River stage
Columbia Falls, Flathead River
- River level
- 3.78 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.04 ft
- Recent high
- 11.98 ft
- Recent low
- 3.80 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS CFMM8
- 30-day change
- -0.96 ft
- Average
- 5.56 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 25.58 ft
In brief
The Flathead River at Columbia Falls, MT read 3.78 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 8.72 ft below action stage. That is 0.96 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge CFMM8
Water 49 °F (10 °C) · about normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25.58 ft | 1964-06-09 |
| 2 | 22.70 ft | 1894-06-01 |
| 3 | 19.08 ft | 1948-05-23 |
| 4 | 18.71 ft | 1928-05-27 |
| 5 | 17.63 ft | 1933-06-16 |
| 6 | 17.30 ft | 1923-06-01 |
| 7 | 17.27 ft | 1947-05-09 |
| 8 | 16.85 ft | 1975-06-20 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 13.00 ft
Farmers crops adjacent to the Flathead River are inundated with water.
- 14.00 ft
Flooding of farmers crops adjacent to the Flathead River is likely. Sections of the Steel Bridge Road become inundated with water and impassable.
- 16.00 ft
Low lying buildings and roads in the vicinity of Kalispell, Creston, Columbia Falls and Foy's Bend begin flooding.
- 16.10 ft
A trailer and RV park located just north of Highway 35 in Evergreen may be flooded.
- 18.00 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.
- 22.00 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.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Flathead River flooding at Columbia Falls?
No. The Flathead River at Columbia Falls is at 3.78 ft, 8.72 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Columbia Falls?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 12.5 ft, minor flooding 13 ft, moderate flooding 18 ft and major flooding 22 ft.
What is the highest the Flathead River has been at Columbia Falls?
The highest crest on record is 25.58 ft, on 1964-06-09.
Is the Flathead River high or low right now at Columbia Falls?
At 3.78 ft it is higher than 0% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Columbia Falls, Flathead River?
The water temperature at Columbia Falls, Flathead River is 49 °F (9.6 °C), measured 6:45 pm by USGS, which is about average for this date over the past ten years. It has fallen 0.7 °F in the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge CFMM8); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 12363000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.