Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06214500

Yellowstone River at Billings, MT

Yellowstone River at Billings, MT is USGS streamgage 06214500 in Montana, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10070004. It sits on the Yellowstone River, alongside 9 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 11,807 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1904. Typical flow runs near 12,419.7 cfs in July and 3,892.3 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
11,807 sq mi
Gauge elevation
3,085 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10070004
Coordinates
45.80012, -108.46803
USGS site number
06214500
Records begin
1904-06-01 (122 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook + water temperature

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Yellowstone River at Billings, 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
2,080 2,213 2,332
2,010 2,167 2,310
1,943 2,111 2,274
1,901 2,083 2,273
1,860 2,055 2,253
1,839 2,048 2,272
1,822 2,046 2,292
1,799 2,038 2,305
1,774 2,026 2,318
1,745 2,008 2,321
1,714 1,990 2,327
1,694 1,979 2,339
1,675 1,965 2,333
1,657 1,959 2,358

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 97 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 1,600.6 2,451 3,437.1
February 1,709 2,505.9 3,611
March 2,077.4 2,781.9 4,329.7
April 2,452 3,892.3 6,657.3
May 6,182.3 11,968.7 22,761.3
June 12,720.3 23,846.7 41,176.7
July 4,987.4 12,419.7 22,619.4
August 2,328.4 4,621 8,221.6
September 2,202.3 3,698.3 6,033.7
October 2,727.1 3,913.2 5,639
November 2,616.3 3,558.7 4,645.3
December 1,846.8 2,790 3,739.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Yellowstone River at Billings, MT normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 23,846.7 cfs, against 2,451 cfs in January, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Yellowstone River at Billings, MT?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 2,451 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 1,600.6 and 3,437.1 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Yellowstone River at Billings, MT been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06214500 begin in 1904, about 122 years, covering roughly 9,199 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Yellowstone River at Billings, 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 Yellowstone River at Billings, MT?
The gauge sits at 45.80012, -108.46803, in Montana, in hydrologic subbasin 10070004, at an elevation of about 3,085 feet, draining roughly 11,807 square miles.
Can I use Yellowstone River at Billings, 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 Yellowstone River

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

Other gauges in this region