What is the average water temperature in Montana?

The current average water temperature across Montana's monitored water bodies is 56°F.

🌡️

Montana Water Temperatures

Q: What is the warmest lake in Montana today?

Musselshell River At Mosby Mt at 75.2°F.

Current lake & river temperatures in Montana — updated daily from USGS sensors.

100

With Data

56°F

State Avg

75.2°F

Warmest

75.2°F

Warmest

Musselshell River At Mosby Mt

56°F

State Average

100 water bodies

39.2°F

Coldest

Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt

🏊

Swimming Conditions

🚫 Too cold for most swimmers

Based on avg 56°F

🎣

Fishing Conditions

🎣 Good — trout, walleye, bass

Based on avg 56°F

Montana — Ranked by Temperature

100 with data

#	Water Body	°F	°C	Condition	🏊	Date
1	Musselshell River At Mosby Mt River	75.2°	24°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jun 30
2	Tongue R Bl Brandenberg Bridge Nr Ashland Mt Lake	72.1°	22.3°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Jun 4
3	Tongue River At Miles City, Mt River	70.3°	21.3°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 4
4	Tongue River At State Line Nr Decker Mt River	69.8°	21°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 4
5	Powder River Near Locate Mt River	69.6°	20.9°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 4
6	Smith River Near Eden Mt River	65.8°	18.8°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 30
7	Ruby River Near Twin Bridges Mt River	65.7°	18.7°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 4
8	Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt River	65.5°	18.6°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 4
9	Madison River Near Norris Mt River	64.8°	18.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
10	Madison River Near West Yellowstone, Mt River	64.8°	18.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
11	Yellowstone River Fish Bypass Channel Nr Intake Mt River	64.4°	18°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
12	Missouri River At Toston Mt River	64°	17.8°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
13	Beaverhead River At Twin Bridges, Mt River	64°	17.8°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
14	Jefferson River Near Three Forks Mt River	63.1°	17.3°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
15	Madison River Bl Ennis Lake Nr Mcallister Mt River	62.4°	16.9°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
16	Milk River At Nashua Mt River	61.7°	16.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
17	Bighorn R Bl Yellowtail Afterbay Dam Nr St. Xavier Reservoir	61.7°	16.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 8
18	Marias River Near Loma Mt River	61.7°	16.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
19	Clark Fork Ab Little Blackfoot R Nr Garrison Mt Lake	61.5°	16.4°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
20	Silver Bow Creek At Opportunity Mt River	61.3°	16.3°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
21	Lost Creek Near Galen, Mt River	60.8°	16°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
22	Jefferson River Near Twin Bridges, Mt River	60.8°	16°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
23	Madison River At Ennis, Mt River	60.6°	15.9°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
24	Yellowstone River At Billings Mt River	60.3°	15.7°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
25	Clark Fork At Deer Lodge Mt Lake	60.3°	15.7°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
26	Gallatin River At Logan Mt River	60.1°	15.6°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
27	Big Hole R Bl Hamilton Ditch Nr Twin Bridges, Mt Lake	59.9°	15.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
28	Silver Bow Creek At Warm Springs Mt River	59.5°	15.3°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
29	Missouri River Near Wolf Point Mt River	59.5°	15.3°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
30	Big Hole River Bl Big Lake Cr At Wisdom Mt River	59.4°	15.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
31	Silver Bow Cr Bl Blacktail Cr, At Butte, Mt Lake	59.4°	15.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
32	Missouri River Near Landusky Mt River	59.2°	15.1°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
33	Big Hole River Near Glen Mt River	59.2°	15.1°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
34	Smith River Bl Eagle Cr Nr Fort Logan Mt River	58.8°	14.9°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
35	Big Hole River Near Wise River Mt River	58.6°	14.8°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
36	Willow Creek Near Harrison Mt River	58.6°	14.8°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
37	Madison River Near Cameron Mt River	58.5°	14.7°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
38	Missouri River Near Culbertson Mt River	58.1°	14.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
39	Willow Creek At Opportunity, Mt River	57.9°	14.4°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
40	Big Hole River Near Melrose Mt River	57.9°	14.4°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
41	Yellowstone River At Big Timber, Mt River	57.6°	14.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
42	Silver Bow Creek At Montana Street, At Butte, Mt River	57.6°	14.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
43	Marias River At Highway 223 Bridge Near Chester,Mt River	57.4°	14.1°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
44	Little Blackfoot River Near Garrison Mt River	57.4°	14.1°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
45	Big Hole River At Maiden Rock Nr Divide Mt River	56.5°	13.6°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
46	Missouri R At E Frazer Pump Plant Nr Frazer Mt Lake	56.5°	13.6°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
47	Clark Fork Above Missoula Mt Lake	56.3°	13.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
