Montana rivers blown out or running high right now
4 of 38 Montana gauges are Blown out or in the Use caution range right now (0 Blown out).
Updated Oct 28, 9:55 AM PDT · USGS data, provisional
| River | Status | Flow now | Typical for date (median) | Now as % of median | Vs. normal | 24 h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek near Clinton, MT | Use caution | 342 cfs | 240 cfs | 142% | 95th pct. | ● steady |
| Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom, MT | Use caution | 150 cfs | 80.0 cfs | 188% | 95th pct. | ● steady |
| Sun River near Vaughn, MT | Use caution | 533 cfs | 330 cfs | 162% | 93rd pct. | ● steady |
| Sun River at Simms, MT | Use caution | 295 cfs | 198 cfs | 149% | 92nd pct. | ● steady |
Highest of the rest
The 5 other Montana gauges with the highest flow for the date (seasonal percentile).
| River | Status | Flow now | Typical for date (median) | Now as % of median | Vs. normal | 24 h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Hole River near Melrose, MT | High but doable | 634 cfs | 503 cfs | 126% | 79th pct. | ● steady |
| Clark Fork above Missoula, MT | High but doable | 1,830 cfs | 1,510 cfs | 121% | 78th pct. | ● steady |
| Blackfoot River near Bonner, MT | Fishable/Floatable | 690 cfs | 609 cfs | 113% | 75th pct. | ● steady |
| Jefferson River near Three Forks, MT | Fishable/Floatable | 1,650 cfs | 1,430 cfs | 115% | 66th pct. | ● steady |
| Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, MT | Fishable/Floatable | 1,390 cfs | 1,260 cfs | 110% | 64th pct. | ● steady |
What these statuses mean
Use caution: Flow is well above normal for the date. Water is likely fast and strong, wading is likely unsafe, and floating generally calls for experienced boaters. Check local reports and consider waiting.
Blown out: Flow is among the highest this gauge records for the date. Expect fast, high, probably discolored water that may carry debris. Most anglers and boaters will want to wait for it to drop, so check local reports.
These are automated comparisons with each gauge's own history for the date, not safety ratings. Never use this page to decide that water is safe.
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