Rivermatics

3 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system

Powder River flows and levels

Powder River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in Wyoming and Montana, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 490 miles (789 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 5,924 square miles at Powder River at Arvada, WY up to 13,060 at Powder River near Locate, MT. The gauged reach falls about 1,226 feet, from 3,623 feet down to 2,396. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook for every one of them.

Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream

Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.

USGS streamgages on this river, ordered upstream to downstream
Gauge State Drainage sq mi Elevation ft April p50 cfs July p50 cfs Forecast
Powder River at Arvada, WY WY 5,924 3,623 265.5 112 14-day
Powder River at Moorhead, MT MT 8,029 3,348 408.8 236 14-day
Powder River near Locate, MT MT 13,060 2,396 553.8 326 14-day

Typical flow by month at Powder River near Locate, MT

The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 88 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 59.1 135 254.2
February 71.6 217.8 793.4
March 223.3 545.3 2,642.9
April 277.1 553.8 1,221.2
May 230.2 850.6 2,332.3
June 145.9 1,194.3 3,686.7
July 25.8 326 1,417.2
August 8 104.6 490.8
September 7.5 69.9 386.5
October 42.3 184 460.8
November 71 212 410.2
December 66.1 136.5 278.7

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Powder River run highest?
June, on the long-term record at Powder River near Locate, MT — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 1,194.3 cfs that month, against 69.9 cfs in September, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
How many gauges are on the Powder River?
Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the Powder River, across Wyoming and Montana. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
Is there a flow forecast for the Powder River?
Yes, at 3 of the 3 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily 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 each gauge's live screen.
What river system is the Powder River part of?
The Powder River drains into the Mississippi River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
Can I use Powder River 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 rivers in the Mississippi River system

Browse nearby gauges by state