Blackwater River near Valley City
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 4:00 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 22.00 ft
- Record crest
- 34.31 ft2020
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 31.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 25.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 22.00 ft |
| Action | 17.00 ft |
- 31.00 ftExtensive flooding of rural property and many roads occurs.
- 25.00 ftCounty Highway E near Valley City and Highway 23 near the Perry State Wildlife Area are under water.
- 22.00 ftWoodlands and farm fields along the river begin to flood.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 40% |
| Moderate flooding | 30% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2026.
Crest history
274 crests on NOAA’s list since 1960.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 1, 2020 | 34.31 ft |
| 2 | August 7, 2017 | 33.83 ft |
| 3 | April 3, 2014 | 33.62 ft |
| 4 | April 29, 2024 | 33.16 ft |
| 5 | April 30, 2017 | 32.91 ft |
| 6 | April 21, 2025 | 32.42 ft |
| 7 | June 1, 2013 | 32.39 ft |
| 8 | May 22, 2019 | 32.15 ft |
| 9 | September 14, 1961 | 31.75 ft |
| 10 | June 7, 2001 | 31.50 ft |
| 11 | September 14, 2008 | 31.40 ft |
| 12 | May 1, 2019 | 31.18 ft |
| 13 | July 20, 1965 | 31.15 ft |
| 14 | April 21, 1973 | 31.08 ft |
| 15 | May 9, 2002 | 31.00 ft |
| 16 | July 6, 2019 | 30.92 ft |
| 17 | August 23, 2017 | 30.70 ft |
| 18 | April 3, 2026 | 30.41 ft |
| 19 | April 16, 1960 | 30.40 ft |
| 20 | June 30, 2007 | 30.12 ft |
| 21 | April 28, 2009 | 30.03 ft |
| 22 | July 3, 1969 | 30.00 ft |
| 23 | June 4, 2015 | 29.85 ft |
| 24 | September 23, 1970 | 29.72 ft |
| 25 | June 17, 2009 | 29.68 ft |
Most recent crests
- May 20, 2026: 27.49 ft
- April 28, 2026: 29.17 ft
- April 18, 2026: 23.96 ft
- April 10, 2026: 23.16 ft
- April 3, 2026: 30.41 ft
- March 11, 2026: 22.57 ft
- July 25, 2025: 26.94 ft
- July 17, 2025: 23.07 ft
- April 21, 2025: 32.42 ft
- July 4, 2024: 25.81 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. Stage may be affected by ice. 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.
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.