Western Flows

N F Flathead River

Near Columbia Falls, MT Stream Gauge USGS: 12355500 Provisional Data Last Updated: Jul 10, 05:17 AM PT

Current Flow

3,870 cfs
Steady

Water Temp

58.3 °F
Safe (< 65°F)

Expected Weather

Temp --°F
Wind -- mph
Rain Chance --%
Pressure -- hPa

Location

Flow is within the typical range for this time of year (25th–75th percentile, based on 85 years of USGS record).

System Insights

  • Did you know? Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics, playing a crucial role in the West's water supply.

Verify access, permits, and local conditions before entering any waterway.

Today's Weather

Forecast Details

Morning

At 6 AM: 56°F and Clear, wind NW at 6 mph. By 10 AM: 71°F and Clear, wind SW at 6 mph.

Afternoon/Evening

At 2 PM: 81°F and Overcast, wind SW at 6 mph. By 6 PM: 85°F and Clear, wind S at 9 mph.

Overnight

Dropping from 75°F at 10 PM to 69°F by 4 AM. Conditions Clear with wind NW at 7 mph.

3-Day Outlook

🌘 Waning Crescent

Today, Jul 10

☁️

86° / 56°

Chance of Rain: 0%
5:46 AM 9:37 PM

Saturday, Jul 11

☁️

85° / 67°

Chance of Rain: 5%
5:47 AM 9:36 PM

Sunday, Jul 12

☁️

84° / 57°

Chance of Rain: 0%
5:48 AM 9:36 PM

Flow Trend & 7-Day Forecast

Source: USGS

The current cfs of 3,870 CFS is running near the historical median of 4,280 CFS for this date, indicating average seasonal water levels.

Current (CFS)
7-Day Forecast
Historical Median
Normal Range (p25–p75)

7-Day Water Temperature (°F)

Source: USGS
Current (°F)
Historical Median
68°F Threshold

Planning a Trip?

Recommended gear for your next river adventure. Affiliate links — we may earn a commission.

Glossary & Methodology

Cubic Feet per Second (CFS)

The standard measure for streamflow. One CFS is equal to one cubic foot of water flowing past a specific point in one second (about 7.48 gallons).

Acre-Foot (AF)

The volume of water needed to cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot. One acre-foot is exactly 325,851 gallons.

Snow Water Equivalent (SWE)

The amount of water contained within the snowpack. It can be thought of as the depth of water that would theoretically result if you melted the entire snowpack instantaneously.

Data Sources

Live metrics and historical medians are aggregated directly from the US Geological Survey (USGS), California Data Exchange Center (CDEC), and National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Daily flow statistics represent provisional records and are subject to agency revision.