Station Name: S F Flathead River nr Columbia Falls MT
Data Source: Water Data - usgc.gov

Elevation Above Sea Level: 3,091 feet

Nearest Address:
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
Flathead County

GPS Coordinates: 48.35657778, -114.0378583

Nearby Water Temperatures

Avalanche Watch issued March 19 at 11:44AM MDT by NWS Missoula MT

Non-Weather Emergency Message. Not sent to IPAWS.

Effective: Thu March 19, 2026, 11:44 AM
Expires: Fri March 20, 2026, 11:00 AM

AVAMSO The following message is transmitted at the request of Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center Sandpoint ID. ...AVALANCHE WATCH ISSUED BY THE IDAHO PANHANDLE AVALANCHE CENTER... 16:00 PDT Thu Mar 19 2026 The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in Sandpoint has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WATCH for the following areas: NWS Missoula MT - MTZ001 (MTZ001) NWS Spokane WA - ID 017 (Bonner County)...ID 021 (Boundary County) * WHAT...The avalanche danger may rise to HIGH (Level 4of5) on Friday and into Saturday following multiple days of elevated freezing levels and heavy rain saturating the snowpack. * WHERE...The Selkirk Mountains, The West Cabinet Mountains, and the East Cabinet Mountains above 4,000 feet. * WHEN...In effect from Thu 16:00 PDT to Fri 07:00 PDT. * IMPACTS...Heavy rain over the next 24 to 36 hours will continue to wet an already saturated snowpack with multiple shallowly buried weak snow layers. Very dangerous avalanche conditions may develop in places that receive around 2 inches or more of rain. Widespread areas of wet unstable snow may develop across all aspects above 4,000 feet. As rain and meltwater percolate deeper into the snowpack, the potential could increase for avalanches to fail in layers more than 3 feet deep, resulting in very large and destructive avalanches. * PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...If the forecasted significant rainfall amounts are received, very dangerous avalanche conditions could quickly develop. Human-triggered avalanches may become very likely and large natural avalanches will be likely. Avalanches have the potential to entrain impressive amounts of debris and run long distances into mature forest, valley floors, or flat terrain. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Consult http://www.idahopanhandleavalanche.org/ or www.avalanche.org for more detailed information. Similar avalanche danger may exist at locations outside the coverage area of this or any avalanche center.

Avalanche Warning issued March 19 at 6:04AM MDT by NWS Missoula MT

Non-Weather Emergency Message. Not sent to IPAWS.

Effective: Thu March 19, 2026, 6:04 AM
Expires: Sat March 21, 2026, 6:00 AM

AVWMSO The following message is transmitted at the request of Flathead Avalanche Center Hungry Horse MT. ...AVALANCHE WARNING ISSUED BY THE FLATHEAD AVALANCHE CENTER... 06:00 MDT Thu Mar 19 2026 The Flathead Avalanche Center in Hungry Horse has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING for the following areas: NWS Missoula MT - MTZ001 (MTZ001)...MTZ002 (MTZ002) * WHAT...Rain and warm temperatures have created very dangerous avalanche conditions that will likely persist through Saturday. * WHERE...Slopes above 5,000 feet in the Whitefish, Swan, Flathead Ranges, and the Lake McDonald and Marias Pass areas of Glacier National Park.

Avalanche Warning issued March 19 at 6:04AM MDT by NWS Missoula MT

Non-Weather Emergency Message. Not sent to IPAWS.

Effective: Thu March 19, 2026, 6:04 AM
Expires: Fri March 20, 2026, 6:00 AM

AVWMSO The following message is transmitted at the request of Flathead Avalanche Center Hungry Horse MT. ...AVALANCHE WARNING ISSUED BY THE FLATHEAD AVALANCHE CENTER... 06:00 MDT Thu Mar 19 2026 The Flathead Avalanche Center in Hungry Horse has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING for the following areas: NWS Missoula MT - MTZ001 (MTZ001)...MTZ002 (MTZ002) * WHAT...Rain and warm temperatures have created very dangerous avalanche conditions that will likely persist through Saturday. * WHERE...Slopes above 5,000 feet in the Whitefish, Swan, Flathead Ranges, and the Lake McDonald and Marias Pass areas of Glacier National Park.

