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Milk River at Eastern Crossing nr Rudyard

Highest listed crest 13.65 ftFlood stage 9.5 ft107 crests since 1919

The Milk River at Eastern Crossing nr Rudyard crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 107 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1919 to 2012. The highest, 13.65 ft on March 28, 1952, was major flooding, 4.15 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
13.65 ft
March 28, 1952
Flood stage
9.5 ft
Major flooding from 13.0 ft
Crests at major
1
28th of 93 gauges in Montana
Most recent flood crest
March 16, 2003
10.63 ft, minor flooding
Location
Hill County
Montana

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Milk River at Eastern Crossing nr Rudyard
Action stage8.55Mar 17, 2011The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)9.58Mar 16, 2003Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage11.05Mar 22, 1997Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage13.01Mar 28, 1952Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

107 crests from 1919 to 2012. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Milk River at Eastern Crossing nr Rudyard, 1919 to 2012 2468101214ft Flood stage 9.5 ftMajor 13.0 ft May 12, 1919: 2.62 ft, below flood stage; 789 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1920: 5.38 ft, below flood stage; 3,960 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1921: 4.15 ft, below flood stage; 1,770 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 1922: 4.58 ft, below flood stage; 1,910 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1923: 6.28 ft, below flood stage; 4,100 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1924: 4.20 ft, below flood stage; 1,800 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1925: 7.09 ft, below flood stage; 2,000 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1926: 2.71 ft, below flood stage; 817 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1928: 7.30 ft, below flood stage; 5,400 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1929: 4.42 ft, below flood stage; 2,580 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1930: 4.90 ft, below flood stage; 3,000 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 1931: 3.02 ft, below flood stage; 1,100 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1932: 4.71 ft, below flood stage; 2,940 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1933: 3.69 ft, below flood stage; 1,820 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1934: 4.06 ft, below flood stage; 2,270 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1935: 5.68 ft, below flood stage; 3,380 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 1936: 5.15 ft, below flood stage; 2,850 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1937: 6.10 ft, below flood stage; 3,530 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 1938: 4.18 ft, below flood stage; 1,910 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1939: 5.42 ft, below flood stage; 2,140 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1940: 4.43 ft, below flood stage; 1,410 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1941: 4.08 ft, below flood stage; 1,820 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1942: 6.20 ft, below flood stageMar 30, 1943: 6.76 ft, below flood stage; 3,310 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 1944: 2.86 ft, below flood stage; 705 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1945: 4.94 ft, below flood stageJun 5, 1946: 4.13 ft, below flood stage; 1,740 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1948: 7.85 ft, below flood stage; 5,350 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 1949: 3.35 ft, below flood stage; 1,110 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1950: 4.08 ft, below flood stage; 1,880 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1951: 8.10 ft, below flood stage; 5,600 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1952: 13.65 ft, major floodingJun 6, 1953: 7.75 ft, below flood stage; 7,540 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1954: 4.76 ft, below flood stageJul 12, 1955: 5.71 ft, below flood stage; 4,720 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 1956: 3.68 ft, below flood stage; 2,230 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1957: 5.66 ft, below flood stageMar 30, 1958: 6.08 ft, below flood stageMar 25, 1959: 3.09 ft, below flood stage; 1,770 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1960: 5.50 ft, below flood stage; 4,070 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1961: 2.16 ft, below flood stage; 1,080 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1962: 5.30 ft, below flood stageJun 28, 1963: 2.88 ft, below flood stage; 1,620 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1964: 6.71 ft, below flood stage; 7,770 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1965: 9.53 ft, minor flooding; 10,700 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1966: 4.07 ft, below flood stage; 2,970 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1968: 7.40 ft, below flood stage; 3,000 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1969: 6.78 ft, below flood stage; 4,230 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1970: 5.88 ft, below flood stage; 2,890 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 1971: 11.80 ft, moderate flooding; 1,800 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1972: 9.97 ft, minor floodingMar 19, 1972: 8.81 ft, action stage; 5,000 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1973: 7.47 ft, below flood stageJun 15, 1973: 6.81 ft, below flood stage; 1,220 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1974: 9.27 ft, action stageMay 21, 1974: 6.89 ft, below flood stage; 1,850 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1975: 9.79 ft, minor flooding; 8,390 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1976: 11.08 ft, moderate flooding; 2,090 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 1977: 6.14 ft, below flood stage; 796 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1978: 10.11 ft, minor floodingMar 27, 1978: 9.61 ft, minor flooding; 7,220 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1979: 10.69 ft, minor flooding; 6,180 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1980: 7.53 ft, below flood stageMay 29, 1980: 6.67 ft, below flood stage; 2,090 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 1981: 6.80 ft, below flood stage; 2,140 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1982: 8.19 ft, below flood stageApr 14, 1982: 7.86 ft, below flood stage; 5,210 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1983: 6.87 ft, below flood stageJul 10, 1983: 6.55 ft, below flood stage; 1,070 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1984: 7.21 ft, below flood stageAug 2, 1984: 6.73 ft, below flood stage; 1,250 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 1985: 6.71 ft, below flood stage; 1,850 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1986: 11.40 ft, moderate flooding; 12,000 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1987: 6.62 ft, below flood stageApr 6, 1987: 6.00 ft, below flood stage; 1,570 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1988: 6.33 ft, below flood stage; 1,400 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1989: 8.41 ft, below flood stageMar 1, 1990: 7.51 ft, below flood stageMay 25, 1990: 6.91 ft, below flood stage; 3,190 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1991: 7.42 ft, below flood stage; 3,690 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1992: 6.28 ft, below flood stageAug 5, 1992: 6.21 ft, below flood stage; 873 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1993: 8.60 ft, action stageJul 15, 1993: 6.78 ft, below flood stage; 2,630 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1994: 11.87 ft, moderate flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1995: 7.98 ft, below flood stage; 6,120 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1997: 11.36 ft, moderate flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1998: 5.02 ft, below flood stage; 3,040 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1999: 4.94 ft, below flood stage; 2,850 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 2000: 4.43 ft, below flood stageJul 10, 2000: 3.97 ft, below flood stage; 741 cubic feet per secondAug 1, 2001: 4.71 ft, below flood stage; 1,280 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2002: 10.78 ft, minor flooding; 14,400 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2003: 10.63 ft, minor flooding; 5,000 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 2004: 5.03 ft, below flood stageMay 23, 2004: 4.23 ft, below flood stage; 1,140 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2005: 5.19 ft, below flood stage; 2,930 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2006: 7.32 ft, below flood stageMar 10, 2007: 8.99 ft, action stage; 2,000 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2008: 5.11 ft, below flood stage; 2,640 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2009: 4.20 ft, below flood stageJun 7, 2009: 4.08 ft, below flood stage; 1,160 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 2010: 7.37 ft, below flood stage; 6,710 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 2011: 9.08 ft, action stageJun 4, 2011: 6.43 ft, below flood stage; 4,380 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2012: 4.54 ft, below flood stageJun 10, 2012: 4.47 ft, below flood stage; 1,350 cubic feet per second Highest, 13.65 ft, Mar 28, 1952 19201940196019802000

