River stage
Polson, Flathead River
- River level
- 5.45 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.01 ft
- Recent high
- 12.09 ft
- Recent low
- 4.28 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS FPOM8
- 30-day change
- +0.77 ft
- Average
- 6.34 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 21.00 ft
In brief
The Flathead River at Polson, MT read 5.45 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 12.55 ft below minor flood stage. That is 0.77 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge FPOM8
Water 55 °F (13 °C) · -2 °F in 24 hours
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21.00 ft | 1894-06-01 |
| 2 | 19.30 ft | 1980-05-26 |
| 3 | 19.15 ft | 1948-06-06 |
| 4 | 17.99 ft | 1951-06-16 |
| 5 | 17.99 ft | 1964-06-12 |
| 6 | 17.45 ft | 1958-05-26 |
| 7 | 17.20 ft | 1928-05-29 |
| 8 | 17.04 ft | 1945-06-03 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
Flooding to agricultural land in the vicinity of Dixon. Cattle may be stranded in low lying areas next to the river.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Flathead River flooding at Polson?
No. The Flathead River at Polson is at 5.45 ft, 12.55 ft below minor flood stage.
What is the flood stage at Polson?
Minor flooding 18 ft is the first threshold.
What is the highest the Flathead River has been at Polson?
The highest crest on record is 21.0 ft, on 1894-06-01.
Is the Flathead River high or low right now at Polson?
At 5.45 ft it is higher than 57% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Polson, Flathead River?
The water temperature at Polson, Flathead River is 55 °F (12.9 °C), measured 6:45 pm by USGS. It has fallen 1.5 °F in the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge FPOM8); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 12372000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.