Flooding in South Dakota, May 1 to 31, 2019

This is a continuation of flooding from April. Continued higher than average releases from Fort Randall dam kept downstream water levels high through the month. During two periods (May 21-26 and May 27-31), the water crested at major flood levels, inundating some roadways near the river. Missouri River levels crested 4.22 feet above flood stage at Niobrara (gage site MRNN1) on May 30. Moderate flooding continued into June.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. Persistent higher than average releases from Fort Randall dam kept downstream water levels high through the month. By late month, additional rains helped to push the river into moderate flood levels, bringing water to some homes near Springfield Recreation Area. Missouri River levels crested 2.17 feet above flood stage at Springfield (gage site SPGS2) on May 31. Minor flooding persisted into June.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River at Huron (gage site HURS2) crested at major flood stage twice during the month. The first occurred on May 1 when levels crested at 5.26 feet above flood stage. Additional rainfall mid to late month resulted in a secondary crest of 4.35 feet above flood stage on May 28. Numerous county and township roads remained under water, as well as several streets near Huron. The river remained in moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River near Forestburg (gage site FORS2) crested 4.67 feet above flood stage on May 1, inundating numerous county and township roads near the gage site. After a short period at major flood stage, the river remained in moderate flood levels through the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River near Mitchell (gage site JRMS2) crested at major flood stage twice during the month. The first occurred on May 1 when levels crested at 5.79 feet above flood stage. Additional rainfall mid to late month resulted in a secondary crest of 5.44 feet above flood stage on May 31. The county road east of the bridge at the gage site remained under water much of the month. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River near Mitchell (gage site JRMS2) crested at major flood stage twice during the month. The first occurred on May 1 when levels crested at 5.79 feet above flood stage. Additional rainfall mid to late month resulted in a secondary crest of 5.44 feet above flood stage on May 31. The county road east of the bridge at the gage site remained under water much of the month. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River near Mitchell (gage site JRMS2) crested at major flood stage twice during the month. The first occurred on May 1 when levels crested at 5.79 feet above flood stage. Additional rainfall mid to late month resulted in a secondary crest of 5.44 feet above flood stage on May 31. The county road east of the bridge at the gage site remained under water much of the month. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River near Scotland (gage site SCOS2) spent the entire month in major flood stage, with a crest 5.81 feet above flood stage on May 30. Significant agricultural flooding continued, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. County roads near the gage were flooded at months end, and Highway 44 was briefly flooded south of Milltown. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River near Mitchell (gage site JRMS2) crested at major flood stage twice during the month. The first occurred on May 1 when levels crested at 5.79 feet above flood stage. Additional rainfall mid to late month resulted in a secondary crest of 5.44 feet above flood stage on May 31. The county road east of the bridge at the gage site remained under water much of the month. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River near Scotland (gage site SCOS2) spent the entire month in major flood stage, with a crest 5.81 feet above flood stage on May 30. Significant agricultural flooding continued, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. County roads near the gage were flooded at months end, and Highway 44 was briefly flooded south of Milltown. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River near Scotland (gage site SCOS2) spent the entire month in major flood stage, with a crest 5.81 feet above flood stage on May 30. Significant agricultural flooding continued, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. County roads near the gage were flooded at months end, and Highway 44 was briefly flooded south of Milltown. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The James River near Yankton (gage site YNNS2) spent almost the entire month in major flood stage, with a crest 8.66 feet above flood stage on May 30. Significant agricultural flooding continued, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. A few county and township roads near the gage were flooded much of the month. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Estelline (gage site BSES2) spent the entire month in flood stage, with a pair of crests into moderate flood stage during the month. The first crest 1.83 feet above flood stage occurred on May 9, with a second crest spurred by late month rains at 1.70 feet above flood stage. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Bruce (gage site BRCS2) spent the entire month in moderate flood stage. The highest stage, cresting 2.02 feet above flood stage, occurred on May 1 with slightly lower crests on May 11 and May 25. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Brookings (gage site BRKS2) spent the entire month in moderate flood stage, with a pair of very brief crests into major flood stage. The first crest at 3.06 feet above flood stage occurred on May 20, with a second crest at 3.10 feet above flood stage on May 25. