00 ftDunham Park is flooded.
- 17.00 ftThe flow from Skunk Creek alone, even with all Big Sioux River flow diverted, can begin to cause flooding along the Big Sioux channel in southern Sioux Falls.
- 16.00 ftThe bridge on W 12th St is overtopped. 263rd also begins to flood.
- 15.00 ftThe lowest portion of the bike trail under Marion Rd begins to flood.
- 14.00 ftThe lowest portions of 467th St begin to flood.
- 13.00 ftWest Madison St near Le Mesa Drive is flooded.
- 12.00 ftWater approaches West 12th Street east of Sertoma Drive and may begin to flood the lowest portions. Much of the greenspace through the parks and bike trail system along creek in Sioux Falls also is flooded.
- 11.50 ftFlooding of rural agricultural land is ongoing, along with some flooding in the green space along the bike trail on the west side of Sioux Falls.
- 9.50 ftLegacy Park begins to flood.
- 7.50 ftThe lowest portion of the bike trail under 12th St may begin to flood.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2026.
Crest history
57 crests on NOAA’s list since 1952.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 14, 2019 | 18.23 ft |
| 2 | June 17, 1957 | 17.78 ft |
| 3 | June 22, 2024 | 16.53 ft |
| 4 | June 21, 1984 | 15.54 ft |
| 5 | March 30, 1960 | 13.64 ft |
| 6 | April 6, 1969 | 13.24 ft |
| 7 | April 7, 2006 | 13.21 ft |
| 8 | May 30, 2004 | 13.10 ft |
| 9 | July 30, 2010 | 12.96 ft |
| 10 | September 21, 2018 | 12.50 ft |
| 11 | March 28, 1962 | 12.43 ft |
| 12 | August 27, 2015 | 12.31 ft |
| 13 | March 29, 1952 | 12.16 ft |
| 14 | March 22, 1979 | 11.81 ft |
| 15 | March 17, 2011 | 11.22 ft |
| 16 | July 11, 1993 | 10.81 ft |
| 17 | March 7, 1983 | 10.62 ft |
| 18 | June 23, 1986 | 10.23 ft |
| 19 | March 12, 2007 | 10.16 ft |
| 20 | March 19, 1978 | 10.02 ft |
| 21 | April 23, 1985 | 10.00 ft |
| 22 | September 1, 1982 | 9.58 ft |
| 23 | June 19, 2014 | 9.46 ft |
| 24 | April 23, 2001 | 9.27 ft |
| 25 | May 26, 2013 | 9.24 ft |
Most recent crests
- June 27, 2025: 4.98 ft
- June 22, 2024: 16.53 ft
- April 9, 2023: 7.52 ft
- August 7, 2022: 5.92 ft
- August 28, 2021: 7.96 ft
- March 29, 2020: 7.54 ft
- March 14, 2019: 18.23 ft
- September 21, 2018: 12.50 ft
- August 21, 2017: 7.00 ft
- September 15, 2016: 7.74 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
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.
Sources
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.