Rivers in South Dakota

Bad River (SD) near Fort Pierre

Stanley County, South DakotaNWS FTPS2USGS 06441500Aberdeen office

Below flood stage
1.18ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 22, 5:30 AM CDT

Flood stage
21.00 ft
Record crest
32.90 ft1905

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood27.00 ft
Moderate flood25.00 ft
Minor flood21.00 ft
Action19.00 ft
  1. 36.00 ftThe bridge on Bad River Rd at the gauge location is overtopped.
  2. 32.00 ftThe railroad tracks near the gauge are flooded.
  3. 30.00 ftSignificant flooding is ongoing near the gauge locations with numerous structures flooded.
  4. 27.00 ftThe unleveed portions of Fort Pierre begin flooding with some levees in danger of breaking. Ten mobile homes downstream of the gauge are in danger of flooding and some outbuildings are flooded.
  5. 25.00 ftBad River Road is flooded in several locations with some ranches surrounded by water
  6. 24.00 ftWater reaches mobile homes along Highway 83 south of Fort Pierre
  7. 21.00 ftBad River Road begins flooding about 7 miles upstream of the gauge
  8. 16.00 ftMinor flooding of the lowest pasture land begins

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 August 26, 2026.

Crest history

97 crests on NOAA’s list since 1905.

#DateStage
1July 3, 190532.90 ft
2April 1, 192730.89 ft
3August 1, 191529.60 ft
4June 18, 196729.55 ft
5May 1, 194227.80 ft
6June 21, 201127.53 ft
7June 15, 192027.40 ft
8April 7, 195227.03 ft
9May 27, 199626.10 ft
10March 20, 197825.52 ft
11June 4, 198425.47 ft
12May 9, 198624.64 ft
13March 21, 198724.38 ft
14May 14, 198224.05 ft
15May 9, 199523.61 ft
16March 25, 201923.42 ft
17April 2, 195023.40 ft
18March 27, 196023.36 ft
19June 11, 195423.35 ft
20March 4, 199422.58 ft
21September 3, 199922.44 ft
22June 22, 196422.12 ft
23March 14, 200121.95 ft
24May 17, 196121.93 ft
25June 13, 193721.85 ft

Most recent crests

  • June 13, 2022: 11.68 ft
  • March 24, 2021: 2.06 ft
  • May 26, 2020: 11.09 ft
  • March 25, 2019: 23.42 ft
  • June 18, 2018: 8.32 ft
  • August 21, 2017: 8.62 ft
  • April 28, 2016: 13.59 ft
  • June 22, 2015: 20.10 ft
  • October 15, 2013: 15.86 ft
  • May 31, 2013: 9.83 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 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.

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.