Flathead River at Columbia Falls
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Upstream gauge unavailableWarning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 06/23/2025 7:45 PM MDTOfficial Forecast (FCST) 06/23/2025 3:50 PM MDTRecord: 25.6 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 22 ft Moderate Flooding 18 ft Minor Flooding 13 ft Action 12.5 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.
Flood watches/warnings are not issued when the river gage is at 13 ft until Flathead Lake exceeds an elevation of 2892 ft or the river gage exceeds 14 ft regardless of Flathead Lake levels.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 22 - Flooding in Columbia Falls, Kalispell, Creston and Foy's Bend causing isolation of many homes within the valley. Many secondary roads are impassable and closures of Highway 93 are expected.
- 18 - Flooding of low lying areas in Columbia Falls including many buildings and secondary roads. There is also possible flooding along Highway 93 between Kalispell and Sommers.
- 16.1 - A trailer and RV park located just north of Highway 35 in Evergreen may be flooded.
Gauge Info
| Coordinates | 48.3619, -114.184 |
| RFC | NWRFC |
| State | MT |
| WFO | MSO |
| County | Flathead |
| Data Provider(s) | |
| US Geological Survey | USGS--Water Resources of the United States |
| USGS | 12363000 |
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 14.86 ft | on 06-15-2022 |
| 2. | 12.90 ft | on 06-05-2021 |
| 3. | 13.87 ft | on 06-01-2020 |
| 4. | 13.88 ft | on 05-09-2018 |
| 5. | 13.43 ft | on 06-01-2017 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 14.86 ft | on 06-15-2022 | |
| 2. | 12.90 ft | on 06-05-2021 | |
| 3. | 13.87 ft | on 06-01-2020 | |
| 4. | 13.88 ft | on 05-09-2018 | |
| 5. | 13.43 ft | on 06-01-2017 | |
| 6. | 13.88 ft | on 05-24-2014 | |
| 7. | 14.43 ft | on 05-14-2013 | |
| 8. | 14.18 ft | on 06-27-2012 | |
| 9. | 13.74 ft | on 06-08-2011 | |
| 10. | 14.25 ft | on 05-19-2008 | |
| 11. | 13.41 ft | on 06-16-2006 | |
| 12. | 15.36 ft | on 05-18-1997 | |
| 13. | 13.89 ft | on 06-09-1996 | |
| 14. | 11.83 ft | on 12-01-1995 | |
| 15. | 15.77 ft | on 06-08-1995 | |
| 16. | 14.90 ft | on 05-19-1991 | |
| 17. | 13.32 ft | on 06-12-1989 | |
| 18. | 16.85 ft | on 06-20-1975 | |
| 19. | 15.24 ft | on 06-18-1974 | |
| 20. | 14.47 ft | on 06-02-1972 | |
| 21. | 14.25 ft | on 05-23-1967 | |
| 22. | 25.58 ft | on 06-09-1964 | |
| 23. | 14.28 ft | on 05-27-1961 | |
| 24. | 14.20 ft | on 06-21-1959 | |
| 25. | 15.34 ft | on 05-21-1956 | |
| 26. | 15.57 ft | on 05-20-1954 | |
| 27. | 15.57 ft | on 05-12-1951 | |
| 28. | 16.16 ft | on 06-22-1950 | |
| 29. | 14.84 ft | on 05-15-1949 | |
| 30. | 19.08 ft | on 05-23-1948 | |
| 31. | 17.27 ft | on 05-09-1947 | |
| 32. | 15.63 ft | on 05-29-1946 | |
| 33. | 14.80 ft | on 06-18-1943 | |
| 34. | 13.94 ft | on 05-27-1942 | |
