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SwedenJefferson River near Three Forks MT water level
River gauge, Jefferson River, Montana, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 1,180 cfs
- Water temperature
- 47 °F
History
What this means
The gauge at Jefferson River near Three Forks MT reads 3.32 ft, a normal level.
It is 4.68 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 3.32 ft and 3.40 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 47 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 9.88 ftJanuary 3, 1997
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 8.00 ft, still 4.68 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 8.50 ft
- County roads and bridges have water flowing over them. Several homes flood.May 2018 - Old Town Road just north of Three Forks begins to flood. Road had to be closed.
- 8.00 ft
- Farm buildings flood around Three Forks.Also monitor Boulder River. When Boulder River (BLDM8) starts to go above 8.0 feet, this can have an effect on rise/lowering of the Jefferson River near Three Forks. (June 2017)
- 7.50 ft
- At 7.5 Feet...Agricultural land floods near Three Forks.
- 7.30 ft
- At 7.3 Feet...Water starts to come out of its bank on the Jefferson River near Silver Star and Waterloo in Madison County. The water is near the foundations of several homes. Waterloo Road and Riverside Drive have water on them. An areal flood advisory is recommended from north of Twin Bridges to north of Waterloo. Look at staff gage PBRM8 for data. (June 2017). PBR only available from July thru September starting in 2018.
- 3.32 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.88 ft | January 3, 1997 |
| 2 | 9.39 ft | December 10, 1980 |
| 3 | 9.38 ft | June 12, 2011 |
| 4 | 9.20 ft | June 11, 1997 |
| 5 | 9.00 ft | June 9, 1995 |
| 6 | 8.94 ft | December 14, 1984 |
| 7 | 8.89 ft | December 9, 1982 |
| 8 | 8.77 ft | June 20, 2010 |
| 9 | 8.53 ft | May 29, 2018 |
| 10 | 8.51 ft | June 24, 1984 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Jefferson River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson River near Twin BridgesRiver gauge, Jefferson River | 3.59 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 40 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin River at Logan MTRiver gauge, Gallatin River | 4.91 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 7 mi |
| Willow Creek near Harrison MTRiver gauge, Willow Creek | 15.8 cfs | Low | −0.9 cfs | 14 mi |
| Missouri River at Toston MTRiver gauge, Missouri River | 4.03 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 19 mi |
| E Gallatin R above Water Reclamation Fa near Bozeman MTRiver gauge, E Gallatin R | 96.3 cfs | Very high | +1.3 cfs | 28 mi |
| Madison River below Ennis Lake near McAllister MTRiver gauge, Madison River | 1,210 cfs | Low | ±0 | 28 mi |
| Madison River above powerplant near McAllister MTRiver gauge, Madison River | 103 cfs | Low | +2.0 cfs | 28 mi |
| Gallatin River near Gallatin GatewayRiver gauge, Gallatin River | 1.38 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 32 mi |
| Boulder River near BoulderRiver gauge, Boulder River | 35.9 cfs | Normal | +0.9 cfs | 32 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Jefferson River near Three Forks MT?
The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 4.68 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Jefferson River near Three Forks MT today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 06:00 AM MDT, the water level was 3.32 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Jefferson River near Three Forks MT rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Jefferson River near Three Forks MT normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Jefferson River near Three Forks MT?
The highest level on record is 9.88 ft on January 3, 1997.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06036650(Agency page)- Coordinates
45.89714, -111.59567(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 3.32 ft | 2026-10-20 12:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 1,180 cfs | 2026-10-20 12:00 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 47 °F | 2026-10-20 12:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Jefferson River near Three Forks MT (usgs:06036650). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/jefferson-river-near-three-forks-mt
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer