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Big Sioux River near Estelline — water level right now

Hamlin County, South Dakota · NWS gauge BSES2
Loading the latest reading…
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current stage (ft)
 
1644
minor flood stage
 
1647.03
record crest
set 2025-06-30
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flood status
official NWS category
Official NOAA forecast → Full US flood map →

Flood stages at this gauge

Where the water stands right now against the four official thresholds:

action · 1642.5
minor · 1644
moderate · 1645.5
major · 1648
Flood stageLevel (ft)What it means
Major flood stage1648extensive inundation and significant evacuations — a serious event
Moderate flood stage1645.5some buildings and roads inundated; evacuations possible
Minor flood stage1644low-lying roads and fields near the river start to flood
Action stage1642.5water is approaching flood level — time to pay attention

Highest floods on record here

#Crest (ft)Datevs. minor flood stage
11647.032025-06-30+3.03 above
21646.92019-03-28+2.9 above
31646.342023-04-12+2.34 above
41645.92018-04-23+1.9 above
51644.62018-04-13+0.6 above
61644.382020-03-29+0.38 above
71643.822024-06-240.18 below

Historic crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service — the 12 highest on file.

Where this gauge is

The marker is this gauge; nearby gauges load live and are clickable.

Nearby river gauges

Big Sioux River at Lake Poinsett Inlet/Outlet 5 mi away · loading… Big Sioux River near Bruce 8 mi away · loading… Big Sioux River near Castlewood 12 mi away · loading… North Deer Creek above Brookings 15 mi away · loading… Sixmile Creek above Brookings 18 mi away · loading… Big Sioux River below Watertown 20 mi away · loading…

Gauge details

NWS gauge IDBSES2
CountyHamlin
StateSouth Dakota
NWS forecast officeSioux Falls
River forecast centerMissouri Basin River Forecast Center
Coordinates44.573, -96.93
Time zoneCST6CDT
Turn Around, Don't Drown. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet and twelve inches can float a car. Never drive around barricades or into water of unknown depth — most flood deaths happen in vehicles.

Questions about Big Sioux River near Estelline

Is Big Sioux River near Estelline flooding right now?

The live reading at the top of this page answers that: the gauge is compared against its official NWS flood stages every 15 minutes. Minor flooding at this gauge begins at 1644 ft. Blue means normal, yellow is action stage, orange minor, red moderate and dark red major flooding.

What is flood stage for Big Sioux River near Estelline?

major flood stage 1648 ft, moderate flood stage 1645.5 ft, minor flood stage 1644 ft, action stage 1642.5 ft. These are official National Weather Service thresholds set specifically for this gauge, not generic values.

What is the record flood at Big Sioux River near Estelline?

The highest crest on file at this gauge is 1647.03 ft, reached on 2025-06-30 — that is 3.03 ft above minor flood stage. The full list of the highest crests is in the table on this page.

Where does this data come from?

From the NOAA National Water Prediction Service, the official U.S. river gauge network — a U.S. government work in the public domain. Live stage is refreshed every 15 minutes; flood thresholds and historic crests are refreshed monthly. For life-safety decisions follow NWS Sioux Falls and local emergency management.