Red Flag Warning
2026-04-23T00:00:00-06:00

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 214, 215, 216, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250 and 251. * TIMING...From 10 AM Wednesday to midnight MDT Wednesday night. * WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 6 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.

Boulder River

Last Updated: April 21, 2026

Total streamflow across the Boulder River was last observed at 545 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 1,081 acre-ft of water today; about 130% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 419 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2011-07-01 when daily discharge volume was observed at 9,175 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Boulder River At Big Timber Mt reporting a streamflow rate of 363 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Boulder River Near Boulder Mt with a gauge stage of 5.99 ft. This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Boulder River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 4,823 ft, the Boulder River Near Boulder Mt.

The Boulder River is located in southwestern Montana and is approximately 66 miles long.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-04-21
Discharge Volume 1,081 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 545.0 cfs
Past 24 Hours: +33.0 cfs (+6.45%)
Percent of Normal 130.22%
Maximum 9,175.0 cfs
2011-07-01
Seasonal Avg 419 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Boulder River Near Boulder Mt
USGS 06033000
182 cfs 5.99 ft 18.95
Boulder River At Big Timber Mt
USGS 06200000
363 cfs 1.92 ft 1.11
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Boulder River is a 77-mile (124 km) tributary of the Jefferson River in southwestern Montana in the United States.It rises in the Rocky Mountains at the continental divide in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in western Jefferson County. It flows east and southeast through the mountains past Boulder, then south to join the Jefferson near Cardwell.Game fish in the river include brook, brown, and rainbow trout, and mountain whitefish. Brown trout are most prevalent in the last 2 miles (3 km), near the mouth, and the other three species are more prevalent in the reach upstream of the town of Boulder. The lowermost 12 miles (19 km) of the river is affected by irrigation withdrawals, and the reach below the community of Basin is affected by seepage from old mines and tailings.