Flathead River At Columbia Falls flow report
As of July 13, 2026, Flathead River At Columbia Falls is flowing at 10,500 cfs with a gage height of 6.48 ft, holding steady over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #12363000, refreshed throughout the day.
Historical Data
Flathead River At Columbia Falls at a glance
How Flathead River At Columbia Falls is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.
Flathead River At Columbia Falls is flowing at 10,500 cfs, with the water sitting 6.48 ft at the gage. Flow has held roughly steady over the past 24 hours.
This is USGS gauge #12363000 in Montana. Over the past 10 days the average has been 13,380 cfs, peaking at 19,200 cfs.
Over the next 5 days, Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt is expected to recede from today's 10800 cfs, toward roughly 9079 cfs by 2026-07-17 (likely range 5075-16242 cfs) -- drier than normal for the date.
For real-time updates and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other gauges in the Montana flow report.
Streamflow Forecast
Powered by PULSE — Snoflo’s Predictive Unified Learning & Simulation Engine, which learns from how this river has answered every past storm, snowmelt, and dry spell to forecast where it’s headed with a precision generic models can’t match.
How does this compare to past years?
Year-over-year overlay, annual peak discharge, the full distribution of daily flows on record, and the gauge's rating curve.
Weather Forecast
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day forecast
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Flathead River At Columbia Falls
The Flathead River is fed by several smaller tributaries, including the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork. The river is also impacted by several dams, including the Hungry Horse Dam, which was built in the 1950s to generate hydroelectric power. Seasonal trends in flow rates are influenced by snowmelt in the spring and summer, which can cause flooding or reduced flow rates depending on the year. Additionally, the Flathead River is home to several species of fish, including bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout, which are important for both recreational and ecological reasons.
Nearby streamflow levels
Cross-check Flathead River At Columbia Falls's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.
| Gauge | Streamflow |
|---|---|
| Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt | 10,500 cfs |
| S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 3,510 cfs |
| N F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 3,400 cfs |
| Middle Fork Flathead River Nr West Glacier Mt | 3,730 cfs |
| Swan River Near Bigfork Mt | 1,530 cfs |
| Swiftcurrent Cr Ab Swiftcurrent Lk At Many Glacier | 113 cfs |
Nearby snowpack data
Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near Flathead River At Columbia Falls. Spring snowmelt is the dominant driver of streamflow in mountain basins -- a deep snowpack upstream means more runoff later in the season.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack |
|---|---|
| Nohrsc Kalispell 2.6 Ne | 0 in |
| Big Mountain Summit: Whitefish | 0 in |
| Nohrsc Emery Creek | 0 in |
| Emery Creek | 0 in |
| West Glacier | 0 in |
| Noisy Basin | 0 in |
River levels & flood safety
- Read the level before you go
- A river that's runnable at one flow can be deadly at another. Check current discharge and gage height — like the values shown above — against the flood-stage thresholds, and remember levels can spike fast after rain or a dam release.
- Respect cold water
- Snowmelt rivers run cold even in summer. Sudden immersion triggers cold-water shock and saps strength within minutes. Wear a PFD, dress for the water temperature (not the air), and never wade or paddle alone.
- Watch for swiftwater hazards
- Strainers (downed trees), undercut rocks, and low-head dams are the deadliest features on moving water. High, fast, muddy water hides them. If in doubt, scout from shore and portage.
- Mind flash floods & releases
- Narrow canyons can flood from a storm miles upstream, and dam-controlled reaches can rise without warning. Know the forecast, the release schedule, and your exit before you launch.
Track Flathead River At Columbia Falls in the Snoflo app
Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Flathead River At Columbia Falls crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About Flathead River At Columbia Falls
Where does the streamflow data for Flathead River At Columbia Falls come from?
Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 12363000. Snoflo refreshes the time series throughout the day. Forecasts come from the NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
USGS gauges report continuously (typically every 15 minutes). Snoflo pulls fresh values throughout the day — look for the "as of" timestamp on the streamflow hero card.
What's the difference between discharge and gage height?
Discharge (cubic feet per second, or cfs) is the volume of water flowing past the gauge each second. Gage height is how high the water sits at the gauge (feet). They're related by a rating curve specific to each gauge — higher water means more flow, but the exact ratio depends on channel shape.
How is "percent of median" calculated?
Today's discharge is compared to the historical median discharge on this calendar day across the gauge's full record. 100% = right on median; 200% = a very high year; 30% = a drought-level low.
What are flood stages, and is this river safe right now?
Flood stages are NWS-defined gage-height thresholds — Action, Minor, Moderate, Major — marking when nearby roads or floodplains start to be affected. "Safe" depends on your activity and skill: a level that's a fun paddle for an expert can be lethal for a wader. Always check the current level against the thresholds above and the safety links, and when in doubt, stay off the water.
Can I get alerts when Flathead River At Columbia Falls rises?
Yes — flow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this gauge, set a streamflow threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 5,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
Access the free Flathead River At Columbia Falls report
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