Kayak Love

South Dakota · river

Medicine Creek near Lower Brule

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

96of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Medicine Creek near Lower Brule
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Iron Nation's Gravesite Lyman Co SD looking southwest.jpg by SharonPapierdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

8 mph

gusting to 13 mph

Air temp

90°F

4% chance of rain

River flow

0.11 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Wednesday · 80

  • Today

    58

  • Sat

    4

  • Sun

    46

  • Mon

    35

  • Tue

    49

  • Wed

    80

    Best

  • Thu

    41

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
7p1121
8p714
9p715
10p714
11p715
12a717
1a918
2a1120
3a1525
4a2038
5a2141
6a2037

Is this flow normal for September 5?

Today's 0.11 cfs is 31% below the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 0 cfs, across 11 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind8 mph — noticeable but manageable-4

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but 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

All paddling spots in South Dakota