Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06185500

Missouri River near Culbertson, MT

Missouri River near Culbertson, MT is USGS streamgage 06185500 in Montana, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10060005. It sits on the Missouri River, alongside 51 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 89,858 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1941. Typical flow runs near 9,180.3 cfs in July and 8,041 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.

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Gauge details

State
Montana
Drainage area
89,858 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,887 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10060005
Coordinates
48.1235, -104.4733
USGS site number
06185500
Records begin
1941-07-01 (85 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Missouri River near Culbertson, 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
6,986 7,074 7,171
6,905 7,043 7,212
6,849 7,020 7,263
6,785 6,997 7,295
6,736 6,978 7,311
6,685 6,956 7,332
6,641 6,938 7,341
6,591 6,915 7,328
6,548 6,892 7,309
6,511 6,873 7,305
6,465 6,856 7,297
6,413 6,837 7,278
6,361 6,826 7,281
6,312 6,819 7,288

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 68 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 6,228.4 10,709.7 14,006.5
February 6,300.7 11,241.4 15,217.2
March 5,554.8 9,346.5 16,554.8
April 5,474 8,041 18,616.7
May 5,730.3 8,809.7 16,638.7
June 6,597.3 9,446 17,253.3
July 6,647.7 9,180.3 15,945.2
August 6,373.5 8,914.5 14,945.2
September 5,374.7 8,117.3 14,923.3
October 4,352.6 6,933.2 14,138.7
November 4,229.3 7,315.3 13,876.7
December 5,885.2 9,581 12,412.9

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Missouri River near Culbertson, MT normally run highest?
February, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 11,241.4 cfs, against 6,933.2 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 Missouri River near Culbertson, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 10,709.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 6,228.4 and 14,006.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Missouri River near Culbertson, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06185500 begin in 1941, about 85 years, covering roughly 9,198 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Missouri River near Culbertson, 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 Missouri River near Culbertson, MT?
The gauge sits at 48.1235, -104.4733, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 10060005, at an elevation of about 1,887 feet, draining roughly 89,858 square miles.
Can I use Missouri River near Culbertson, 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 Missouri River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin