Montana rivers rising or falling now
Of the 38 gauges in Montana, 0 are rising, 1 falling and 37 steady over the last 24 hours.
Updated Oct 29, 7:41 PM PDT · USGS data, provisional
All 38 Montana gauges by 24-hour change
| River | 24 h change | Trend | Flow now | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby River below reservoir, near Alder, MT | +2% | ● steady | 45.7 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Marias River near Loma, MT | +1% | ● steady | 531 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Missouri River at Fort Benton, MT | +1% | ● steady | 4,610 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Bighorn River below Yellowtail Afterbay Dam, near St. Xavier, MT | +1% | ● steady | 1,800 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Gallatin River at Logan, MT | +1.0% | ● steady | 743 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Clark Fork near Plains, MT | +0.9% | ● steady | 10,700 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Beaverhead River near Twin Bridges, MT | 0% | ● steady | 249 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Big Hole River near Melrose, MT | 0% | ● steady | 634 cfs | High but doable |
| Stillwater River near Absarokee, MT | 0% | ● steady | 440 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Sun River at Simms, MT | 0% | ● steady | 276 cfs | High but doable |
| Kootenai River below Libby Dam, near Libby, MT | -0.5% | ● steady | 4,240 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, MT | -0.7% | ● steady | 1,360 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Bitterroot River near Missoula, MT | -0.9% | ● steady | 960 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT | -1% | ● steady | 3,680 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Madison River near Cameron, MT | -1% | ● steady | 894 cfs | Too low |
| Yellowstone River at Billings, MT | -1% | ● steady | 3,170 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Middle Fork Flathead River near West Glacier, MT | -1% | ● steady | 533 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Marias River near Shelby, MT | -2% | ● steady | 280 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Madison River near West Yellowstone, MT | -2% | ● steady | 309 cfs | Too low |
| Ruby River near Twin Bridges, MT | -2% | ● steady | 177 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Beaverhead River at Dillon, MT | -2% | ● steady | 126 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Judith River near mouth, near Winifred, MT | -2% | ● steady | 368 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Madison River below Ennis Lake, near McAllister, MT | -3% | ● steady | 1,270 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Blackfoot River near Bonner, MT | -3% | ● steady | 690 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Clark Fork below Missoula, MT | -3% | ● steady | 2,650 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Clark Fork above Missoula, MT | -3% | ● steady | 1,740 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Sun River near Vaughn, MT | -3% | ● steady | 506 cfs | Use caution |
| Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs, MT | -3% | ● steady | 1,120 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Bitterroot River near Darby, MT | -4% | ● steady | 244 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Smith River near Eden, MT | -4% | ● steady | 143 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Missouri River below Holter Dam, near Wolf Creek, MT | -4% | ● steady | 2,720 cfs | Too low |
| Yellowstone River near Livingston, MT | -4% | ● steady | 1,550 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Jefferson River near Three Forks, MT | -5% | ● steady | 1,530 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Missouri River at Toston, MT | -6% | ● steady | 3,950 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Yaak River near Troy, MT | -6% | ● steady | 130 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Rock Creek near Clinton, MT | -7% | ● steady | 308 cfs | High but doable |
| Gallatin River near Gallatin Gateway, MT | -8% | ● steady | 325 cfs | Fishable/Floatable |
| Big Hole River below Big Lake Creek, at Wisdom, MT | -15% | ▼ falling | 118 cfs | High but doable |
By region
| Region (Montana gauges only) | Rising | Falling | Steady | Gauges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Montana: Madison & Gallatin | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Southwest Montana: Beaverhead, Big Hole, Ruby & Jefferson | 0 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| South-Central Montana: Yellowstone & Bighorn | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Missouri River & Tributaries (Montana) | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Western Montana: Clark Fork, Bitterroot & Blackfoot | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Northwest Montana: Flathead & Kootenai | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
How this is worked out: for each gauge Flowcast compares the latest USGS flow reading with the reading closest to 24 hours earlier (it must be within 3 hours of that time). A change of +10% or more is labelled rising, −10% or more falling, and anything in between steady. “n/a” means there was no current reading or no reading near 24 hours earlier. USGS readings are provisional. This describes the last 24 hours only; it is not a forecast, and dam releases can change flow on regulated rivers at any time.
All Montana rivers · Montana rivers too low · Montana rivers blown out or high · All states rising or falling · Other states: Oregon · Washington · Idaho
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Readings are provisional and subject to revision. Flowcast statuses are automated comparisons with each gauge's own history, not safety ratings or fishing reports. Check local conditions, weather, regulations and closures before you go. Rivers can change quickly.