SOUTH DAKOTA, S.D. (KELO) – Flooded fields are a common sight all around southeastern South Dakota after this week’s rain.

Now farmers are dealing with the aftermath as even more storms are forecasted.

We found flooded farmland that now looks more like a river just outside of Davis in Turner County. The owners of the land say their pumpkin patch and sweet corn fields are all under water after more than eight inches of rain fell.

Some farmhouses in rural South Dakota are now completely surrounded by water with silos and barns on islands of their own near Viborg.

Over in Yankton County, you can hardly tell where the boundaries of the James River are in one field.

It’s not just flooded fields that some farmers are having to deal with, one farmer near Lesterville in Yankton County has had some issues because of a rising creek.

“Our creeks are full, you know,” farmer Daniel Kubal said. “We’re a little concerned with livestock out there, it did sweep away a baby calf yesterday for us and, you know, it can be devastating when you’re dealing with livestock in these high creeks and things like that.”

Kubal says the flooding he’s seeing isn’t as bad as farms to the north of him, but he’s made sure his cattle are moved up to higher ground to prepare for the next rounds of rain.

“Rain is good, it’s hard to turn away, you know,” Kubal said. “You just kind of got to go with it. We know what it’s like when we don’t have it. It’s a blessing when you do and sometimes you just get way more than you need. You just learn to deal with it.”

The farmer I spoke with in Davis, South Dakota, says it’s been about four years since they’ve seen rain this heavy.

ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa (Dakota News Now) – Flooding hasn’t been just an issue in South Dakota. In northwest Iowa, families and communities are bracing for rising river levels and flash flooding as the rain continues to fall.

The Island Park Campground in Rock Rapids is hardly recognizable. Brendon Leuthold had stopped by on his way home after work to look at the water from the Rock River, wondering if he would be able to make it home.

“Yep, it did go down a little bit, so it probably would’ve been okay, but it’s definitely something to think about,” Leuthold said. “It’s nice that this is unusual, but it’s not great. I feel bad for the farmers, there’s a lot of damage that’s going to happen from this.”

Lyon County officials weren’t just worried about the flood waters either. A BSNF Railway freight train derailed just south of Alvord, Iowa early Friday morning.

Lyon County Emergency Management told Dakota News Now that nine cars derailed. No hazmat crews were needed, and it’s unknown how long the railroad will be blocked.

Back in Rock Rapids, fearing that the flooding would get worse, a sandbagging station was set up. Many volunteers there had been at it since early Friday morning, waiting for truck after truck full of sand to stop by so they could get back to work.

Flooding is expected to continue in Lyon County and the surrounding area as more rain is expected to come from storms on Friday and Saturday. The Rock River is already in a major flood stage, and could only begin to crest sometime this weekend.

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As sections of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha and Lincoln county are put under ongoing flash flood warnings, flood warnings and flood watches, roads in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area are closing.

A flood watch is in effect through 7 a.m. Saturday for all of southeastern South Dakota, and a flood warning is currently in effect for the following areas until 7:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls:

• Portions of northwest Iowa, including the following counties, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O`Brien, Osceola and Sioux
• Southwest Minnesota, including the following county, Nobles
• And southeast South Dakota, including the following counties, Lincoln, Turner and Union

“Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches are possible in the warned area over the next 24 hours,” the flood warning states. Heavier rain, with a risk of severe storms is expected after 5 p.m. Friday.

Locations that will experience flooding include: Sioux Falls, Sioux Center, Sheldon, Canton, Sibley, Rock Rapids, Beresford, Parker, Harrisburg, Tea, Rock Valley, Hull, Lennox, Sanborn, George, Centerville, Worthing, Larchwood, Inwood and Viborg.

Here’s what we know so far about area road closures.

Road Closures in Lincoln County:

The Lincoln County Highway Department says no travel is advised in Lincoln County due to flooding on roads.

Canton

The Canton Police Department says to avoid these roads. It’s working on compiling a full list of road closures.

• North Cedar
• 4th Street
• North Lincoln Street
• 3 to 4 miles north on North Dakota Street
• North Bridge Street
• Noid Road

Highway 18 has been opened back up, but the department says to proceed with caution.

Tea:

The Tea City Facebook says to avoid Gateway Boulevard when leaving or coming to Tea, as the road is down to one lane.

West of Canton and south of Worthing:

These roads are closed due to flooding until further notice, says South Dakota 511, the South Dakota Department of Transportation road conditions webpage:

• South I-29 to SD-11 North
• U.S 18 West Exit 59 to U.S 18 East Exit 62
• 0.25 miles north of SD-44 Exit 64 to US 18 West Exit 59

Road Closures in Minnehaha County:

The Minnehaha County Highway Department says multiple roads have begun to flood, and conditions are expected to become worse as the rain continues.

County Highway 121 (478th Avenue or Eros Road) is closed south of 252nd Street, according to the Minnehaha County Highway Department. NWS has reported standing water on I-29 south of Sioux Falls.

The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office posted photos from the intersection of 478th Avenue and 252nd Street and Hartford Turtle Creek Park, where the roads have completely flooded.

Sioux Falls:

These roads are closed according to a post on X from the City of Sioux Falls:

• 12th Street is closed from Sertoma Avenue to LaMesa Avenue
• Madison Street is closed at LaMesa Avenue
• Charger Circle south of 69th Street
• 41st Street at Cliff Avenue near Interstate 229

Lennox:

Road closed barricades are being placed at Boynton Avenue and Cherry, West 1st and Cleveland, and West 4th and Cleveland. Please proceed with caution, says the City of Lennox Facebook.

What to do if you encounter closed roads:

“If there’s any barricades up because the road is closed, don’t go across those,” said Tim Masters, a hydro-meteorological technician with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls. “The water might be deeper than you think.”