Yellowstone River at Livingston
Montana · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 06192500 — Yellowstone River near Livingston, MT · NWS forecast point LIVM8
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Below normal — good wading, low and clear
At 3,200 CFS, this gauge is running 67% of normal for late July — below the 4,780 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 101 years of record (1897–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
Sponsor Yellowstone River
Put your outfitter, guide service, cabin rental or shuttle in front of everyone checking this stretch before they drive out. One exclusive sponsor per river.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Flood stages at Livingston
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge LIVM8, issued by WFO BYZ. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 11.0 ft
-
Moderate flood 10.5 ft
-
Minor flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Roads to mill creek, cinnebar basin and trail creek are covered with water. Water will also be over portions of yellowstone park road for 800 yards, 3.5 miles south of town, including a few farm homes. Flooding over the road to 9th street island with water reaching some homes.
- Right now 1.89 ft
12 months of flow at Livingston
Daily values from USGS gauge 06192500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Livingston
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 11.63 ft | 55,200 CFS | Jun 13, 2022 |
| 10.72 ft | 38,000 CFS | Jun 6, 1997 |
| 10.20 ft | 30,600 CFS | Jun 1, 2020 |
| 10.18 ft | 33,600 CFS | May 27, 2018 |
| 10.15 ft | 40,600 CFS | Jun 30, 2011 |
| 9.97 ft | 37,100 CFS | Jun 10, 1996 |
| 9.70 ft | 32,700 CFS | May 29, 2014 |
| 9.62 ft | 26,300 CFS | Jun 6, 2017 |
| 9.52 ft | 26,300 CFS | Jun 25, 2008 |
| 9.46 ft | 27,200 CFS | Jun 1, 2003 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Yellowstone River at Livingston
This gauge measures Yellowstone River at Livingston, Montana — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Paradise Valley; runoff clarity searches all spring.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 4,780 CFS for late July, from 101 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Yellowstone River at Livingston — common questions
What is the current flow on Yellowstone River at Livingston?
As of the last reading on this page, Yellowstone River at Livingston was running 3,200 CFS at a gage height of 1.89 ft, or 67% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 06192500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 4,780 CFS, calculated from 101 years of record (1897–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
Is Yellowstone River at Livingston wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 4,780 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision.
What makes the flow change on this stretch?
Rain in the basin upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows the past year of daily values, which is the clearest picture of how this gauge behaves through the seasons.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 06192500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge LIVM8. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.