M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT water level
River gauge, M F Flathead River, Montana, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 533 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.72 ft by Thursday, October 29 at 06:00 PM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 10:19 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT is at 1.77 ft, in the normal range.
It is 8.23 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.72 ft by Thursday, October 29 at 06:00 PM. In the last month it has stayed between 1.76 ft and 1.83 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 36.46 ftJune 9, 1964
- Forecast peak
- 1.77 ftTuesday, October 20 at 12:00 PM
Floating and fishing near M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 10.00 ft, 8.23 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
- Flooding affecting low lying areas adjacent to the river will occur. Many roads will be inundated with flood water and become impassable.
- 14.00 ft
- Flooding to low lying areas adjacent to the river will occur. Roads and homes may experience flooding due to backwater.
- 10.00 ft
- Flooding to low lying areas adjacent to the river is possible. Flooding to homes and agricultural lands is also possible.
- 1.77 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 | 36.46 ft | June 9, 1964 |
| 2 | 19.42 ft | June 20, 1975 |
| 3 | 13.01 ft | May 20, 1954 |
| 4 | 12.40 ft | May 19, 1991 |
| 5 | 12.40 ft | May 23, 1948 |
| 6 | 12.07 ft | November 12, 1989 |
| 7 | 11.96 ft | May 17, 1997 |
| 8 | 11.60 ft | June 18, 1974 |
| 9 | 11.28 ft | May 22, 1956 |
| 10 | 11.23 ft | May 19, 2008 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MTRiver gauge, N F Flathead River | 1.77 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 5.3 mi |
| S F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MTRiver gauge, S F Flathead River | 2,420 cfs | Normal | −40.0 cfs | 10 mi |
| Hungry Horse ReservoirReservoir | 3,541.38 ft | Normal | 11 mi | |
| Flathead River at Columbia Falls MTRiver gauge, Flathead River | 3.80 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 12 mi |
| Whitefish River near Kalispell MTRiver gauge, Whitefish River | 1.45 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 17 mi |
| Stillwater River at Lawrence Park, at KalispellRiver gauge, Stillwater River | 2.77 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 24 mi |
| Swiftcurrent Creek at Many Glacier MTRiver gauge, Swiftcurrent Creek | 28.1 cfs | Low | ±0 | 26 mi |
| Lake SherburneLake | 4,744.95 ft | Normal | 32 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT?
The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 8.23 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 M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 12:45 PM MDT, the water level was 1.77 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT?
The highest level on record is 36.46 ft on June 9, 1964.
Is M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.72 ft by Thursday, October 29 at 06:00 PM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:12358500(Agency page)- Coordinates
48.49552, -114.01021(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NGVD29
- 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 | 1.77 ft | 2026-10-20 18:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 533 cfs | 2026-10-20 18:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: M F Flathead River near West Glacier MT (usgs:12358500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/m-f-flathead-river-near-west-glacier-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