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Milk River at Eastern Crossing nr Rudyard 1910s: 0 1920s: 0 1930s: 0 1940s: 0 1950s: 1 1960s: 1 1970s: 7 7 1980s: 1 1990s: 2 2000s: 2 2010s: 0 1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.
  3. 5 crests measured on an earlier gauge datum are left out: 10.16 ft on May 23, 1927; 11.28 ft on Mar 23, 1947; 9.62 ft on Mar 24, 1967; 9.87 ft on Mar 17, 1969; 15.03 ft on Mar 13, 1996.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 107 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Milk River at Eastern Crossing nr Rudyard
1Mar 28, 195213.65+4.15Major—
2Mar 4, 199411.87+2.37Moderate10,000
3Feb 16, 197111.80+2.30Moderate1,800
4Feb 27, 198611.40+1.90Moderate12,000
5Mar 22, 199711.36+1.86Moderate10,000
6Mar 21, 197611.08+1.58Moderate2,090
7Jun 12, 200210.78+1.28Minor14,400
8Mar 8, 197910.69+1.19Minor6,180
9Mar 16, 200310.63+1.13Minor5,000
10Mar 23, 197810.11+0.61Minor—
11Mar 13, 19729.97+0.47Minor—
12Jun 23, 19759.79+0.29Minor8,390
13Mar 27, 19789.61+0.11Minor7,220
14Apr 9, 19659.53+0.03Minor10,700
15Mar 31, 19749.27−0.23Action—
16Mar 17, 20119.08−0.42Action—
17Mar 10, 20078.99−0.51Action2,000
18Mar 19, 19728.81−0.69Action5,000
19Mar 6, 19938.60−0.90Action—
20Mar 24, 19898.41−1.09Below flood stage—
21Mar 12, 19828.19−1.31Below flood stage—
22Jun 27, 19518.10−1.40Below flood stage5,600
23Jun 9, 19957.98−1.52Below flood stage6,120
24Apr 14, 19827.86−1.64Below flood stage5,210
25Jun 20, 19487.85−1.65Below flood stage5,350
26Jun 6, 19537.75−1.75Below flood stage7,540
27Mar 16, 19807.53−1.97Below flood stage—
28Mar 1, 19907.51−1.99Below flood stage—
29Mar 5, 19737.47−2.03Below flood stage—
30Jun 23, 19917.42−2.08Below flood stage3,690
31Mar 6, 19687.40−2.10Below flood stage3,000
32Jun 20, 20107.37−2.13Below flood stage6,710
33Mar 24, 20067.32−2.18Below flood stage—
34Mar 24, 19287.30−2.20Below flood stage5,400
35Mar 19, 19847.21−2.29Below flood stage—
36Mar 24, 19257.09−2.41Below flood stage2,000
37May 25, 19906.91−2.59Below flood stage3,190
38May 21, 19746.89−2.61Below flood stage1,850
39Mar 20, 19836.87−2.63Below flood stage—
40Jun 15, 19736.81−2.69Below flood stage1,220
41May 18, 19816.80−2.70Below flood stage2,140
42Apr 3, 19696.78−2.72Below flood stage4,230
43Jul 15, 19936.78−2.72Below flood stage2,630
44Mar 30, 19436.76−2.74Below flood stage3,310
45Aug 2, 19846.73−2.77Below flood stage1,250
46Jun 11, 19646.71−2.79Below flood stage7,770
47May 30, 19856.71−2.79Below flood stage1,850
48May 29, 19806.67−2.83Below flood stage2,090
49Mar 29, 19876.62−2.88Below flood stage—
50Jul 10, 19836.55−2.95Below flood stage1,070

