Yellowstone River at Billings
River flow & level · USGS gauge 06214500 · Montana · drains 11,807 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 1:00 PM · streamflow
The Yellowstone River at Billings is running 3,210 cfs, 82% of the median flow for October 26 (3,900 cfs, 97 years). Gage height is 2.96 ft, 10.5 ft below flood stage (13.5 ft). Flow is up 2% from 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (12.5 ft) is 9.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (13.5 ft) is 10.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (14.5 ft) is 11.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (15.0 ft) is 12.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
Yellowstone River at Billings fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETWater 44°F and cooling, flow 82% of normal, flow steady, light NE wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 8:06 AM–9:06 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp44°Fmeasured Oct 26, 1:00 PM · this gauge · −2° in 24 h
- Air temphigh 53°F / low 36°FSunny
- WindLight NE2–7 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 13
- Flow82% of normalFlow steady (+2% in 24 h)
Official Montana fishing info: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks — Fishing info
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
6/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:46 AM · Sunset 6:08 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:25 PM–2:25 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset8:06 AM–9:06 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:34 PM–6:34 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 6/10Good | Major 12:25 PM–2:25 PM Minor 8:06 AM–9:06 AM · 5:34 PM–6:34 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 12:54 AM–2:54 AM · 1:23 PM–3:23 PM Minor 9:29 AM–10:29 AM · 6:10 PM–7:10 PM Breezy wind 9–28 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:54 AM–3:54 AM · 2:26 PM–4:26 PM Minor 10:50 AM–11:50 AM · 6:59 PM–7:59 PM Light wind 4–9 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 2:59 AM–4:59 AM · 3:31 PM–5:31 PM Minor 12:01 PM–1:01 PM · 8:02 PM–9:02 PM Light wind 4–10 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:03 AM–6:03 AM · 4:35 PM–6:35 PM Minor 12:58 PM–1:58 PM · 9:16 PM–10:16 PM Light wind 4–5 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:05 AM–7:05 AM · 5:34 PM–7:34 PM Minor 1:40 PM–2:40 PM · 10:36 PM–11:36 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:02 AM–7:02 AM · 5:29 PM–7:29 PM Minor 1:13 PM–2:13 PM · 10:56 PM–11:56 PM Light wind 4–5 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 1 |
| Today | 6, rounded | 6/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page; water temperature measured at this gauge. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 45.80, -108.47 (moon times from astronomical equations, Yellowstone River at Billings local time).
Weather & wind at Yellowstone River at Billings
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon53° / 36°SunnyWind NE 7 mphRain 44%
- Tuesday59° / 33°Slight Chance Rain Showers then SunnyWind WSW 9 to 28 mphRain 18%
- Wednesday59° / 31°SunnyWind WSW 5 to 9 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 45.800, -108.468 (grid BYZ), issued Oct 26, 12:32 PM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge BILM8- Action stage12.5 ft+9.5 ft from now
- Minor stage13.5 ft+10.5 ft from now
- Moderate stage14.5 ft+11.5 ft from now
- Major stage15 ft+12.0 ft from now
- Record crest16.37 ft2022
October 26 in history
97 years of flow records- Today3,210 cfs
- Same date last year3,820 cfs2025
- Median3,900 cfs
- Normal range3,200 cfs – 4,540 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 19296,360 cfs1973
- Lowest since 19292,510 cfs1989
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 3,195 | +1% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 3,160 | +2% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 3,110 | -1% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 3,150 | +1% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 3,110 | +0% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 3,100 | -1% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 3,130 | -0% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 3,140 | -2% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 3,210 | -2% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 3,280 | -3% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 06214500 — Yellowstone River at Billings MT
- Location
- 45.8001, -108.4680 · Montana
- Drainage area
- 11,807 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1929–2025 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 1:00 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge BILM8 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.