Kayak Love

South Dakota · river

James River at Huron

USGS monitoring location. Launch access and paddling suitability have not been verified.

Weather comparison · not a safety rating

64

Mixed weather

Weather score out of 100

Weather only. This is a monitoring station, not a verified launch. Access, hazards and suitable flow are unknown.

Weather observation: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:15:00 GMT.

River observation: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT.

Page checked: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:16:52 GMT. Readings older than one hour are not used for the current score.

Photograph taken near James River at Huron
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Drought Increases the Risk of Soil Erosion and Nitrogen Leaching (8075018583).jpg by USDA NRCS South Dakota, Public domain. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

5 mph

gusting to 7 mph

Air temp

36°F

0% chance of rain

River flow

70 cfs

normal for this date

Weather outlook

Monday · 92

  • Mon

    92

    Best

  • Tue

    68

  • Wed

    84

  • Thu

    69

  • Fri

    24

  • Sat

    30

  • Sun

    88

Compares forecast wind, air temperature and rain. Does not assess river flow, swell, currents, water temperature or launch access. All times are local to this location.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
8a57
9a37
10a715
11a613
12p714
1p814
2p813
3p912
4p1012
5p912
6p612
7p611

Is this flow normal for October 19?

Today's 70 cfs is 52% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 46 cfs, across 82 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind — 5 mph — light wind at the forecast location±0
  • Cold — 36°F air temperature — very cold weather-36

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, and uses available public readings. We haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

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