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. 473rd Avenue near the gage was under water much of the month, as was 271st Street between 468th and 469th Avenue. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Flandreau (gage site BSFS2) spent nearly the entire month in flood stage, with a week hovering just below flood stage from May 15-19. An early month crest at 1.10 feet above flood stage occurred on May 12, with a second crest spurred by late month rains at 1.29 feet above flood stage on May 28. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. Near crest, water impacted the city park in Flandreau. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Egan (gage site EGAS2) spent the entire month in flood, with a pair of brief crests into moderate flood stage. The first crest at 2.61 feet above flood stage occurred on May 12, with a second crest spurred by late month rains at 3.31 feet above flood stage on May 28. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River at Trent (gage site TRES2) spent the entire month in flood stage, with a pair of crests into moderate flood stage during the month. The first crest 2.12 feet above flood stage occurred on May 1, with a second crest spurred by late month rains at 2.90 feet above flood stage on May 28. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. 478th Avenue and 242nd Street were inundated by water south of Trent for all but a few days in the middle of the month. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River above Dell Rapids (gage site DBRS2) spent all but a brief period from May 17-20 in flood. Late month rains pushed the river to a crest into moderate flood stage at 3.04 feet above flood stage on May 29. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. Recreational areas at Dell Rapids along the river were inundated. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids (gage site DERS2) remained in flood stage through the month. A period of heavier rainfall late month pushed the river to briefly crest at moderate flood stage, 2.14 feet above flood stage on May 29. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. Recreational areas at Dell Rapids along the river were inundated. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls I-90 (gage site SFLS2) remained in flood stage through the month. Late month rains pushed the river to a crest into moderate flood stage at 3.52 feet above flood stage on May 30. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. Some rural roads and farm buildings were impacted by water once again late month. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls North Cliff Ave. (gage site SXFS2) spent all but a brief period from May 17-21 in flood. Late month rains pushed the river to a crest into moderate flood stage at 4.09 feet above flood stage on May 30. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Brandon (gage site BBSS2) remained in flood through the month. After an early month crest at 3.43 feet above flood stage on May 1, the river fell back to minor flood stage before late month rains pushed the river to a crest into moderate flood stage at 4.90 feet above flood stage on May 31. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Brandon (gage site BBSS2) remained in flood through the month. After an early month crest at 3.43 feet above flood stage on May 1, the river fell back to minor flood stage before late month rains pushed the river to a crest into moderate flood stage at 4.90 feet above flood stage on May 31. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River above Canton (gage site CBSS2) remained in flood through the month. While much of the month was mired in minor flooding, late month rains pushed the river to a crest into major flood stage at 5.55 feet above flood stage on May 30, the fifth highest stage on record. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River at Fairview (gage site FVWS2) remained in flood through the month other than a brief period from May 18-22. Late month rains pushed the river to a crest at 5.91 feet above flood stage on May 30, the third highest stage on record. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River above Hawarden (gage site HWDI4) remained in flood through the month. Late month rains pushed the river to a crest at 10.33 feet above flood stage on May 29, the third highest stage on record. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. County road 13, Iowa Highway 10 and South Dakota Highway 46 were again subjected to closure at the end of the month. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River at Akron (gage site AKRI4) remained in flood through the month. Late month rains pushed the river to a crest at 5.41 feet above flood stage on May 29. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. Several county and township roads returned to a flooded state at months end, with a brief closure of South Dakota Highway 48. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. The Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) remained in flood through the month. Late month rains pushed the river to a crest at 5.21 feet above flood stage on May 30. Significant agricultural flooding persisted, with no opportunity for spring planting throughout the flood plain. A few farm levees were overtopped on the South Dakota side with flooding of several outbuildings. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

This is a continuation of flooding from April. Split Rock Creek below Jasper (gage site JSPM5) saw flooding slowly end at the start of the month. Starting the month at 0.51 feet above flood stage, the river fell below flood stage on May 2. Low water crossings on 250th and 251st Streets on the Minnesota/South Dakota border were flooded.