Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06026500

Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, MT

Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, MT is USGS streamgage 06026500 in Montana, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10020005. It sits on the Jefferson River, alongside 2 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 7,616 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1940. Typical flow runs near 1,470.3 cfs in July and 1,849.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. 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
7,616 sq mi
Gauge elevation
4,564 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10020005
Coordinates
45.61328, -112.3294
USGS site number
06026500
Records begin
1940-08-01 (86 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, 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
452 476 499
434 467 501
422 460 506
409 452 509
399 447 518
397 454 545
402 467 576
407 483 626
403 484 638
396 483 668
387 483 732
382 479 722
375 480 794
369 485 874

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 86 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 613.1 952.7 1,357.1
February 668.3 1,000 1,374.8
March 805.2 1,124.8 1,792.3
April 988.3 1,849.3 3,823.3
May 1,450.3 3,263.5 6,608.4
June 1,551.4 4,466 9,386
July 490.5 1,470.3 3,486.5
August 275.3 567.7 1,493.2
September 390.4 773.3 1,491
October 754.7 1,130.2 1,815.8
November 855.4 1,265 1,840.3
December 709.5 1,044.1 1,568.7

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, MT normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 4,466 cfs, against 567.7 cfs in August, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 952.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 613.1 and 1,357.1 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06026500 begin in 1940, about 86 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 Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, 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 Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, MT?
The gauge sits at 45.61328, -112.3294, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 10020005, at an elevation of about 4,564 feet, draining roughly 7,616 square miles.
Can I use Jefferson River near Twin Bridges, 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 Jefferson River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin