A historic flooding event unfolded as heavy rainfall with a late winter storm drenched the area on March 13-14, 2019. With 1 to 3 inches of snow water equivalent still in the snow pack south of Interstate 90 and 3 to 6 inches of snow water equivalent north of Interstate 90, gradually warming temperatures, and the frozen impervious ground, area rivers crested a second time due to additional runoff about a week after the first rapid crests. Overall, fifteen river gage sites measured record stages around the area.

Flood in BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 22-MAR-19 13:00:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRUCE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 1.74 inches 5 miles west of Bruce) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land. The Big Sioux River near Estelline (gage site BSES2) reached the highest crest on record of 2.90 feet above flood stage on March 28. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood in BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 21-MAR-19 03:30:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRUCE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 1.69 inches at Bruce) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land and inundation of numerous county roads. The Big Sioux River near Bruce (gage site BRCS2) reached the second highest crest on record of 2.86 feet above flood stage on March 28. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood in MOODY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 20-MAR-19 21:00:00 to 28-MAR-19 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLANDREAU
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.22 inches at Flandreau and 1.70 inches at Pipestone) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land and inundation of the city golf course in Flandreau. Flandreau Creek above Flandreau (gage site FCRS2) crested 1.88 feet above flood stage on March 28.

Flood in BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 18-MAR-19 20:00:00 to 29-MAR-19 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MEDARY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.02 in Brookings and 1.68 inches in Aurora) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land. Medary Creek near Medary (gage site MDYS2) reached the second highest crest on record of 1.71 feet above flood stage on March 21.

Flood in BEADLE, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 21-MAR-19 18:15:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: HITCHCOCK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 1.60 inches at Huron) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land and numerous township and county roads. The James River at Huron (gage site HURS2) reached a crest of 4.27 feet above flood stage on March 31.  The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood in MOODY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 19-MAR-19 01:00:00 to 25-MAR-19 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLANDREAU
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 1.70 inches at Pipestone) resulted in sporadic and minor flooding of agricultural lands. Pipestone Creek below Pipestone (gage site PSTM5) reached the highest stage on record cresting 0.42 feet above flood stage on March 24.

Flood in MINNEHAHA, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 19-MAR-19 05:45:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTON ACRES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The second, and higher crest of the month, The Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls North Cliff Avenue (gage site SXFS2) reached a crest 6.06 feet above flood stage on March 26. The river remained in moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood in MOODY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 17-MAR-19 16:00:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONE TREE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.22 inches at Flandreau) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land and inundation of county and township roads.  Several houses in Trent were surrounded by water. The Big Sioux River at Trent (gage site TRES2) reached the highest crest on record of 5.00 feet above flood stage on March 24. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood in SANBORN, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 20-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOONSOCKET
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.47 inches at Forestburg and 1.60 inches at Huron) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land and numerous township and county roads. The James River near Forestburg (gage site FORS2) reached a crest of 4.18 feet above flood stage on March 25. The driver and passenger of a garbage truck were (directly) killed when their truck went off the road and into the flood waters at the base of the bridge near the gage site. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood in MOODY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 20-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLANDREAU
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.22 inches at Flandreau) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land and inundation of the city park in Egan. The Big Sioux River at Egan (gage site EGAS2) reached the highest crest on record of 5.98 feet above flood stage on March 23. The river remained at moderate flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood in MOODY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 19-MAR-19 09:00:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLANDREAU
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.02 in Brookings and 1.68 inches in Aurora) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land and numerous county and township roads. The Big Sioux River near Brookings (gage site BRKS2) reached the seventh highest crest on record of 4.10 feet above flood stage on March 26. The river remained at major flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood in MOODY, SOUTH DAKOTA
From 20-MAR-19 23:00:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLANDREAU
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Snow melt and heavy rainfall (measured 2.22 inches at Flandreau) resulted in extensive flooding of agricultural land as well as Flandreau Park and 479th Avenue. The Big Sioux River at Flandreau (gage site BSFS2) reached the highest crest on record of 3.53 feet above flood stage on March 23. The river remained in flood stage at the end of the month.