The worst floods along the Milk River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Milk River that crested above flood stage within a week.

March 4, 1994: 11.87 ft here, moderate flooding

  • HavreMT · Mar 7, 1994 · 12.04 ft · Minor

February 27, 1986: 11.40 ft here, moderate flooding

  • SacoMT · Mar 4, 1986 · 26.70 ft · Major · its highest

March 22, 1997: 11.36 ft here, moderate flooding

  • GlasgowMT · Mar 29, 1997 · 31.24 ft · Major
  • TampicoMT · Mar 27, 1997 · 27.55 ft · Major
  • SacoMT · Mar 24, 1997 · 24.38 ft · Major
  • HarlemMT · Mar 25, 1997 · 23.85 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Milk River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Milk River
Eastern Crossing nr Rudyard this gaugeMT9.513.65 ft, Mar 28, 19521
HavreMT10.015.30 ft, Mar 31, 19780
HarlemMT21.025.73 ft, Sep 29, 19862
DodsonMT23.029.79 ft, Sep 26, 19860
MaltaMT16.023.67 ft, Sep 27, 19861
SacoMT20.026.70 ft, Mar 4, 19867
TampicoMT23.028.03 ft, Apr 15, 20115
GlasgowMT25.034.08 ft, Jun 8, 20117
NashuaMT20.031.38 ft, Apr 18, 19523

Other gauges in Hill County

Flood gauges in Hill County
Havre8.515.15 ft, Mar 30, 19784
McRae Creek at International Boundary7.016.36 ft, Sep 25, 19863
Havre10.015.30 ft, Mar 31, 19780

Hill County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Montana

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ERNM8, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.