James River near Mitchell
Observed Thu, Sep 24, 2:45 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 17.00 ft
- Record crest
- 25.33 ft2001
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 24.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 21.50 ft |
| Minor flood | 17.00 ft |
| Action | 16.00 ft |
- 30.50 ft257th Street at the bridge is flooded.
- 27.50 ftWater reaches the top of the bridge on 416th Ave
- 25.00 ftHighway 42 east of Ethan will be flooded. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 257th Street at the gauge.
- 24.00 ftHighway 38 east of Mitchell begins flooding. 416th Avenue and 257th Street are flooded.
- 23.50 ft1st Avenue by the golf course is flooded.
- 23.00 ft416th Avenue is flooded near Rosedale Colony.
- 22.00 ftWater overtops 257th Street about 100 yards east of the bridge.
- 21.50 ftShannard/Old Mill Road east of Mitchell is flooded.
- 19.00 ftSizable areas of agricultural land near the river are flooded.
- 17.00 ftLow lying agricultural land begins to flood.
- 15.00 ftThe lowest banks begin to be overtopped.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 26% |
| Moderate flooding | 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2026.
Crest history
35 crests on NOAA’s list since 1966.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 11, 2001 | 25.33 ft |
| 2 | March 25, 2011 | 25.20 ft |
| 3 | September 13, 2019 | 25.05 ft |
| 4 | June 16, 2010 | 25.03 ft |
| 5 | May 10, 2007 | 24.38 ft |
| 6 | June 23, 2024 | 23.73 ft |
| 7 | March 25, 2019 | 23.52 ft |
| 8 | April 7, 1997 | 23.14 ft |
| 9 | May 6, 2009 | 21.89 ft |
| 10 | March 24, 2020 | 21.30 ft |
| 11 | April 28, 2023 | 21.03 ft |
| 12 | April 23, 1995 | 20.43 ft |
| 13 | April 26, 2018 | 19.60 ft |
| 14 | May 8, 2012 | 19.35 ft |
| 15 | June 13, 2022 | 19.09 ft |
| 16 | May 11, 1969 | 18.32 ft |
| 17 | June 8, 2008 | 17.44 ft |
| 18 | June 13, 2005 | 17.09 ft |
| 19 | July 2, 2013 | 17.09 ft |
| 20 | August 30, 2025 | 16.49 ft |
| 21 | May 2, 2016 | 16.25 ft |
| 22 | June 14, 2004 | 16.02 ft |
| 23 | April 16, 2006 | 15.98 ft |
| 24 | July 6, 2015 | 15.45 ft |
| 25 | May 30, 1972 | 14.98 ft |
Most recent crests
- August 30, 2025: 16.49 ft
- June 23, 2024: 23.73 ft
- April 28, 2023: 21.03 ft
- June 13, 2022: 19.09 ft
- March 24, 2021: 12.85 ft
- March 24, 2020: 21.30 ft
- September 13, 2019: 25.05 ft
- March 25, 2019: 23.52 ft
- April 26, 2018: 19.60 ft
- February 28, 2017: 14.44 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.