Rivers in Montana

Middle Fork Flathead River near West Glacier

Flathead County, MontanaNWS WGCM8USGS 12358500Missoula office

Below flood stage
2.09ftStage

Observed Mon, Sep 28, 10:45 AM MDT

Flood stage
10.00 ft
Forecast crest
2.10 ftMon, Sep 28, 12:00 PM MDT
Record crest
36.46 ft1964

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood18.00 ft
Moderate flood14.00 ft
Minor flood10.00 ft
Action9.00 ft
  1. 18.00 ftFlooding affecting low lying areas adjacent to the river will occur. Many roads will be inundated with flood water and become impassable.
  2. 14.00 ftFlooding to low lying areas adjacent to the river will occur. Roads and homes may experience flooding due to backwater.
  3. 10.00 ftFlooding to low lying areas adjacent to the river is possible. Flooding to homes and agricultural lands is also possible.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 27, 2026.

Crest history

33 crests on NOAA’s list since 1943.

#DateStage
1June 9, 196436.46 ft
2June 20, 197519.42 ft
3May 20, 195413.01 ft
4May 19, 199112.40 ft
5May 23, 194812.40 ft
6November 12, 198912.07 ft
7May 17, 199711.96 ft
8June 18, 197411.60 ft
9May 22, 195611.28 ft
10May 19, 200811.23 ft
11March 2, 197210.99 ft
12May 23, 196710.80 ft
13May 14, 201310.74 ft
14May 27, 196110.58 ft
15June 6, 195910.24 ft
16June 13, 195310.14 ft
17May 5, 195710.10 ft
18May 9, 19479.80 ft
19June 8, 20119.79 ft
20June 6, 19509.69 ft
21June 21, 20229.61 ft
22May 28, 19719.49 ft
23June 9, 19969.42 ft
24June 5, 19709.34 ft
25May 11, 19769.15 ft

Most recent crests

  • December 12, 2025: 8.64 ft
  • May 12, 2025: 6.38 ft
  • June 21, 2022: 9.61 ft
  • June 5, 2021: 7.86 ft
  • May 31, 2020: 9.13 ft
  • May 9, 2018: 9.15 ft
  • May 14, 2013: 10.74 ft
  • April 27, 2012: 9.12 ft
  • June 8, 2011: 9.79 ft
  • May 19, 2008: 11.23 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Northwest River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.

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.