River stage
Redfield, James River
- River level
- 3.06 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.42 ft
- Recent high
- 8.37 ft
- Recent low
- 3.06 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS RFDS2
- 30-day change
- -0.20 ft
- Average
- 5.26 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 31.10 ft
In brief
The James River at Redfield, SD read 3.06 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 15.94 ft below action stage. That is 0.20 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge RFDS2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31.10 ft | 1997-04-06 |
| 2 | 29.40 ft | 2010-03-21 |
| 3 | 28.09 ft | 2011-04-27 |
| 4 | 26.94 ft | 2019-04-22 |
| 5 | 26.26 ft | 1995-05-15 |
| 6 | 25.79 ft | 2009-04-30 |
| 7 | 24.93 ft | 1969-04-13 |
| 8 | 22.33 ft | 2023-04-21 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 20.00 ft
Flooding of low-lying agricultural and pasture land begins
- 21.00 ft
179th Street east of the bridge and 396th Ave between 177th and 176th floods. Fishers Ln near Fisher Grove State Park may also begin to flood. The water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gauging location on 388th Ave.
- 22.00 ft
Significant amounts of agricultural and wooded areas begins
- 23.00 ft
The water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 390th Ave
- 24.00 ft
Water goes over the top of the bridge at the gauging location on 388th Ave as well as on 395th Ave. A few outbuildings a couple miles downstream of the gauge may also begin to flood.
- 25.00 ft
390th Ave north of the bridge is flooded and the bridge itself begins to be overtopped.
- 26.00 ft
Water approaches Highway 212 and may begin to flood the lowest portions just west of the bridge. The water reaches the bottom of the bridge on County Road 15 one mile northwest of the gauge. 182nd St east of the bridge also begins to flood.
- 27.00 ft
SD Highway 28 at the Spink/Beadle county line floods.
- 28.00 ft
At least a couple of homes along this stretch of the river are flooded or in danger of flooding.
- 29.00 ft
Impacts begin at some structures at the colonies along the river.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the James River flooding at Redfield?
No. The James River at Redfield is at 3.06 ft, 15.94 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Redfield?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 19 ft, minor flooding 20 ft, moderate flooding 22 ft and major flooding 25 ft.
What is the highest the James River has been at Redfield?
The highest crest on record is 31.1 ft, on 1997-04-06.
Is the James River high or low right now at Redfield?
At 3.06 ft it is higher than 0% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge RFDS2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 06475000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.