Flooding

Use this tab to monitor latest river levels along the Missouri River near Bismarck/Mandan

Hydrographs

Missouri River at Bismarck	Missouri River at Mandan	Heart River near Mandan	Apple Creek near Menoken

Radar/Photos

USGS Camera on Missouri River near Bismarck

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Latest Hydrologic Outlook

 

625
FGUS73 KBIS 182023
ESFBIS
NDC015-059-190430-

Hydrologic Outlook
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
223 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

...MISSOURI RIVER BELOW GARRISON DAM ICE UPDATE...

The past couple of days of warmer weather has largely cleared the ice
from the Missouri River through the Bismarck and Mandan metro area.
However, last night`s colder weather has likely formed enough ice to
reverse the trends of the past couple of days. Once again, there`s a
risk of rapidly rising water over the next 24-36 hours due to
accumulating ice in the Missouri River through the Bismarck and
Mandan metro area.

Looking a little longer term at the weather forecast going through
the weekend and the conditions going well into Christmas week are not
conducive to ice formation and retention. This suggests there well
could be multiple opportunities through the end of the year for ice
accumulation and removal, along with rapid fluctuations of the
Missouri River`s water level at the Bismarck gage.

The ice accumulation over the December 14th and 15th caused the
Missouri River at the Bismarck gage location to rise from an ice-free
stage of around 4.6 ft to a peak stage of 11.2 ft, for an overall
rise of roughly 6.6 ft over the course of about 12 hours.

Since 2010...the normal rise in the river as it develops its ice
cover have ranged from a low of 4.9 feet to as much as 6.9 feet,
often in well under 24 hours. The USGS river gage in Bismarck has
been around a stage of 4.6 feet prior to the accumulating ice. This
would suggest the reasonable range for the Missouri River once ice
does accumulate will be between 9.5 and 11.5 feet. However, with ice
constricting the normal flow in the river, there is always the
potential for a smaller or larger rise than normal. Minor Flood Stage
for the Missouri River in Bismarck is 14.5 feet.

Residents along the river are advised to be prepared for rapidly
rising water that could test the recent high-water mark and should
ensure their personal property, such as boat docks, remain safely
above the reasonably expected water levels.

Lastly, when the eventual freezing of the river does take place, any
problematic high water should be reported to your local emergency
management office.

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Schlag

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