A water management method for a fuel cell stack (FCS) is provided. The method may include outputting via a controller an FCS anode port estimated relative humidity value based on consumption of reactants and generation of products in the FCS and adjusting a humidification control strategy based on the value. The outputting may be in response to occurrence of a predicted FCS anode port relative humidity value from a model of a hydrogen recirculation system (HRS) of the FCS being within a predefined range. A fuel cell vehicle including a HRS and a controller is also provided. The HRS may include an ejector and a fuel cell stack having an anode port. The controller may be configured to activate a HRS model to calculate a real-time estimate of a relative humidity of the anode port based on an estimated flow rate of a secondary nozzle of the ejector.