| 35. | 14.63 ft | on 04-30-1939 | |
| 36. | 15.25 ft | on 05-27-1938 | |
| 37. | 15.40 ft | on 05-15-1936 | |
| 38. | 15.28 ft | on 05-24-1935 | |
| 39. | 13.92 ft | on 04-25-1934 | |
| 40. | 17.63 ft | on 06-16-1933 | |
| 41. | 16.46 ft | on 05-22-1932 | |
| 42. | 13.60 ft | on 05-16-1931 | |
| 43. | 14.44 ft | on 05-24-1929 | |
| 44. | 18.71 ft | on 05-27-1928 | 1 |
| 45. | 17.30 ft | on 06-01-1923 | 1 |
| 46. | 15.70 ft | on 06-05-1922 | 1 |
| 47. | 22.70 ft | on 06-01-1894 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 25.58 ft | on 06-09-1964 | |
| 2. | 22.70 ft | on 06-01-1894 | |
| 3. | 19.08 ft | on 05-23-1948 | |
| 4. | 18.71 ft | on 05-27-1928 | 1 |
| 5. | 17.63 ft | on 06-16-1933 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 25.58 ft | on 06-09-1964 | |
| 2. | 22.70 ft | on 06-01-1894 | |
| 3. | 19.08 ft | on 05-23-1948 | |
| 4. | 18.71 ft | on 05-27-1928 | 1 |
| 5. | 17.63 ft | on 06-16-1933 | |
| 6. | 17.30 ft | on 06-01-1923 | 1 |
| 7. | 17.27 ft | on 05-09-1947 | |
| 8. | 16.85 ft | on 06-20-1975 | |
| 9. | 16.46 ft | on 05-22-1932 | |
| 10. | 16.16 ft | on 06-22-1950 | |
| 11. | 15.77 ft | on 06-08-1995 | |
| 12. | 15.70 ft | on 06-05-1922 | 1 |
| 13. | 15.63 ft | on 05-29-1946 | |
| 14. | 15.57 ft | on 05-20-1954 | |
| 15. | 15.57 ft | on 05-12-1951 | |
| 16. | 15.40 ft | on 05-15-1936 | |
| 17. | 15.36 ft | on 05-18-1997 | |
| 18. | 15.34 ft | on 05-21-1956 | |
| 19. | 15.28 ft | on 05-24-1935 | |
| 20. | 15.25 ft | on 05-27-1938 | |
| 21. | 15.24 ft | on 06-18-1974 | |
| 22. | 14.90 ft | on 05-19-1991 | |
| 23. | 14.86 ft | on 06-15-2022 | |
| 24. | 14.84 ft | on 05-15-1949 | |
| 25. | 14.80 ft | on 06-18-1943 | |
| 26. | 14.63 ft | on 04-30-1939 | |
| 27. | 14.47 ft | on 06-02-1972 | |
| 28. | 14.44 ft | on 05-24-1929 | |
| 29. | 14.43 ft | on 05-14-2013 | |
| 30. | 14.28 ft | on 05-27-1961 | |
| 31. | 14.25 ft | on 05-23-1967 | |
| 32. | 14.25 ft | on 05-19-2008 | |
| 33. | 14.20 ft | on 06-21-1959 | |
| 34. | 14.18 ft | on 06-27-2012 | |
| 35. | 13.94 ft | on 05-27-1942 | |
| 36. | 13.92 ft | on 04-25-1934 | |
| 37. | 13.89 ft | on 06-09-1996 | |
| 38. | 13.88 ft | on 05-09-2018 | |
| 39. | 13.88 ft | on 05-24-2014 | |
| 40. | 13.87 ft | on 06-01-2020 | |
| 41. | 13.74 ft | on 06-08-2011 | |
| 42. | 13.60 ft | on 05-16-1931 | |
| 43. | 13.43 ft | on 06-01-2017 | |
| 44. | 13.41 ft | on 06-16-2006 | |
| 45. | 13.32 ft | on 06-12-1989 | |
| 46. | 12.90 ft | on 06-05-2021 | |
| 47. | 11.83 ft | on 12-01-1995 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 3003.54 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 2999.54 ft |
| minor Flooding | 2994.54 ft |
| action | 2994.04 ft |
| Latest Value | 2987.23 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 2981.54 ft |
Gauge Photos
No Images Found
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.