Rivers in North Dakota

Sheyenne River at Valley City

Barnes County, North DakotaNWS VCRN8USGS 05058500Grand Forks office

Below flood stage
2.25ftStage

Observed Sun, Sep 27, 2:45 AM CDT

Flood stage
15.00 ft
Record crest
20.69 ft2009

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood17.00 ft
Moderate flood16.00 ft
Minor flood15.00 ft
Action12.50 ft
  1. 24.00 ftTop of I-94 bridge.
  2. 20.69 ftRECORD FLOOD. April 13, 2009.
  3. 20.00 ftElevation of the top of the emergency dikes. Low steel in I-94 bridge.
  4. 18.00 ftActions are taken to protect electrical distribution equipment.
  5. 17.20 ftThe City of Valley City installs removable floodwalls in the University district.
  6. 17.00 ftMAJOR FLOOD. Levees and low spots are re-enforced.
  7. 16.00 ftMODERATE FLOOD. Storm drains are closed.
  8. 15.00 ftMINOR FLOOD. Actions are taken to protect the power plant.
  9. 14.00 ftDiking required to keep river in channel. Highway 10 in Valley City flooded.
  10. 12.50 ftACTION STAGE/FLOOD SERVICE STAGE.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 25, 2026.

Crest history

91 crests on NOAA’s list since 1882.

#DateStage
1April 13, 200920.69 ft
2April 18, 201120.66 ft
3April 1, 188220.00 ft
4April 21, 199618.78 ft
5May 1, 202218.07 ft
6July 16, 199318.05 ft
7April 19, 199718.01 ft
8April 19, 196917.62 ft
9April 28, 194817.51 ft
10March 29, 199516.57 ft
11April 1, 189715.50 ft
12October 22, 201915.24 ft
13April 16, 196514.93 ft
14April 18, 191914.90 ft
15April 8, 200414.70 ft
16May 5, 195014.60 ft
17April 8, 202014.47 ft
18March 28, 196614.27 ft
19June 21, 201314.21 ft
20March 23, 201014.13 ft
21April 2, 199913.07 ft
22April 17, 201912.29 ft
23June 19, 200011.98 ft
24April 14, 200111.60 ft
25April 13, 198711.43 ft

Most recent crests

  • April 2, 2026: 8.75 ft
  • August 6, 2025: 8.30 ft
  • June 21, 2024: 9.20 ft
  • May 7, 2023: 11.22 ft
  • May 1, 2022: 18.07 ft
  • October 13, 2021: 6.48 ft
  • April 8, 2020: 14.47 ft
  • October 22, 2019: 15.24 ft
  • April 17, 2019: 12.29 ft
  • April 27, 2018: 8.55 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the North Central 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. Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.

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.