Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06482020

Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls, SD

Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls, SD is USGS streamgage 06482020 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10170203. It sits on the Big Sioux River, alongside 16 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 4,662 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1969. Typical flow runs near 474.5 cfs in July and 978.4 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
South Dakota
Drainage area
4,662 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,301 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10170203
Coordinates
43.56703, -96.711
USGS site number
06482020
Records begin
1969-04-10 (57 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls, SD. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date Low p10 Expected p50 High p90 Range
128 160 222
117 158 238
119 169 304
112 169 311
111 169 315
102 158 297
116 189 434
151 324 1,050
155 468 1,766
166 511 1,767
169 484 1,575
162 440 1,374
147 394 1,227
127 323 1,068

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 55 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 17.2 106.9 385.2
February 20.4 113.3 607
March 82.2 589.8 3,451.6
April 166.1 978.4 6,384
May 126.9 998.9 3,658.1
June 93.2 804.9 3,553.7
July 42.2 474.5 2,508.7
August 33.9 265.8 1,521
September 28 183.9 1,170.7
October 26.2 193.2 1,540.3
November 34.4 231.1 918.4
December 26.3 152.5 564.3

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls, SD normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 998.9 cfs, against 106.9 cfs in January, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 106.9 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 17.2 and 385.2 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06482020 begin in 1969, about 57 years, covering roughly 9,091 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls, SD?
Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
Where is Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls, SD?
The gauge sits at 43.56703, -96.711, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10170203, at an elevation of about 1,301 feet, draining roughly 4,662 square miles.
Can I use Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux Falls, SD data for flood or safety decisions?
No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.

Upstream and downstream on the Big Sioux River

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Big Sioux River in full.

Other gauges in this subbasin