Tanana River at Fairbanks, AK
River level and flood forecast · Fairbanks-North Star County
The river is 5.8 ft below flood stage (24.5 ft).
Flow: 18,400 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sat, Oct 10, 8:18 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
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An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Tanana River at Fairbanks to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 27 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 26 ft |
| Flood stage | 24.5 ft |
| Action stage | 23.5 ft |
| Record crest (August 16, 1967) | 27.8 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 26.3 ftIn August 1997...a stage of 26.3 feet on the Tanana River at Fairbanks was associated with washouts of driveways off the Old Richardson Hwy between Moose Creek and Salcha. The bridge on the old Rich over Piledriver Slough was threatened but prompt action saved it.Perkins Road and Melanie Lane...off Rosie Creek Road...were also flooded. The water reached a depth of about 18 inches on lower Melanie Lane. No serious damage was reported in this area.
- 25.7 ftIn 1986...a stage of 25.7 feet on the Tanana River at Fairbanks was associated with a washout of the bridge on the Old Richardson Highway over Piledriver Slough...near Stringer Road. Driveways off the Old Rich between Moose Creek and Salcha were also washed outPerkins Road and Melanie Lane...off Rosie Creek Road...were also flooded...to a depth of over a foot in spots.
- 25.4 ftIn August 1997 when the Tanana River had receded to a stage of 25.4 feet at Fairbanks from a crest of 26.3 feet...Perkins Road was passable but water was still knee deep on portions of Melanie Lane.
- 25.2 ftIn 1984...a stage of 25.2 feet on the Tanana River at Fairbanks was associated with a washout of the bridge on the Old Richardson Hwy over Piledriver Slough..near Stringer Road. Driveways off the Old Rich between Moose Creek and Salcha were also washed out.Perkins Road and Melanie Lane...off Rosie Creek Road...were also flooded. Subsequent improvements make serious flooding in this area unlikely at this stage...though there will be groundwater problems.
- 24 ftIn the past...some people residing near the Tanana River outside of the dike have expressed concerns about high groundwater levels when the Tanana River at Fairbanks was around 24.0 feet.No specific threats a this stage are known.Bankfull conditions in the vicinity of the Old Richardson Hwy in Salcha and the onset of overbank flow on Ruger Trail near Bradbury Road. Tanana River water may begin to flow into Piledriver Slough.
Highest crests on record
- 27.8 ft — August 16, 1967
- 26.66 ft — July 30, 2008
- 26.4 ft — May 3, 2009
- 26.25 ft — August 14, 1997
- 26.11 ft — May 11, 2023
Recent crests: 23.87 ft (August 31, 2025) · 24.44 ft (August 11, 2024) · 25.5 ft (August 31, 2023) · 26.11 ft (May 11, 2023) · 24.78 ft (July 13, 2022)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamTanana River at Big Delta, AK
- DownstreamTanana River at Nenana, AK
- Chena River at Fairbanks, AK
- Chena River below Moose Creek Dam near Fairbanks, AK
- Little Chena River near Fairbanks, AK
- Fish Creek below Solo Creek near Chatanika, AK
- Chena River below Hunts Creek near Two Rivers, AK
- Salcha River near Salchaket, AK
- Chena River near Two Rivers, AK
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (TAFA2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.