Flooding in South Dakota, September 1 to 30, 2019

A continuation of minor flooding from August, the James River at Huron (gage site HURS2) responded rapidly mid-month to 2 to 3 inches of rainfall from September 10-12 near and upstream of Beadle County to crest 3.95 feet above flood stage on September 17. Many rural roads near the river remained inundated, with continued flooding of significant amounts of agricultural land. Minor flooding continued at the end of the month.

A continuation of minor flooding from August, the James River near Forestburg (gage site FORS2) responded rapidly mid-month to 2 to 4 inches of rainfall from September 10-12 near and upstream of Sanborn County to crest 3.87 feet above flood stage on September 16. Many rural roads near the river remained inundated, with continued flooding of significant amounts of agricultural land. Minor flooding continued at the end of the month.

A continuation of flooding from August, the James River near Mitchell (gage site JRMS2) responded sharply to 5 to 8 inches of rainfall between September 10-12 (7.54 inches at Mitchell) to reach the 4th highest crest on record at 8.05 feet above flood stage on September 13. Innumerable county and township roads near the river were inundated, with significant flooding of South Dakota Highway 37 east of Mitchell and 42 east of Ethan. Significant amounts of agricultural land remained flooded. Moderate flooding continued at the end of the month.

A continuation of flooding from August, the James River near Mitchell (gage site JRMS2) responded sharply to 5 to 8 inches of rainfall between September 10-12 (7.54 inches at Mitchell) to reach the 4th highest crest on record at 8.05 feet above flood stage on September 13. Innumerable county and township roads near the river were inundated, with significant flooding of South Dakota Highway 37 east of Mitchell and 42 east of Ethan. Significant amounts of agricultural land remained flooded. Moderate flooding continued at the end of the month.

A continuation of flooding from August, the James River near Mitchell (gage site JRMS2) responded sharply to 5 to 8 inches of rainfall between September 10-12 (7.54 inches at Mitchell) to reach the 4th highest crest on record at 8.05 feet above flood stage on September 13. Innumerable county and township roads near the river were inundated, with significant flooding of South Dakota Highway 37 east of Mitchell and 42 east of Ethan. Significant amounts of agricultural land remained flooded. Moderate flooding continued at the end of the month.

A continuation of flooding from August, the James River near Mitchell (gage site JRMS2) responded sharply to 5 to 8 inches of rainfall between September 10-12 (7.54 inches at Mitchell) to reach the 4th highest crest on record at 8.05 feet above flood stage on September 13. Innumerable county and township roads near the river were inundated, with significant flooding of South Dakota Highway 37 east of Mitchell and 42 east of Ethan. Significant amounts of agricultural land remained flooded. Moderate flooding continued at the end of the month.

A continuation of flooding from August; after falling briefly below flood stage on September 10, the James River near Scotland (gage site SCOS2) responded to excessive rainfall of 4 to 8 inches upstream September 10-12 (7.54 inches at Mitchell and 7.21 inches 7 miles south of Parkston) to crest at a record 9.24 feet above flood stage on September 13. Innumerable roads were inundated and closed for several days, including South Dakota Highway 44 near Milltown, Parkston and Freeman, Highway 18 near Olivet, Highway 81 north of Yankton, Highway 46 west of Irene and 431st Avenue in northern Yankton county - all major area roadways. Tschetter Hutterite Colony was inundated when water overtopped protective levies, causing extensive damage to buildings and displacing 10 families. Similarly, water inundated Wolf Creek Colony when an earthen dam was breached displacing 20 families. Numerous turkeys and hogs were lost in the flooding. Elsewhere, extensive amounts of agricultural land were inundated. Moderate flooding continued at the end of the month.

A continuation of flooding from August; after falling briefly below flood stage on September 10, the James River near Scotland (gage site SCOS2) responded to excessive rainfall of 4 to 8 inches upstream September 10-12 (7.54 inches at Mitchell and 7.21 inches 7 miles south of Parkston) to crest at a record 9.24 feet above flood stage on September 13. Innumerable roads were inundated and closed for several days, including South Dakota Highway 44 near Milltown, Parkston and Freeman, Highway 18 near Olivet, Highway 81 north of Yankton, Highway 46 west of Irene and 431st Avenue in northern Yankton county - all major area roadways. Extensive amounts of agricultural land were inundated. Moderate flooding continued at the end of the month.

A continuation of flooding from August; after falling briefly below flood stage on September 10, the James River near Scotland (gage site SCOS2) responded to excessive rainfall of 4 to 8 inches upstream September 10-12 (7.54 inches at Mitchell and 7.21 inches 7 miles south of Parkston) to crest at a record 9.24 feet above flood stage on September 13. Innumerable roads were inundated and closed for several days, including South Dakota Highway 44 near Milltown, Parkston and Freeman, Highway 18 near Olivet, Highway 81 north of Yankton, Highway 46 west of Irene and 431st Avenue in northern Yankton county - all major area roadways. Extensive amounts of agricultural land were inundated. Moderate flooding continued at the end of the month.

Flooding continued from August, but the James River near Yankton (YNNS2) soon fell below flood stage on September 4. However, excessive rainfall of 4 to 8 inches upstream September 10-12 (7.54 inches at Mitchell and 7.21 inches 7 miles south of Parkston) led to a rapid rise and a record crest 15.1 feet above flood stage on September 14. Five of the six bridges crossing the James River in Yankton county were closed. Innumerable roads were inundated and closed for several days, including major roadways of Highway 81 north of Yankton and Highway 46 west of Irene. Extensive amounts of agricultural land were inundated. Fifty-five homes were impacted by flood waters in Yankton county, with residents forced to take temporary shelter until floodwaters receded. Minor flooding continued at the end of the month.