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NOUS43 KUNR 211448
PNSUNR
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
945 AM MDT FRI AUG 21 2026
TO: SUBSCRIBERS:
-NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
-EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
-NOAAPORT
-OTHER NWS PARTNERS AND NWS EMPLOYEES
FROM: DAVID HINTZ, NWS RAPID CITY METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE
MELISSA SMITH, NWS RAPID CITY SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
SUBJECT: CHANGE TO MINOR FLOOD STAGE AND ACTION STAGE ON THE WHITE
RIVER NEAR OACOMA, SOUTH DAKOTA
A REVIEW COMBINING RECENT IN-PERSON RIVER SURVEYS, ARCHIVED
SATELLITE IMAGERY, DOCUMENTED IMPACTS FROM PAST FLOODS AND HIGH
WATER EVENTS, AND THE CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL
OFFICIALS HAS DETERMINED THAT UPDATES TO THE FLOOD STAGE THRESHOLDS
FOR MINOR FLOOD STAGE AND ACTION STAGE ARE WARRANTED ALONG THE WHITE
RIVER AT THE HIGHWAY 47 BRIDGE SOUTH OF OACOMA. ADJUSTING THE MINOR
FLOOD STAGE AND ACTION STAGE WILL BETTER ALIGN THESE CATEGORIES WITH
OBSERVED IMPACTS. BELOW ARE THE AFFECTED CATEGORY LEVELS:
WHITE RIVER NEAR OACOMA (OACS2):
PREVIOUS ACTION STAGE: 13.0 FT NEW ACTION STAGE: 15.0 FT
PREVIOUS MINOR STAGE: 15.0 FT NEW MINOR STAGE: 17.0 FT
PREVIOUS MODERATE STAGE: 20.0 FT NEW MODERATE STAGE: NO CHANGE
PREVIOUS MAJOR STAGE: 25.0 FT NEW MINOR STAGE: NO CHANGE
THIS CHANGE WILL BE EFFECTIVE SEP 30, 2026.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE CONTACT:
MELISSA SMITH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY, SD
300 EAST SIGNAL DRIVE
RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA 57701
605-341-9271
MELISSA.SMITH@NOAA.GOV
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