Madison River at Below Ennis Lake, MT
USGS gauge 06041000 · drainage 2,213 sq mi · observed Oct 16, 7:00 PM MDT · 80 min old
Last 7 days Live gauge
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values), observed to Oct 16, 7:00 PM MDT. Shaded band: 25th to 75th percentile of USGS daily statistics for each date; dashed: median. Flow in cfs.
Rate of rise and fall Live gauge
| Window | Flow then | Change to latest | Gage height then | Gage height change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 1,290 cfs | ▬ +0.00 cfs (+0.0%) | 3.77 ft | -0.01 ft |
| 3 h | 1,280 cfs | ▬ +10 cfs (+0.8%) | 3.75 ft | +0.01 ft |
| 6 h | 1,290 cfs | ▬ +0.00 cfs (+0.0%) | 3.76 ft | +0.00 ft |
| 12 h | 1,290 cfs | ▬ +0.00 cfs (+0.0%) | 3.77 ft | -0.01 ft |
| 24 h | 1,290 cfs | ▬ +0.00 cfs (+0.0%) | 3.77 ft | -0.01 ft |
Last 7 days
| Measure | Flow | Time | Relative to latest reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest reading | 1,400 cfs | Oct 13, 4:45 PM MDT | 74 h earlier |
| Lowest reading | 1,140 cfs | Oct 10, 11:15 AM MDT | 152 h earlier |
Source: computed from USGS continuous readings (Water Data API) to Oct 16, 7:00 PM MDT. Each row compares the latest reading with the reading closest to that many hours earlier; the arrow is steady (▬) when the change is within 1%.
Daily mean flow Live gauge
| Date (gauge-local) | Mean flow | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2026 | 1,289 cfs | |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 1,309 cfs | |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 1,354 cfs | |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 1,369 cfs | |
| Oct 12, 2026 | 1,298 cfs | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 1,179 cfs | |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 1,158 cfs | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | 1,156 cfs | |
| Oct 8, 2026 | – | Partial day |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values); each mean uses readings on that gauge-local date, shown only with at least 80% of expected readings.
The same 50 days in earlier years Historical record
━ 2026 ╌ 2025 ╌ 2024 ╌ 2023
| Year | Mean flow | Highest day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,176 cfs | 1,370 cfs |
| 2025 | 1,191 cfs | 1,490 cfs |
| 2024 | 1,307 cfs | 2,430 cfs |
| 2023 | 1,506 cfs | 1,640 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API). Each line is the 50 days from Aug 27 to Oct 15, shifted to the same calendar dates in earlier years; gaps are days without a published value. Recent days are provisional.
Compared with this gauge’s record Historical record
| Measure | Value | When or rank |
|---|---|---|
| Peak daily flow, last 7 days | 1,370 cfs | Oct 13, 2026 |
| Last time daily flow was this high or higher | 1,380 cfs | Aug 11, 2026 (2 months earlier) |
| Last day above the 90th percentile for its date, before this peak | May 13, 2025 | 17 months earlier |
| Days above the 75th percentile for their date | 0 of 30 | last 30 days |
| October 1 to 15, mean flow | 1,201 cfs | rank 76 highest of 84 years |
| Peak daily mean compared with annual instantaneous peaks of record | Below the lowest of 87 | lowest annual peak 2,000 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API), 1938 to 2026 (30,331 days), data through Oct 15, 2026, computed 2026-10-17; method record-v1. Percentiles are USGS daily statistics. Recent days are provisional.
Largest annual peaks Historical record
Ten largest peaks of record
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 1970 | 9,550 cfs | 8.01 ft |
| Jun 28, 1971 | 8,730 cfs | 7.92 ft |
| Jun 10, 1996 | 7,980 cfs | 7.60 ft |
| Jun 6, 1997 | 7,910 cfs | 7.42 ft |
| Jun 2, 1943 | 7,750 cfs | 7.70 ft |
| Jun 16, 1995 | 7,360 cfs | 7.11 ft |
| May 29, 1993 | 7,300 cfs | 7.23 ft |
| Jun 7, 1952 | 7,270 cfs | 7.37 ft |
| Jun 24, 2011 | 7,100 cfs | 7.00 ft |
| Jun 17, 1974 | 7,080 cfs | 7.04 ft |
Five most recent annual peaks
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2025 | 3,360 cfs | 6.65 ft |
| Jun 8, 2024 | 3,950 cfs | 7.36 ft |
| May 28, 2023 | 5,440 cfs | 6.04 ft |
| Jun 14, 2022 | 6,790 cfs | 6.82 ft |
| Jul 7, 2021 | 3,290 cfs | 4.53 ft |
Source: USGS annual peak streamflow (Water Data API), 87 annual peaks, 1939 to 2025. A water year's peak is its highest instantaneous flow.
Historic crests Official NWS
| Date | Crest stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 11, 1970 | 8.01 ft | 9,550 cfs |
| Jun 27, 1971 | 7.92 ft | 8,730 cfs |
| Jun 1, 1943 | 7.70 ft | 7,750 cfs |
| Jun 9, 1996 | 7.60 ft | 7,980 cfs |
| Jun 5, 1997 | 7.42 ft | 7,910 cfs |
| Jun 6, 1952 | 7.37 ft | 7,270 cfs |
| May 28, 1993 | 7.23 ft | 7,300 cfs |
| Jun 15, 1995 | 7.11 ft | 7,360 cfs |
| Jun 5, 1986 | 7.11 ft | 7,050 cfs |
| Jun 16, 1974 | 7.04 ft | 7,080 cfs |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point MADM8 (Madison River below Ennis Lake near McAllister), historic crests as published by the NWS; the NWS may have recorded them on an older gauge datum. The USGS annual peaks above are a separate record and can differ in date, flow and datum.
Gage height to flow rating Historical record
Line: current USGS rating, gage height (ft, horizontal) to flow (cfs, vertical). ● latest reading, 3.76 ft and 1,290 cfs.
Source: USGS rating table for the gauge (NWIS rating depot, expanded shifted rating, 1,057 rows, thinned to 97 points), fetched Oct 16, 8:13 PM MDT. Ratings are provisional and change with the channel.
Snow water equivalent at nearby SNOTEL stations Weather station
| Station | Distance | Elevation | Snow water now | Median for date | Of median | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Twin | 14 mi | 7,920 ft | 1.0 in | 0.4 in | 250% | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Albro Lake | 17 mi | 8,500 ft | 1.1 in | 1.2 in | 92% | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Lone Mountain | 18 mi | 8,820 ft | 0.5 in | 0.2 in | 250% | Oct 15, 2026 |
Source: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SNOTEL stations within 37 miles of the gauge (AWDB web service), fetched Oct 16, 7:49 PM MDT. Provisional data; stations may not drain to this gauge.
Water temperature by month Historical record
Source: USGS daily mean water temperature (parameter 00010, Water Data API), 1977 to 2026, mean of all published daily values in each calendar month (days counted under each month; (few) means fewer than 150 daily values).
Water quality sensors Live gauge
| Measure | Latest value | Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Water temperature | 45.3 °F (7.4 °C) | Oct 16, 7:00 PM MDT |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values). Values as reported by the gauge, provisional.
Sources and method
- Data: U.S. Geological Survey. Terms
- River forecasts and flood stages: National Weather Service. National Water Model guidance: NOAA. Terms
- Snow data: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Terms
USGS daily statistics, downloaded 2026-10-12
Percentile method: trailing 24 h mean vs USGS daily percentiles for calendar date 10-16.
Percentile is estimated from USGS published daily percentiles. Readings are provisional until USGS reviews them. Not endorsed by USGS, NOAA or the National Weather Service. Not for navigation or safety-of-life decisions; the absence of an alert is not a statement that conditions are safe.