Rivers in Tennessee
Elk River (TN) near Fayetteville
Below flood stage
1.38ftStage
Observed Sun, Sep 27, 4:15 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 17.50 ft
- Forecast crest
- 1.40 ftSun, Sep 27, 7:00 PM CDT
- Record crest
- 29.52 ft1990
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 26.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 23.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 17.50 ft |
| Action | 14.00 ft |
- 29.52 ftFlood of Record occurred Dedcember 23, 1990.
- 29.00 ftWidespread significant flooding is ongoing at the gage and throughout much of Fayetteville. The main bridge on Highway 231 is underwater and businesses on the South side of the bridge are impacted with multiple feet of water affecting them. Thorton Taylor Parkway is also underwater at this time and likely impassable between Highway 231 and Eldad Road intersections.
- 26.00 ftSeveral businesses and homes are flooded along Norris Creek on the East side of town, along with any streets that intersect Norris Street inundated with 1 to 2 feet of water. On the West side of town, backwater flooding is likely ongoing on Cane Creek, with portions of Highway 64 likely underwater near the intersection of Morgan Bend Road.
- 24.00 ftEldad Road becomes impassable with at least a foot of water covering it between Barley Drive and the Eldad Road bridge itself. Portions of Grisham Road are also covered less than half a mile from the intersection with Eldad Road. In and around Fayetteville, floodwaters have caused portions of Highway 273 to become impassable and is likely closed.
- 23.00 ftFloodwaters cover portions of Eldad Road South of Rambo Road. Floodwaters also approach the South side of Grisham Road immediately North of the River gage. In and around Fayetteville, flood waters cover portions of Highway 273 and it will become impassable shortly.
- 22.00 ftFloodwaters begin to cover Eldad Road north of Barley Drive approaching the bend in the road traveling toward the Eldad Road bridge itself.
- 17.50 ftBottomland along the river begins to flood, spreading across fields on both sides of the river. Just south of Rambo Road, floodwaters begin to pool by the bend in the road band again further south closer to Old Limestone Road.
- 14.00 ftThe Elk River reaches bankfull, with any additional water spilling into neighboring fields along the river and causing lowland/nuisance flooding on the banks of the river upstream of Fayetteville.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 16, 2026.
Crest history
32 crests on NOAA’s list since 1842.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 23, 1990 | 29.52 ft |
| 2 | March 16, 1973 | 28.60 ft |
| 3 | March 13, 1842 | 27.50 ft |
| 4 | March 12, 1963 | 27.20 ft |
| 5 | March 23, 1929 | 27.20 ft |
| 6 | January 5, 1949 | 27.20 ft |
| 7 | February 3, 1957 | 26.70 ft |
| 8 | February 6, 2020 | 24.21 ft |
| 9 | February 24, 2019 | 24.17 ft |
| 10 | February 20, 1991 | 24.00 ft |
| 11 | January 8, 1998 | 23.60 ft |
| 12 | March 21, 1980 | 22.85 ft |
| 13 | February 6, 2004 | 21.99 ft |
| 14 | March 10, 2019 | 21.59 ft |
| 15 | September 20, 2021 | 21.48 ft |
| 16 | February 23, 2022 | 21.12 ft |
| 17 | March 1, 2018 | 20.89 ft |
| 18 | April 1, 2021 | 20.86 ft |
| 19 | December 26, 2015 | 20.77 ft |
| 20 | December 2, 1991 | 20.74 ft |
| 21 | February 21, 2019 | 20.44 ft |
| 22 | December 7, 2004 | 20.26 ft |
| 23 | December 10, 2004 | 20.22 ft |
| 24 | April 28, 2011 | 20.15 ft |
| 25 | March 24, 2020 | 19.70 ft |
Most recent crests
- March 16, 2025: 19.51 ft
- February 23, 2022: 21.12 ft
- September 20, 2021: 21.48 ft
- April 1, 2021: 20.86 ft
- March 24, 2020: 19.70 ft
- February 6, 2020: 24.21 ft
- March 10, 2019: 21.59 ft
- March 4, 2019: 17.53 ft
- March 4, 2019: 18.47 ft
- February 24, 2019: 24.17 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.