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SwedenYellowstone River near Sidney MT water level
River gauge, Yellowstone River, Montana, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 6,370 cfs
- Water temperature
- 50 °F
History
What this means
The gauge at Yellowstone River near Sidney MT reads 2.77 ft, a normal level.
It is 16.23 ft below the flood stage of 19.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.61 ft and 2.79 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 50 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 24.03 ftMarch 6, 1994
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 19.00 ft, still 16.23 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 28.20 ft
- Ice jam will threaten city bridges.
- 28.20 ft
- Ice jam will threaten city bridges.
- 24.00 ft
- Severe ice jamming may threaten city bridges.
- 21.00 ft
- Richland Park north of Sidney begins to flood.
- 19.00 ft
- Flood stage. Expect low-land flooding to occur.
- 14.00 ft
- At stages of 14.0 feet and higher combined with 60,000 cfs or more will create under tow which can sweep people under water.
- 2.80 ft
- At river levels of 2.8 feet and lower, MDU power plant in Sidney needs to shut down due to lack of water in its intake pipe for the cooling towers.
- 2.77 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 | 24.03 ft | March 6, 1994 |
| 2 | 22.08 ft | March 19, 2011 |
| 3 | 21.92 ft | May 25, 2011 |
| 4 | 21.67 ft | February 17, 1971 |
| 5 | 21.65 ft | June 16, 1965 |
| 6 | 21.00 ft | March 21, 1969 |
| 7 | 20.02 ft | May 23, 1978 |
| 8 | 19.60 ft | February 27, 1986 |
| 9 | 19.59 ft | March 24, 2019 |
| 10 | 19.57 ft | March 19, 1979 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Yellowstone River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone River at Forsyth MTRiver gauge, Yellowstone River | 1.69 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 154 mi |
| Yellowstone River at Miles CityRiver gauge, Yellowstone River | 3.08 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 118 mi |
| Yellowstone River at GlendiveRiver gauge, Yellowstone River | 42.82 ft | Below flood stage | −0.18 ft | 47 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone River North 1 near FairviewRiver gauge, Yellowstone River North 1 | 8.79 ft | Very low | +0.03 ft | 10 mi |
| Yellowstone River North 2 near CartwrightRiver gauge, Yellowstone River North 2 | 62.89 ft | Very low | −0.07 ft | 15 mi |
| Missouri River North 5 at NohlyRiver gauge, Missouri River North 5 | 63.88 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 23 mi |
| Missouri River North 5A at BufordRiver gauge, Missouri River North 5A | 7.28 ft | Normal | +0.07 ft | 23 mi |
| Missouri River North 4 near NohlyRiver gauge, Missouri River North 4 | 10.73 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 25 mi |
| Missouri River near Culbertson MTRiver gauge, Missouri River | 3.37 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 34 mi |
| Missouri River near WillistonRiver gauge, Missouri River | 13.19 ft | Normal | +0.10 ft | 36 mi |
| Big Muddy Creek near mouth near Culbertson MTRiver gauge, Big Muddy Creek | 3.85 ft | Below flood stage | +0.09 ft | 40 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Yellowstone River near Sidney MT?
The official flood stage is 19.00 ft. The level is currently 16.23 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 Yellowstone River near Sidney MT today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 04:00 PM MDT, the water level was 2.77 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Yellowstone River near Sidney MT rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Yellowstone River near Sidney MT normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Yellowstone River near Sidney MT?
The highest level on record is 24.03 ft on March 6, 1994.
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:06329500(Agency page)- Coordinates
47.67741, -104.15541(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 | 2.77 ft | 2026-10-19 22:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 6,370 cfs | 2026-10-19 22:00 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 50 °F | 2026-10-19 22:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Yellowstone River near Sidney MT (usgs:06329500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/yellowstone-river-near-sidney-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