48	Clark Fork Near Galen Mt Lake	56.1°	13.4°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
49	Blacktail Creek Above Grove Gulch, At Butte, Mt River	56.1°	13.4°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
50	Clark Fork At Superior, Mt Lake	56.1°	13.4°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
51	Yellowstone River At Springdale, Mt River	56.1°	13.4°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
52	Bitterroot River Near Missoula Mt River	55.8°	13.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
53	Teton River At Loma Mt River	55.4°	13°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
54	Dearborn River Near Craig Mt River	55.4°	13°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
55	Clark Fork At St. Regis Mt Lake	55.4°	13°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
56	Blackfoot River Near Bonner Mt River	55.2°	12.9°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 4
57	Flathead River At Perma Mt River	54.9°	12.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
58	Missouri River Bl Holter Dam Nr Wolf Cr Mt River	54.9°	12.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
59	Flathead River Near Polson Mt River	54.7°	12.6°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
60	Bighorn River Ab Tullock Cr Nr Bighorn Mt River	54.5°	12.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 30
61	Clarks Fork Yellowstone River At Edgar Mt River	54.5°	12.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
62	Stillwater River Near Absarokee, Mt River	54.5°	12.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
63	Clark Fork At Goldcreek Mt River	54.5°	12.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 30
64	Yellowstone River Near Livingston, Mt River	54.3°	12.4°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
65	Birch Creek At Bullhead Bridge, Nr Valier, Mt River	54°	12.2°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	May 1
66	St. Regis River Near St. Regis, Mt River	53.6°	12°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
67	Rock Creek Near Clinton Mt River	53.4°	11.9°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
68	Beaverhead River Near Twin Bridges Mt River	52.7°	11.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
69	Red Rock Cr Ab Lakes, Nr Lakeview, Mt Lake	52.7°	11.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
70	Sun River At Simms Mt River	52.3°	11.3°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
71	Madison River At Kirby Ranch Nr Cameron Mt River	52.2°	11.2°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
72	Mill Creek At Opportunity, Mt River	52.2°	11.2°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
73	Warm Springs Creek At Warm Springs Mt River	52°	11.1°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
74	Shields River Nr Livingston Mt River	51.8°	11°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
75	Bighorn River At Bridge, At St. Xavier, Mt River	51.8°	11°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
76	Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt River	51.8°	11°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
77	Boulder River At Big Timber Mt River	51.8°	11°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
78	Bitterroot River Near Darby Mt River	51.3°	10.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
79	Yellowstone River At Corwin Springs Mt River	51.1°	10.6°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 3
80	Gallatin River Above Deer Creek, Near Big Sky, Mt River	50.2°	10.1°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
81	Blackfoot R Ab Nevada Cr Nr Helmville Mt Lake	50°	10°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
82	Madison River Bl Hebgen Lake Nr Grayling Mt River	49.8°	9.9°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
83	Clark Fork At Turah Bridge Nr Bonner Mt Lake	49.3°	9.6°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 30
84	Poplar River Near Poplar Mt River	49.1°	9.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
85	W Rosebud Cr At Emerald Lk Campground Nr Roscoe Lake	49.1°	9.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
86	N F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt River	48.7°	9.3°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
87	Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt River	48.2°	9°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
88	S F Flathead R Ab Twin C Nr Hungry Horse Mt Lake	48°	8.9°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
89	M F Flathead River Near West Glacier Mt River	47.7°	8.7°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
90	Gallatin River Near Gallatin Gateway, Mt River	47.3°	8.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
91	Gardner River Near Mammoth, Ynp River	47.1°	8.4°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
92	Clark Fork Below Missoula Mt Lake	46.4°	8°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 6
93	Shields River Bl Sf Shields River Nr Wilsall, Mt River	45.5°	7.5°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
94	S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt River	45.3°	7.4°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Jun 4
95	Fisher River Near Libby Mt River	45.3°	7.4°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 3
96	Soda Butte Cr At Park Bndry At Silver Gate Lake	44.6°	7°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
97	Rock Creek Near Red Lodge Mt River	43.7°	6.5°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
98	Judith River Nr Mouth, Nr Winifred Mt River	41.9°	5.5°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 31
99	Big Hole River Bl Mudd Cr Nr Wisdom Mt River	41.7°	5.4°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 30
100	Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt River	39.2°	4°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Feb 5

