Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06478513

James River near Yankton, SD

James River near Yankton, SD is USGS streamgage 06478513 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10160011. It sits on the James River, alongside 14 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 20,962 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1981. Typical flow runs near 1,164.1 cfs in July and 1,272.3 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.

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Gauge details

State
South Dakota
Drainage area
20,962 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,156 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10160011
Coordinates
42.99583, -97.36944
USGS site number
06478513
Records begin
1981-07-10 (45 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for James River near Yankton, 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
643 690 740
580 658 747
526 620 739
479 593 771
441 571 780
418 560 809
425 580 910
439 632 1,041
432 648 1,130
430 684 1,300
406 650 1,255
390 636 1,234
382 637 1,197
368 619 1,153

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 45 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 27 142.4 889.5
February 30.5 151.9 1,081.9
March 97.9 696.1 8,505.2
April 104.2 1,272.3 13,410
May 177.1 1,404.8 11,071.3
June 160.8 1,427.9 9,857
July 64.5 1,164.1 8,659.4
August 37.3 530.6 6,126.5
September 20.6 459.4 3,034.7
October 17.3 423.1 2,537.4
November 28.3 300 2,570
December 21 242.4 1,802.6

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does James River near Yankton, SD normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 1,427.9 cfs, against 142.4 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 James River near Yankton, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 142.4 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 27 and 889.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has James River near Yankton, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06478513 begin in 1981, about 45 years, covering roughly 6,055 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for James River near Yankton, 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 James River near Yankton, SD?
The gauge sits at 42.99583, -97.36944, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10160011, at an elevation of about 1,156 feet, draining roughly 20,962 square miles.
Can I use James River near Yankton, 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 James River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin