States

Flathead Lake

at Polson, MT · Montana · USGS gauge
2,8902,8912,8922,8932,894
Grey bar: recent range 2,891.7–2,893.0 ft.
Water level · above gauge datum
2,891.62FT
Gauge elevation · no % full published
7 days −0.32 ft30 days −1.32 ftvs last year +0.81 ft
Reading for Oct 25, 2026, 18:30 UTC · page refreshed Oct 25, 21:05 UTC
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (Water Data for the Nation)
Worth going today?This Afternoon
Looks good
Light wind, dry
Wind6 mph
Rain0%
Temp52°F
Level2,891.6 ft
This AfternoonMostly Sunny · 52°F
N 6 mph · rain 0%
TonightMostly Cloudy · 26°F
NNW 3 mph · rain 0%
NWS forecast for the gauge location. Good = wind ≤ 10 mph and rain ≤ 30%; storms are flagged. Not safety advice – check local conditions, closures and warnings.

Level history

Last 30 days of daily means.

2,891.52,892.02,892.52,893.0ftSep 24Oct 2Oct 9Oct 16Oct 24
2,891.52,892.02,892.52,893.0ftSep 24Oct 9Oct 24

Field notes

Flathead Lake's latest daily level (Oct 25, 2026) is 2,891.62 (above gauge datum) ft.

Over the past 7 days the lake has been falling (−0.32 ft), and it is −1.32 ft over 30 days.

Compared with a year ago (2,890.81 ft, same time of day), the lake is 0.81 ft higher.

Readings come from the USGS gauge “Flathead Lake at Polson MT”. Gauge elevations are not directly comparable between lakes because each uses its own datum.

Lake facts

Gauge / stationFlathead Lake at Polson MT
Elevation datumft above gauge datum
Gauge location47.6969, -114.1613

Nearby lakes

Hungry Horse Reservoir45 mi N3,540.53 ft−1.23 ftGibson Reservoir65 mi E4,611.30 ft−1.47 ftPishkun Reservoir77 mi E4,349.24 ft±0.00 ftWillow Creek Reservoir81 mi E4,130.25 ft+1.12 ftLake Sherburne84 mi N4,745.45 ft+0.70 ft

Common questions

Is Flathead Lake rising or falling?

Over the last 7 days it changed −0.32 ft and over 30 days −1.32 ft.

How full is Flathead Lake?

USGS publishes the water surface elevation for this gauge but not a percent-full figure, so we don't show one rather than estimate it.

How often is this page updated?

The page is rebuilt automatically every day from USGS's published data. Values can be revised later by the source agency.

Where does the data come from?

The U.S. Geological Survey's Water Data API (api.waterdata.usgs.gov), which publishes readings from USGS and partner gauges. Forecasts come from the National Weather Service.

Latest instantaneous reading; 7-day, 30-day and year-ago changes compare readings at the same hour. USGS data are provisional and subject to revision. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USGS. See data sources.