/C WGAK89 PAFG 010035
&ZCZC FAIFLSAFG
AKZ221-222-014000-

FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
415 PM ADT THU JUL 31 2003

...SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IN ALASKA'S INTERIOR...

RUNOFF FROM THE PAST 5 DAYS HEAVY RAINS IS WORKING ITS WAY DOWN
THE LOWER TANANA AND THE CHENA RIVER BASINS. THE RAIN ON
WEDNESDAY HAS CAUSED SECONDARY CRESTS ON SOME RIVERS...INCLUDING
THE CHATANIKA...THE UPPER CHENA AND THE LITTLE CHENA RIVERS.

OVERALL...FLOOD WATERS HAVE RECEDED IN MOST OF THE REGION...EXCEPT
FOR AREAS WHERE RUNOFF OVER FLAT LANDS TAKES SEVERAL DAYS TO FLOW
AWAY.

MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...BUT THE AMOUNT OF
THIS INCOMING RAINFALL WILL BE TOO SMALL TO BRING STREAM AND
RIVER LEVELS BACK UP. THE RAIN WILL ONLY SLOW THE RATE AT WHICH
RIVER STAGES FALL.

...THE CHENA RIVER...

...FLOOD WARNING FOR THE CHENA RIVER NEAR STEAMBOAT LANDING      
   SUBDIVISION THROUGH SATURDAY...

THE SECONDARY CREST ON THE UPPER CHENA RIVER WAS MOVING THROUGH
THE STRETCH NEAR MILE 40 CHENA HOT SPRINGS ROAD THIS AFTERNOON.
STATE PARKS PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A FOOT OF WATER 
FLOWING OVER THE ROAD AT 37.5 MILE CHENA HOT SPRINGS ROAD. THE 
ROAD WAS OPEN AND PASSABLE BY TRUCK...BUT PASSAGE WOULD BE 
DANGEROUS FOR A SMALL CAR. WATER LEVELS WILL REMAIN HIGH 
THROUGH SATURDAY AND THEN BEGIN TO FALL. 

FLOODING WILL CONTINUE NORTH OF NORTH POLE IN THE STEAMBOAT
LANDING AREA AND ALONG FREEMAN ROAD THROUGH SATURDAY AND MAYBE
LONGER. ALTHOUGH THE CHENA RIVER IS CRESTING UPSTREAM...IT WILL
TAKE SOME TIME FOR THE CREST ON THE RIVER TO MAKE IT DOWN PAST
CHENA LAKES.

THERE WERE EXTENSIVE PONDS OF WATER IN STEAMBOAT LANDING AND
ALONG FREEMAN ROAD THIS MORNING. THE WATER COMES MOSTLY FROM
ELEVATED GROUND WATER LEVELS...WHICH RESULT FROM WATER IMPOUNDED
BEHIND THE DAM. THE FLOW OF THE CHENA RIVER AT THE CHENA LAKES
FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT HAS BEEN RESTRICTED SINCE 4 AM TUESDAY IN
ORDER TO REDUCE THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS FLOOD.

THERE WILL BE NO FLOODING ALONG THE CHENA RIVER IN DOWNTOWN
FAIRBANKS. AT 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON THE STAGE ON THE CHENA RIVER
AT FAIRBANKS WAS 9.2 FEET...WELL BELOW THE FLOOD STAGE OF
12 FEET.

...THE TANANA RIVER...

...THE FLOOD WARNING FOR THE TANANA RIVER FROM BELOW NENANA TO THE    
   YUKON RIVER CONTINUES THROUGH FRIDAY...

HIGH WATER CONTINUES TO MOVE DOWN THE TANANA RIVER BELOW NENANA.
THIS MORNINGS RIVER STAGE ON THE RIVER AT MANLEY HOT SPRINGS WAS
WITHIN 6 INCHES OF FLOOD STAGE AND THE RIVER WAS STILL RISING.
THE CREST SHOULD REACH MANLEY LATE TODAY OR TONIGHT. SOME 
FLOODING IS EXPECTED ALONG THE LOWER TANANA RIVER THROUGH FRIDAY.

A RIVER FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
PEOPLE IN THE AFFECTED AREA SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT
LIVES AND PROPERTY.

THE NEXT RIVER FLOOD STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AT 6 AM FRIDAY
OR SOONER IF NEEDED.

$$
JB/TF JUL 03