Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06294000

Little Bighorn River near Hardin, MT

Little Bighorn River near Hardin, MT is USGS streamgage 06294000 in Montana, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10080016. It sits on the Little Bighorn River, alongside 3 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 1,294 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1953. Typical flow runs near 192.5 cfs in July and 233.2 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.

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Gauge details

State
Montana
Drainage area
1,294 sq mi
Gauge elevation
2,889 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10080016
Coordinates
45.73569, -107.55747
USGS site number
06294000
Records begin
1953-06-01 (73 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Little Bighorn River near Hardin, 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
8.2 9.8 12
7.4 9.7 13.9
6.7 9.7 18.5
6.6 10.2 23.6
6.6 11.2 41.5
6.5 11.4 42.2
6.4 11.5 43.1
6.5 13.3 63.4
6.1 13.1 63.2
5.9 13.6 73.7
5.7 13.8 81.2
5.5 13.7 82.8
5.4 13.9 87
5.2 15 98.4

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 73 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 75.2 121.7 202.5
February 83.7 147.7 354.2
March 110.1 201.2 600.9
April 132.6 233.2 557.8
May 223.3 481.8 1,153.7
June 199 708.1 1,754.7
July 43.5 192.5 532.5
August 28.4 109.7 208.5
September 41.2 120.3 218.3
October 91.9 152.6 223.6
November 97.4 148.3 210.7
December 78.6 127 194.7

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Little Bighorn River near Hardin, MT normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 708.1 cfs, against 109.7 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 Little Bighorn River near Hardin, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 121.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 75.2 and 202.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Little Bighorn River near Hardin, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06294000 begin in 1953, about 73 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 Little Bighorn River near Hardin, 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. 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 Little Bighorn River near Hardin, MT?
The gauge sits at 45.73569, -107.55747, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 10080016, at an elevation of about 2,889 feet, draining roughly 1,294 square miles.
Can I use Little Bighorn River near Hardin, 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 Little Bighorn River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin