2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00
...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR IN AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE FOOTHILLS, BETWEEN 5500 AND 9000 FEET, FOR BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES ON FRIDAY... Strong west winds of 30-40 mph with gusts as high as 85 mph in the foothills of Boulder and northern Jefferson Counties will continue until early evening. Relative humidity values had dropped into the upper single digits and lower teens. Thus, the Particularly Dangerous Situation will remain in place til around 5-6 pm, with only a slow improvement thereafter as winds slowly weaken. Red Flag conditions, however, will persist through the rest of the evening as we remain in a near record warm, dry, and windy airmass along the Front Range through midnight. In fact, strong, gusty winds will persist through much of the night with only a slow improvement in humidity values. Thus, near critical Red Flag conditions will occur into early Saturday morning. While most of the Denver metro area has seen lighter winds prevail most of the day, a period of strong, gusty winds is expected to develop this evening and likely last past midnight, producing Red Flag conditions there. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238, 240, 241, 242 and 243. * TIMING...Until midnight MST tonight. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 9 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.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Kootenai River
was last observed at
114,600
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
227,306
acre-ft of water today; about 108%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
105,700 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2025-12-18 when daily discharge volume was observed at
128,600 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Kootenai River At Porthill Id
reporting a streamflow rate of 35,000 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Kootenai River Bel Moyie River Nr Bonners Ferry Id
with a gauge stage of 77.36 ft.
This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Kootenai River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,121 ft, the
Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-19 |
| Discharge Volume | 227,306 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
114,600.0 cfs
-14000.0 cfs (-10.89%) |
| Percent of Normal | 108.42% |
| Maximum |
128,600.0 cfs
2025-12-18 |
| Seasonal Avg | cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt
USGS 12301933 |
17300 cfs | 22.1 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Kootenai River At Leonia Id
USGS 12305000 |
30500 cfs | 19.44 ft | -12.36 | |||||
|
Kootenai River Bel Moyie River Nr Bonners Ferry Id
USGS 12308000 |
31800 cfs | 77.36 ft | -15.65 | |||||
|
Kootenai River @ Tribal Hatchery Nr Bonners Ferry
USGS 12310100 |
15700 cfs | 52.13 ft | -0.63 | |||||
|
Kootenai River At Porthill Id
USGS 12322000 |
35000 cfs | 49.76 ft | -9.79 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
Historically, the river was used by indigenous tribes for fishing, trading, and transportation. Today, the Kootenai River is an important source of hydroelectric power with several dams and reservoirs along its course, including the Libby Dam, which creates the 90-mile-long Lake Koocanusa. The river and its tributaries are also used for irrigation, supporting agriculture in the region. Recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping are popular along the river, particularly in the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Kootenai River is also known for its scenic beauty, with steep canyons, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife.