James River at Huron
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 3:00 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 11.50 ft
- Record crest
- 21.28 ft1997
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 19.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 15.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 11.50 ft |
| Action | 10.50 ft |
- 25.50 ftWater overtops the dike at the wastewater treatment plant.
- 22.00 ftRiverside Park in Huron begins to flood from water overtopping the dike.
- 21.50 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge on Highway 14 and reaches the top of the dike in Memorial Park.
- 20.50 ftMemorial Park in Huron will be flooded. The lowest portion of 221st in northern Sanborn County begins to flood.
- 19.50 ftHwy 14 may begin flooding west of the bridge in Huron. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gaging location.
- 19.00 ftMost county roads along the river east of Highway 37 are flooded.
- 17.00 ft3rd Street east of the bridge in Huron begins flooding.
- 16.50 ftPortions of Jersey, Riverside, and Sherman streets in Huron may begin flooding.
- 15.00 ftApproximately 16000 acres of agricultural land around Huron will be flooded. The lowest portion of Jersey and Waibel Dr may also be flooded if flow from the creek is high.
- 14.00 ftA few county and township roads in Beadle County will be flooded.
- 11.50 ftRural and agricultural areas begin to experience flooding
- 10.50 ftThe lowest banks begin to be overtopped flooding low lying areas near the river.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 8% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 26, 2026.
Crest history
83 crests on NOAA’s list since 1922.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 6, 1997 | 21.28 ft |
| 2 | March 26, 2011 | 20.07 ft |
| 3 | March 25, 2010 | 19.72 ft |
| 4 | April 10, 2001 | 18.14 ft |
| 5 | May 7, 2007 | 17.58 ft |
| 6 | April 24, 2019 | 17.25 ft |
| 7 | May 19, 1995 | 16.86 ft |
| 8 | March 21, 2020 | 16.75 ft |
| 9 | April 13, 1969 | 16.70 ft |
| 10 | May 3, 2009 | 16.64 ft |
| 11 | March 22, 1922 | 16.50 ft |
| 12 | March 22, 1994 | 16.17 ft |
| 13 | April 2, 1962 | 15.80 ft |
| 14 | April 24, 2023 | 15.69 ft |
| 15 | April 2, 1960 | 15.42 ft |
| 16 | April 15, 1952 | 15.23 ft |
| 17 | March 30, 1978 | 15.22 ft |
| 18 | May 3, 1986 | 14.81 ft |
| 19 | March 27, 1948 | 14.48 ft |
| 20 | May 24, 1950 | 14.30 ft |
| 21 | May 19, 1998 | 14.17 ft |
| 22 | May 19, 1999 | 13.86 ft |
| 23 | July 31, 1993 | 13.41 ft |
| 24 | June 22, 1984 | 13.18 ft |
| 25 | June 13, 2022 | 13.16 ft |
Most recent crests
- August 23, 2025: 11.98 ft
- June 29, 2024: 10.55 ft
- April 24, 2023: 15.69 ft
- June 13, 2022: 13.16 ft
- April 18, 2021: 9.95 ft
- March 21, 2020: 16.75 ft
- April 24, 2019: 17.25 ft
- April 10, 2017: 10.40 ft
- May 6, 2016: 9.87 ft
- June 22, 2015: 10.58 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.