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Kuskokwim River at Bethel — water level right now

Bethel, Alaska · NWS gauge BETA2
Loading the latest reading…
–
current stage (ft)
 
8.5
minor flood stage
 
14.42
record crest
set 1976-05-19
–
flood status
official NWS category
Official NOAA forecast → Full US flood map →

Flood stages at this gauge

Where the water stands right now against the four official thresholds:

action · 7
minor · 8.5
moderate · 12
major · 14
Flood stageLevel (ft)What it means
Major flood stage14extensive inundation and significant evacuations — a serious event
Moderate flood stage12some buildings and roads inundated; evacuations possible
Minor flood stage8.5low-lying roads and fields near the river start to flood
Action stage7water is approaching flood level — time to pay attention

Highest floods on record here

#Crest (ft)Datevs. minor flood stage
114.421976-05-19+5.92 above
214.011941-05-07+5.51 above
313.51989-05-14+5 above
413.31975-05-22+4.8 above
513.221963-05-13+4.72 above
613.21972-05-25+4.7 above
713.071964-06-05+4.57 above
812.021985-05-26+3.52 above
911.891964-06-09+3.39 above
1011.71977-05-23+3.2 above
1111.31995-05-07+2.8 above
1211.221967-05-13+2.72 above

Historic crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service — the 12 highest on file.

Where this gauge is

The marker is this gauge; nearby gauges load live and are clickable.

Nearby river gauges

Kwigillingok Tide Gauge at Kwigillingok (MHHW datum) 79 mi away · loading… Yukon River at Pilot Station 88 mi away · loading… Kipnuk Tide Gauge at Kipnuk (MHHW datum) 97 mi away · loading… Kuskokwim River at Crooked Creek 143 mi away · loading… St. Michael Bay Tide Gauge at St. Michael (MHHW) 186 mi away · loading… Norton Sound Tide Gauge at Unalakleet (MHHW datum) 215 mi away · loading…

Gauge details

NWS gauge IDBETA2
CountyBethel
StateAlaska
NWS forecast officeAnchorage
River forecast centerAlaska Pacific River Forecast Center
Coordinates60.793, -161.746
Time zoneAST9ADT
Turn Around, Don't Drown. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet and twelve inches can float a car. Never drive around barricades or into water of unknown depth — most flood deaths happen in vehicles.

Questions about Kuskokwim River at Bethel

Is Kuskokwim River at Bethel flooding right now?

The live reading at the top of this page answers that: the gauge is compared against its official NWS flood stages every 15 minutes. Minor flooding at this gauge begins at 8.5 ft. Blue means normal, yellow is action stage, orange minor, red moderate and dark red major flooding.

What is flood stage for Kuskokwim River at Bethel?

major flood stage 14 ft, moderate flood stage 12 ft, minor flood stage 8.5 ft, action stage 7 ft. These are official National Weather Service thresholds set specifically for this gauge, not generic values.

What is the record flood at Kuskokwim River at Bethel?

The highest crest on file at this gauge is 14.42 ft, reached on 1976-05-19 — that is 5.92 ft above minor flood stage. The full list of the highest crests is in the table on this page.

Where does this data come from?

From the NOAA National Water Prediction Service, the official U.S. river gauge network — a U.S. government work in the public domain. Live stage is refreshed every 15 minutes; flood thresholds and historic crests are refreshed monthly. For life-safety decisions follow NWS Anchorage and local emergency management.