Streamflow levels across
Montana
are currently
78.0% of normal, with the
Clark Fork Near Plains Mt
reporting the highest discharge in the state with
13900cfs and gauge stage of 5.36 ft.
Meanwhile, the
Tongue River At Miles City Mt
is seeing a spike in streamflows today after experiencing a
44.68%
increase since yesterday, and currently running at
204cfs.
Maximum gauge stage in the state was last observed at the
Bighorn River Near St. Xavier, currently reporting a stage of
59.98ft.
The
Middle Fork Flathead River Nr West Glacier Mt
in the
Middle Fork Flathead
watershed
is surging for this time of year at
3940cfs, about
66.15% of normal.
Montana has a varied climate and terrain that greatly affects its flow conditions. The state boasts of major rivers such as the Missouri, Yellowstone, and the Clark Fork, which drain into the Mississippi, Missouri, and Columbia Rivers, respectively. Montana also has a number of reservoirs/dams, such as the Fort Peck Dam and the Hungry Horse Dam, which serve as major power sources and water storage for the state. The state's hydrology is influenced by its mountainous terrain, which leads to high precipitation levels and generates snowpacks. These snowpacks, in turn, largely determine the state's flow conditions in the summer months. Montana's flow conditions are also affected by its climate, which is characterized by dry summers and cold winters. Overall, Montana's flow conditions are shaped by a mix of climatic and topographic factors, including watershed, snowpack, and precipitation.