yellow warning - rainfall - in effect

Service Notice – February 2026: The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) CAP Service undergoes changes from time to time as the business of alerting evolves. For 2026, changes are expected to include... 1) ECCC's initiative to introduce free-form polygons to represent the true threat area of a weather hazard is tentatively set for Spring 2026 deployment. Data changes will appear in CAP following this deployment and 2) other minor improvements and corrections. For more information on these changes: https://comm.collab.science.gc.ca/mailman3/hyperkitty/list/dd_info@comm.collab.science.gc.ca/ | Notification de service – février 2026: Le service du PAC d’Environnement et Changement climatique Canada (ECCC) subit périodiquement des changements à mesure que le système d’alerte évolue. Pour 2026, il y aura des changements incluant... 1) l’initiative d’ECCC visant à introduire des polygones libres pour représenter la véritable zone de menace d’un danger météorologique devrait être déployée provisoirement au printemps 2026. Des changements de données apparaîtront dans le PAC à la suite de ce déploiement et 2) d’autres améliorations et corrections mineures. Pour plus d’informations sur ces changements: https://comm.collab.science.gc.ca/mailman3/hyperkitty/list/dd_info@comm.collab.science.gc.ca/

Effective: Thu March 19, 2026, 3:50 PM
Expires: Fri March 20, 2026, 7:50 AM

Heavy Rain and High Freezing Levels What: Near 50 mm accompanied by high freezing levels. Where: Elk Valley. When: Now through Friday evening Impacts: - Heavy rain on snow combined with mountain snow melt could lead to enhanced responses in river systems and potential for flooding. Remarks: An atmospheric river continues to impact southern B.C. delivering up to 50 mm of rainfall now through Friday evening. In the Fernie region, the bulk of the rain will arrive late overnight tonight through Friday evening. Elsewhere, the rain will be more evenly distributed throughout the period. With freezing levels near or above 2500 metres, snowmelt from higher elevations may increase the impacts associated with this event. Rain is forecast to subside Friday evening and freezing levels will trend downwards as a cold front passes. ### Water will likely pool on roads and in low-lying areas. Some travel delays are possible. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to BCstorm@ec.gc.ca or post reports on X using #BCStorm.

Watch for washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.

yellow warning - rainfall - in effect

Service Notice – February 2026: The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) CAP Service undergoes changes from time to time as the business of alerting evolves. For 2026, changes are expected to include... 1) ECCC's initiative to introduce free-form polygons to represent the true threat area of a weather hazard is tentatively set for Spring 2026 deployment. Data changes will appear in CAP following this deployment and 2) other minor improvements and corrections. For more information on these changes: https://comm.collab.science.gc.ca/mailman3/hyperkitty/list/dd_info@comm.collab.science.gc.ca/ | Notification de service – février 2026: Le service du PAC d’Environnement et Changement climatique Canada (ECCC) subit périodiquement des changements à mesure que le système d’alerte évolue. Pour 2026, il y aura des changements incluant... 1) l’initiative d’ECCC visant à introduire des polygones libres pour représenter la véritable zone de menace d’un danger météorologique devrait être déployée provisoirement au printemps 2026. Des changements de données apparaîtront dans le PAC à la suite de ce déploiement et 2) d’autres améliorations et corrections mineures. Pour plus d’informations sur ces changements: https://comm.collab.science.gc.ca/mailman3/hyperkitty/list/dd_info@comm.collab.science.gc.ca/

Effective: Fri March 20, 2026, 5:48 AM
Expires: Fri March 20, 2026, 9:48 PM

Heavy Rain and High Freezing Levels What: Near 50 mm accompanied by high freezing levels. Where: Elk Valley. When: Now until this evening. Impacts: - Heavy rain on snow combined with mountain snow melt could lead to enhanced responses in river systems and potential for flooding. Remarks: An atmospheric river continues to impact southern B.C. delivering up to 50 mm of rainfall now through this evening. Elsewhere, the rain will be more evenly distributed throughout the period. With freezing levels near or above 2500 metres, snowmelt from higher elevations may increase the impacts associated with this event. Rain is forecast to subside Friday evening and freezing levels will trend downwards as a cold front passes. ### Water will likely pool on roads and in low-lying areas. Some travel delays are possible. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to BCstorm@ec.gc.ca or post reports on X using #BCStorm.

Watch for washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.