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Flathead Lake Water Level Today

Montana · Official data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Water level today · September 28, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT

0.7 ft above normal

for the date, above the range seen in 8 of 10 years

2,892.83 ft above sea level

2,8942,885ftFull pool2,893.0 ftToday2,892.8 ftNormal range2,891–2,893
vs full pool
−0.2 ft
Past 7 days
−0.2 ft
vs 1 year ago
+1.9 ft
View of Flathead Lake, Montana
Photo: Katie Brady from Missoula, Montana, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
What do these numbers mean?
Water level
The height of the lake surface in feet above sea level, as measured by the official gauge.
Full pool
The level the lake is normally kept at when it is full (controlled spillway elevation). Above it, the lake is storing flood water.
Normal for the date
The typical (median) level on this calendar date across 2006-2025. The normal range is where the lake stood in 8 of 10 years.

Flathead Lake water level chart (last 2 years)

2,8832,8852,8882,8912,894ftOct 2024Jan 2025Apr 2025Jul 2025Oct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 20262,892.82,8832,8852,8882,8912,894ftOct 24Apr 25Oct 25Apr 262,892.8
Daily water levelNormal range for the date (8 of 10 years)Typical (median) level for the dateFull pool

How full is Flathead Lake right now?

Flathead Lake is 0.2 ft below full pool (2,893.0 ft).

Over the past 7 days the level fell 0.21 ft; over 30 days it fell 0.2 ft.

One year ago the lake stood at 2,890.9 ft, so it is +1.9 ft compared with the same day last year.

Is Flathead Lake above or below normal?

For September 28, the normal level is about 2,892.2 ft (the normal range is 2,891.0 ft to 2,892.7 ft). Today's level is +0.7 ft compared with normal, above normal.

“Normal” here means the median level recorded on this calendar date across 2006-2025. Many reservoirs are drawn down on purpose in fall and winter, so a level below full pool can still be completely normal for the season.

Recent history

Highest daily level (last 2 years)2,893.15 ftJuly 2, 2026
Lowest daily level (last 2 years)2,885.20 ftFebruary 20, 2025
Same day last year2,890.91 ft+1.9 ft vs today
Full pool2,893.00 ftcontrolled spillway elevation

Frequently asked questions

What is the water level of Flathead Lake today?
The latest reading is 2,892.83 ft above sea level, reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on September 28, 2026 at 3:30 PM EDT.
Is Flathead Lake full?
No. Flathead Lake is 0.2 ft below its full pool of 2,893.0 ft.
What is a normal water level for Flathead Lake at this time of year?
Based on daily readings from 2006-2025, the typical (median) level for this date is 2,892.2 ft, and 8 out of 10 years fall between 2,891.0 ft and 2,892.7 ft.
What is the full pool elevation of Flathead Lake?
Full pool for Flathead Lake is 2,893.0 ft (controlled spillway elevation), according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
What were the highest and lowest levels in the last two years?
The highest daily level in the last two years was 2,893.2 ft on July 2, 2026; the lowest was 2,885.2 ft on February 20, 2025.

Where this data comes from

The water level is published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (station 12371550) and refreshed on this page every day. Full pool comes from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); the normal range is calculated from official daily readings for 2006-2025. Recent readings are provisional and may be revised. See data sources & methodology.

Lakes near Flathead Lake

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