Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 12358500

M F Flathead River near West Glacier, MT

M F Flathead River near West Glacier, MT is USGS streamgage 12358500 in Montana, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 17010207. It drains a watershed of about 1,125 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1916. Typical flow runs near 3,426.1 cfs in July and 2,832.7 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.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
Montana
Drainage area
1,125 sq mi
Gauge elevation
3,134 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
17010207
Coordinates
48.49552, -114.01021
USGS site number
12358500
Records begin
1916-01-01 (110 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for M F Flathead River near West Glacier, 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
1,550 1,754 2,003
1,541 1,859 2,386
1,443 1,738 2,245
1,355 1,647 2,131
1,336 1,641 2,166
1,275 1,559 2,031
1,203 1,461 1,856
1,118 1,348 1,680
1,040 1,243 1,520
984 1,169 1,413
941 1,114 1,334
902 1,069 1,278
875 1,034 1,227
837 987 1,160

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 353.7 587.4 1,179.7
February 337.7 553.2 1,236.9
March 402.4 719.5 1,774.2
April 1,209.2 2,832.7 6,105.3
May 4,737.4 8,558.4 15,716.1
June 4,696 8,996.3 16,263.3
July 1,618.4 3,426.1 6,499
August 776.6 1,222.4 1,931
September 508.9 764.9 1,438.7
October 411.6 740.5 1,950
November 411.5 845.2 2,409
December 390 693.6 1,761.3

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does M F Flathead River near West Glacier, MT normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 8,996.3 cfs, against 553.2 cfs in February, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for M F Flathead River near West Glacier, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 587.4 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 353.7 and 1,179.7 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has M F Flathead River near West Glacier, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 12358500 begin in 1916, about 110 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 M F Flathead River near West Glacier, 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 M F Flathead River near West Glacier, MT?
The gauge sits at 48.49552, -114.01021, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 17010207, at an elevation of about 3,134 feet, draining roughly 1,125 square miles.
Can I use M F Flathead River near West Glacier, 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.

Other gauges in this region