Yellowstone River Flow Today
As of October 22, 2026 at 1:00 AM, the Yellowstone River is flowing at 5,910 cfs near Sidney Mount, MT — 67% of normal for the date and down 2% in 24 hours. 9 of 9 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 269 to 5,910 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Yellowstone River map
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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
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Yellowstone River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Sidney Mount, the Yellowstone River is running 5,910 cfs — 67% of normal, down 2% since yesterday. Along the river, 7 of 9 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 70% of normal).
Highest against normal: Altonah at 323%. Lowest: Glendive Mount at 63%.
Paddlers: 8 of 10 runs on the Yellowstone River with a live range are in range, 2 too low.
How the Yellowstone River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Yellowstone Lake Outlet Ynp7,731 ft 618 cfs99%
- Altonah7,452 ft 269 cfs323%
- Corwin Springs Mount5,094 ft 1,150 cfs89%
- Livingston Mount4,554 ft 1,570 cfs82%
- Billings Mount3,090 ft 3,070 cfs69%
- Forsyth Mount2,524 ft 5,150 cfs70%
- Miles City Mount2,336 ft 5,080 cfs68%
- Glendive Mount2,045 ft 5,360 cfs63%
- Sidney Mount1,889 ft 5,910 cfs67%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Yellowstone River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (70%).
Yellowstone River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yellowstone River At Yellowstone Lake Outlet Ynp WY
Oct 22, 1:30 AM · USGS 06186500 |
618 cfs | 99% | +1% | 2.91 ft | 6.1 ft below | 7,731 ft |
|
Yellowstone River Near Altonah UT
Oct 22, 1:00 AM · USGS 09292500 |
269 cfs | 323% | +2% | 1.74 ft | 3.0 ft below | 7,452 ft |
|
Yellowstone River At Corwin Springs Mount MT
Oct 22, 1:00 AM · USGS 06191500 |
1,150 cfs | 89% | -1% | 1.25 ft | · | 5,094 ft |
|
Yellowstone River Near Livingston Mount MT
Oct 22, 1:00 AM · USGS 06192500 |
1,570 cfs | 82% | -1% | -0.15 ft | · | 4,554 ft |
|
Yellowstone River At Billings Mount MT
Oct 22, 1:00 AM · USGS 06214500 |
3,070 cfs | 69% | -1% | 2.92 ft | 10.6 ft below | 3,090 ft |
|
Yellowstone River At Forsyth Mount MT
Oct 22, 1:45 AM · USGS 06295000 |
5,150 cfs | 70% | -1% | 1.64 ft | · | 2,524 ft |
|
Yellowstone River At Miles City Mount MT
Oct 22, 1:00 AM · USGS 06309000 |
5,080 cfs | 68% | -3% | 3.01 ft | · | 2,336 ft |
|
Yellowstone River At Glendive Mount MT
Oct 22, 12:00 AM · USGS 06327500 |
5,360 cfs | 63% | -2% | 42.87 ft | 10.6 ft below | 2,045 ft |
|
Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mount MT
Oct 22, 1:00 AM · USGS 06329500 |
5,910 cfs | 67% | -2% | 2.58 ft | 16.4 ft below | 1,889 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Paddle runs on the Yellowstone River
8 of 29 runs are in range right now. Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
Yellowstone River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is a major tributary of the Missouri River, spanning 692 miles from its source in Wyoming to its mouth in North Dakota. The river played a significant role in the history of the American West, including the Lewis and Clark expedition. It also served as a major transportation route for fur traders and settlers. The river is fed by snowmelt and precipitation, with the highest flows occurring in the spring and early summer. The river has several reservoirs, including the Buffalo Bill, Yellowtail, and Fort Peck dams. These provide hydroelectric power, irrigation, and flood control. Recreational activities, such as fishing, boating, and camping, are popular along the river. The river also supports agricultural activities, including cattle grazing and crop irrigation.
Fishing near the Yellowstone River
About the Yellowstone River
How is the Yellowstone River flowing right now?
As of October 22, 2026, the Yellowstone River is flowing at 5,910 cfs near Sidney Mount, MT, about 67% of normal for the date. Across its 9 USGS gauges, current flows range from 269 to 5,910 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Yellowstone River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Yellowstone River is at 70% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Yellowstone River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Yellowstone Lake Outlet Ynp (9.0 ft), Altonah (4.7 ft), Billings Mount (13.5 ft), Glendive Mount (53.5 ft), Sidney Mount (19.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Yellowstone River runnable for paddling today?
8 of 29 paddle runs are in range right now. Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.