Kootenay River at Fort Steele
Water level and flow at gauge 08NG065, British Columbia. The flow is well below normal for October (69% of the median). In the last 24 hours it has been steady.
Latest reading Oct 25, 8 AM local standard time (2 hours ago) · data checked · we check every 30 minutes
Compared with a normal October
Normal for October (middle half of 63 years of monthly averages): 70.8 m³/s2,502 cfs – 93.4 m³/s3,298 cfs, median 82.5 m³/s2,913 cfs. Right now it is at 69% of the median.
June 19, 1974 · approved records 1967–2025 (HYDAT). Right now the flow is 3% of that record.
24% higher than on October 25, 2025 (45.8 m³/s1,617 cfs)
approved daily mean (HYDAT)
Last 30 days
Hourly readings · shaded: normal range for this month
This year compared with past years
Daily flow
Normal range: monthly averages of 62 years (lighter band: 10th–90th percentile). Past years: approved daily means from HYDAT, the Water Survey of Canada archive (the latest year published is 2025). 2026: daily means of the provisional real-time readings collected by Canada River Levels since October 22, 2026.
Weather near this gauge
Cloudy. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud this morning. Wind becoming southeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 this afternoon. High 8. UV index 2 or low.
Partly cloudy. Fog patches developing overnight. Wind southeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light this evening. Low minus 1.
A mix of sun and cloud. Becoming cloudy near noon. Fog patches dissipating in the morning. High 7. UV index 1 or low.
Cloudy with 40 percent chance of rain showers or flurries. Low plus 1.
Forecast for Cranbrook (14 km away) from Environment and Climate Change Canada, issued . Full official forecast ↗ · we check for new forecasts every 2 hours.
Nearby gauges
| Mather CreekBelow Houle Creek · 22 km | 2.20 m7.21 ft | Below normal |
| Bull RiverWardner · 23 km | 1.16 m3.81 ft | Very low |
| Moyie RiverAbove Noke Creek · 35 km | 1.80 m5.90 ft | Normal |
| Elk RiverFernie · 43 km | 1.63 m5.36 ft | Normal |
| Hosmer CreekAbove Diversions · 49 km | 2.11 m6.91 ft | Below normal |
| Elk RiverElko Dam Forebay · 52 km | 8.87 m29.10 ft | No normal yet |
About this gauge
Station: 08NG065 · Kootenay River at Fort Steele
Location: 49.6120, -115.6353 · British Columbia
Same river: Kootenay Crossing
Water levels are measured from a local reference point at each gauge, not from sea level, so they cannot be compared between gauges.
Official sources
For flood warnings, advisories and approved data, always use these official services:
Questions
What is the water level of the Kootenay River at Fort Steele today?
The latest reading (Oct 25, 8 AM, local standard time) is 0.61 m (1.99 ft) with a flow of 56.8 m³/s (2,006 cfs).
Is the Kootenay River at Fort Steele high right now?
The flow is well below normal for October (69% of the median).
Is the Kootenay River rising or falling?
In the last 24 hours it has been steady.
What is the highest flow ever recorded on the Kootenay River at Fort Steele?
1,830 m³/s (64,626 cfs) on June 19, 1974, the highest instantaneous flow in the approved records of the Water Survey of Canada (1967–2025). Events after 2025 are not yet in the approved archive.
How does the Kootenay River at Fort Steele compare with a year ago?
The flow is 24% higher than on October 25, 2025 (45.8 m³/s (1,617 cfs), approved daily mean (HYDAT)).
Where does this data come from?
Gauge 08NG065 of the Water Survey of Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada). Real-time data are provisional and may be revised. We check for new readings every 30 minutes. Canada River Levels is not an official source.