Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06481480

Skunk Creek near Chester, SD

Skunk Creek near Chester, SD is USGS streamgage 06481480 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10170203. It sits on the Skunk Creek, alongside 2 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 262 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1984. Typical flow runs near 21.7 cfs in July and 44.8 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
262 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,561 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10170203
Coordinates
43.84822, -96.8365
USGS site number
06481480
Records begin
1984-08-16 (42 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Skunk Creek near Chester, 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
0.1 0.1 0.1
0.1 0.1 0.1
0.1 0.1 0.1
0.1 0.1 0.2
0.1 0.1 0.2
0.1 0.1 0.3
0.1 0.3 2.9
0.1 0.2 1.8
0.1 0.2 1.5
0 0.2 1.1
0 0.2 0.8
0 0.2 0.6
0 0.2 0.5
0 0.1 0.4

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 42 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 0.1 2.1 36.6
February 0 2 37.9
March 0.4 22.4 332.8
April 2.2 44.8 425.5
May 3.9 36.4 374.6
June 1.3 40.2 228.2
July 0.7 21.7 229
August 0.5 4.2 109.9
September 0.3 1.8 234
October 0.4 3 220.9
November 0.4 2.9 82.4
December 0.3 3.1 42.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Skunk Creek near Chester, SD normally run highest?
April, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 44.8 cfs, against 1.8 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Skunk Creek near Chester, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 2.1 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0.1 and 36.6 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Skunk Creek near Chester, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06481480 begin in 1984, about 42 years, covering roughly 8,953 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Skunk Creek near Chester, 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 Skunk Creek near Chester, SD?
The gauge sits at 43.84822, -96.8365, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10170203, at an elevation of about 1,561 feet, draining roughly 262 square miles.
Can I use Skunk Creek near Chester, 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 Skunk Creek

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

Other gauges in this subbasin