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AWRA Alaska Northern-Region Meetings
December 10, 2008: Edward Plumb, The 2008 Tanana River Flood: Where Did All The Water Come From?, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fairbanks The 2008 Tanana River Flood: Where Did All The Water Come From? Edward Plumb Heavy rain fell over interior Alaska in late July 2008 and resulted in some of the worst flooding seen along the Tanana River since the record flood of 1967. An unusual weather pattern which developed east of Fairbanks produced in excess of 5 inches rainfall in 24 hours over a portion of the Tanana River valley. This surge of water into the basin yielded rapid and dramatic water level rises on the Tanana River which are more typical of smaller, fast responding drainages. The Tanana River rose over bank and flooded a wide swath from Salcha downstream to Nenana. Backwater at the mouth of the Chena River also created flooding problems. The duration and extent of the flooding was exacerbated by several successive weather systems which followed the initial deluge. The meteorological situation responsible for the significant rainfall and the resultant flooding impacts will be discussed. |