Rivers in Montana
Milk River at Eastern Crossing nr Rudyard
Below flood stage
3.15ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 28, 10:15 PM MDT
- Flood stage
- 9.50 ft
- Record crest
- 15.03 ft1996
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 13.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 11.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 9.50 ft |
| Action | 8.50 ft |
- 13.00 ftMilk river well out of banks and encroaching on ranch buildings near gauge.
- 11.00 ftMilk river out of banks in many location inundating some crop and pasture land. Starting to encroach on ranch road near gauge.
- 9.50 ftMilk river starting to fill oxbows, spilling out of banks in some locations into crop and pasture lands. Closes cottonwood road (not an all-season crossing) where it crosses the milk river.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, October to December
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2026.
Crest history
113 crests on NOAA’s list since 1919.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 13, 1996 | 15.03 ft |
| 2 | March 28, 1952 | 13.65 ft |
| 3 | March 4, 1994 | 11.87 ft |
| 4 | February 16, 1971 | 11.80 ft |
| 5 | February 27, 1986 | 11.40 ft |
| 6 | March 22, 1997 | 11.36 ft |
| 7 | March 23, 1947 | 11.28 ft |
| 8 | March 21, 1976 | 11.08 ft |
| 9 | June 12, 2002 | 10.78 ft |
| 10 | March 8, 1979 | 10.69 ft |
| 11 | March 16, 2003 | 10.63 ft |
| 12 | May 23, 1927 | 10.16 ft |
| 13 | March 23, 1978 | 10.11 ft |
| 14 | March 13, 1972 | 9.97 ft |
| 15 | March 17, 1969 | 9.87 ft |
| 16 | June 23, 1975 | 9.79 ft |
| 17 | March 24, 1967 | 9.62 ft |
| 18 | March 27, 1978 | 9.61 ft |
| 19 | April 9, 1965 | 9.53 ft |
| 20 | March 31, 1974 | 9.27 ft |
| 21 | March 17, 2011 | 9.08 ft |
| 22 | March 10, 2007 | 8.99 ft |
| 23 | March 19, 1972 | 8.81 ft |
| 24 | March 6, 1993 | 8.60 ft |
| 25 | March 24, 1989 | 8.41 ft |
Most recent crests
- June 10, 2012: 4.47 ft
- March 11, 2012: 4.54 ft
- June 4, 2011: 6.43 ft
- March 17, 2011: 9.08 ft
- June 20, 2010: 7.37 ft
- June 7, 2009: 4.08 ft
- March 22, 2009: 4.20 ft
- June 11, 2008: 5.11 ft
- March 10, 2007: 8.99 ft
- March 24, 2006: 7.32 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamMilk River at Del Bonita nr Cut Bank
- DownstreamMilk River at Fresno Reservoir near Havre
- Lodge Creek at Spangler Ditch
- Lodge Creek at Middle Ck abv Lodge Ck nr Willow Creek 8NW
- Lodge Creek at McRae Creek at International Boundary
- Lodge Creek at on Middle Ck nr Govenlock near Consul 14 WSW
- Lodge Creek at on Middle Ck at Sask border nr Elkwater 19SW
- Lodge Creek at on Middle Ck blo Middle Ck Res nr Consul 20 WNW
- Big Sandy Creek (MT) at Havre
What this means
Forecasts by the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely during the warm season, and as needed at other times of the year. Stage data may not be available during winter months.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.