Major Flood
22 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
18 ft
Minor Flood
13 ft
Action Stage
12.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
22 ft
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 ft
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 ft
A trailer and RV park located just north of Highway 35 in Evergreen may be flooded.
16 ft
Low lying buildings and roads in the vicinity of Kalispell, Creston, Columbia Falls and Foy's Bend begin flooding.
14 ft
Flooding of farmers crops adjacent to the Flathead River is likely. Sections of the Steel Bridge Road become inundated with water and impassable.
13 ft
Farmers crops adjacent to the Flathead River are inundated with water.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 1964 | 25.58 ft | 176,000 cfs |
| May 31, 1894 | 22.7 ft | 142,000 cfs |
| May 22, 1948 | 19.08 ft | 96,000 cfs |
Flood Inundation Map
NOAA has mapped what areas flood at different water levels for this gauge. View the interactive flood inundation map →
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
CFMM8
River
Flathead River
County
Flathead, MT
Coordinates
48.3619°N, 114.1839°W
Get Flood Alerts for Flathead River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Flathead River at Columbia Falls?
The Flathead River at Columbia Falls gauge is maintained by USGS (site 12363000) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Flathead River at Columbia Falls?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Flathead River at Columbia Falls is 13 feet. Action stage begins at 12.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 18 feet, and major flooding at 22 feet.
How do I get alerts when Flathead River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Flathead River at Columbia Falls to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Flathead River at Columbia Falls gauge located?
The gauge is located in Flathead County, Montana at coordinates 48.3619°N, 114.1839°W. USGS site number: 12363000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Flathead River
On This River
Downstream: Flathead River near Polson
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- Flood watches/warnings are not issued when the river gage is at 13 ft until Flathead Lake exceeds an elevation of 2893 ft or the river gage exceeds 14 ft regardless of Flathead Lake levels.