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SwedenN F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MT water level
River gauge, N F Flathead River, Montana, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 706 cfs
- Water temperature
- 44 °F
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.75 ft by Monday, October 26 at 06:00 PM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 02:54 PM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The gauge at N F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MT reads 1.76 ft, a normal level.
It is 11.24 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.75 ft by Monday, October 26 at 06:00 PM. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.76 ft and 1.81 ft.
The water temperature at the gauge is 44 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 18.60 ftJune 9, 1964
- Forecast peak
- 1.78 ftThursday, October 22 at 06:00 AM
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 13.00 ft, still 11.24 ft away.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18.60 ft | June 9, 1964 |
| 2 | 17.03 ft | June 7, 1995 |
| 3 | 12.58 ft | June 18, 1974 |
| 4 | 12.25 ft | May 21, 1954 |
| 5 | 12.00 ft | June 2, 1972 |
| 6 | 11.98 ft | June 21, 1975 |
| 7 | 11.90 ft | May 18, 1997 |
| 8 | 10.55 ft | June 1, 2020 |
| 9 | 10.21 ft | May 9, 2018 |
| 10 | 10.16 ft | June 12, 2022 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M F Flathead River near West Glacier MTRiver gauge, M F Flathead River | 1.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 5.3 mi |
| Flathead River at Columbia Falls MTRiver gauge, Flathead River | 3.82 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 10 mi |
| S F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MTRiver gauge, S F Flathead River | 2,370 cfs | Normal | −50.0 cfs | 10 mi |
| Hungry Horse ReservoirReservoir | 3,541.38 ft | Normal | 12 mi | |
| Whitefish River near Kalispell MTRiver gauge, Whitefish River | 1.44 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 14 mi |
| Stillwater River at Lawrence Park, at KalispellRiver gauge, Stillwater River | 2.77 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 21 mi |
| Swiftcurrent Creek at Many Glacier MTRiver gauge, Swiftcurrent Creek | 26.9 cfs | Low | −1.2 cfs | 30 mi |
| Swan River near BigforkRiver gauge, Swan River | 2.24 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 33 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the N F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MT?
The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 11.24 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 N F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MT today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 12:45 AM MDT, the water level was 1.76 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is N F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MT rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.05 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of N F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MT normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at N F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MT?
The highest level on record is 18.60 ft on June 9, 1964.
Is N F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MT expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.75 ft by Monday, October 26 at 06:00 PM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:12355500(Agency page)- Coordinates
48.49580, -114.12676(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 | 1.76 ft | 2026-10-21 06:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 706 cfs | 2026-10-21 06:45 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 44 °F | 2026-10-21 06:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: N F Flathead River near Columbia Falls MT (usgs:12355500). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/n-f-flathead-river-near-columbia-falls-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