Musselshell River At Mosby Mt River

75.2°F

☀️ Warm

Tongue R Bl Brandenberg Bridge Nr Ashland Mt Lake

72.1°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Tongue River At Miles City, Mt River

70.3°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Tongue River At State Line Nr Decker Mt River

69.8°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Powder River Near Locate Mt River

69.6°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Smith River Near Eden Mt River

65.8°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Ruby River Near Twin Bridges Mt River

65.7°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt River

65.5°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Madison River Near Norris Mt River

64.8°F

🌊 Cool

Madison River Near West Yellowstone, Mt River

64.8°F

🌊 Cool

Yellowstone River Fish Bypass Channel Nr Intake Mt River

64.4°F

🌊 Cool

Missouri River At Toston Mt River

64°F

🌊 Cool

Beaverhead River At Twin Bridges, Mt River

64°F

🌊 Cool

Jefferson River Near Three Forks Mt River

63.1°F

🌊 Cool

Madison River Bl Ennis Lake Nr Mcallister Mt River

62.4°F

🌊 Cool

Milk River At Nashua Mt River

61.7°F

🌊 Cool

Bighorn R Bl Yellowtail Afterbay Dam Nr St. Xavier Reservoir

61.7°F

🌊 Cool

Marias River Near Loma Mt River

61.7°F

🌊 Cool

Clark Fork Ab Little Blackfoot R Nr Garrison Mt Lake

61.5°F

🌊 Cool

Silver Bow Creek At Opportunity Mt River

61.3°F

🌊 Cool

More Montana Resources

🗺️ Montana Water Levels 🎣 Weekly Fishing Report ⛵ Boat Ramp Status 🌵 Drought Conditions 🌡️ All States

❓ Montana Water Temperature FAQ

What is the warmest lake in Montana today?

Based on our latest USGS data, Musselshell River At Mosby Mt is currently the warmest water body in Montana at 75.2°F.

Which Montana lakes are good for swimming right now?

Lakes with water temperatures above 72°F are generally comfortable for swimming. Currently, Montana's average water temperature is 56°F — check individual lakes above for specific conditions.

What is the best water temperature for fishing in Montana?

The optimal temperature range depends on your target species. For bass fishing, look for water bodies between 65–75°F. For trout, target the coldest water bodies in Montana — typically 50–65°F. Use the table above to identify which lakes are in the ideal range for your target species.

🔬 Data Methodology & Sources

Water temperature readings on this site are collected from USGS (United States Geological Survey) monitoring stations installed at lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the country. Sensors measure water surface temperature in Celsius, which is converted to Fahrenheit for display. Data is retrieved and stored daily. Temperatures shown reflect the most recent available sensor reading for each water body, typically from the past 1–30 days depending on station reporting frequency.

⚠️ Water temperatures can vary significantly across a water body due to depth, currents, and time of day. Sensor readings represent conditions at the monitoring station location. Always exercise caution when swimming and consult local authorities for official safety advisories.