Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 12363000

Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT

Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT is USGS streamgage 12363000 in Montana, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17010208. It sits on the Flathead River, alongside 3 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 4,473 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1894. Typical flow runs near 10,764.8 cfs in July and 10,682 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead, alongside daily high and low water-temperature forecasts.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Montana
Drainage area
4,473 sq mi
Gauge elevation
2,989 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
17010208
Coordinates
48.36181, -114.18495
USGS site number
12363000
Records begin
1894-06-01 (132 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date Low p10 Expected p50 High p90 Range
5,814 6,304 6,915
5,707 6,442 7,626
5,555 6,329 7,544
5,516 6,327 7,735
5,441 6,329 7,773
5,317 6,208 7,573
5,169 6,023 7,232
4,986 5,807 6,906
4,738 5,541 6,513
4,610 5,391 6,345
4,515 5,279 6,254
4,402 5,162 6,135
4,340 5,069 6,015
4,159 4,917 5,828

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 74 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 2,639.4 4,257.7 10,851.6
February 1,912.8 4,078.6 10,593.8
March 1,803.9 4,358.1 11,815.2
April 4,181.3 10,682 20,596.7
May 12,695.5 21,796.8 35,851.6
June 12,654 23,316.7 38,660
July 5,938.4 10,764.8 18,564.5
August 3,299.4 5,241.6 9,337.1
September 2,419.7 4,078.3 9,438.3
October 2,566.1 3,995.8 10,376.1
November 2,786.7 4,078.7 10,628
December 3,042.3 4,423.9 10,854.8

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 23,316.7 cfs, against 3,995.8 cfs in October, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 4,257.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 2,639.4 and 10,851.6 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 12363000 begin in 1894, about 132 years, covering roughly 9,200 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT?
Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. A companion model forecasts each day's water-temperature high and low. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
Where is Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT?
The gauge sits at 48.36181, -114.18495, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 17010208, at an elevation of about 2,989 feet, draining roughly 4,473 square miles.
Can I use Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT data for flood or safety decisions?
No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.

Upstream and downstream on the Flathead River

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Flathead River in full.

Other gauges in this subbasin