Illinois River at Tahlequah
Oklahoma · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 07196500 — Illinois River near Tahlequah, OK · NWS forecast point TALO2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Up and moving — a faster float than usual
At 454 CFS, this gauge is running 177% of normal for late July — above the 256 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 90 years of record (1936–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Tahlequah
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge TALO2, issued by WFO TSA. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 18.0 ft
- 18.0 ft severe flooding occurs from near Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. Highway 10 near Hanging Rock northeast of Tahlequah is impassable. Some cabins and parks are severely flooded. This is a very dangerous situation. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
- 19.0 ft severe flooding occurs from near Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. State Highway 10 near Hanging Rock and near No Head Hollow north of the intersection with Highway 62 is impassable. Some cabins and parks are severely flooded. This is a very dangerous situation.
- 21.0 ft very severe flooding occurs from near Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. State Highway 10 is closed between Hanging Rock and No Head Hollow north of the Highway 10 intersection with Highway 62. Several cabins and parks are severely flooded and many others are isolated. This is a very dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 23.0 ft extremely severe flooding occurs along the Illinois River from near Hanging Rock to the headwaters of Lake Tenkiller. State Highway 10 is closed northeast of its intersection with Highway 62. Several cabins and parks are severely flooded and many others are isolated for an extended duration. This is a very dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 25.0 ft devastating flooding occurs along the Illinois River from near Hanging Rock to the headwaters of Lake Tenkiller. State Highway 10 is closed northeast of its intersection with Highway 51. Many cabins and parks are severely flooded or are totally isolated for an extended duration. This is a very dangerous and life threatening situation. This will approach the April 2011 flood, which reached 26 feet.
- 27.0 ft devastating flooding occurs along the Illinois River from near Hanging Rock to the headwaters of Lake Tenkiller. State Highway 10 is closed northeast of its intersection with Highway 51. Many cabins and parks are severely flooded or are totally isolated for an extended duration. This is a very dangerous and life threatening situation. This will exceed the April 2011 flood of 26 feet and approach the May 1950 flood of 27.9 feet.
- 29.0 ft devastating flooding occurs along the Illinois River from near Hanging Rock to the headwaters of Lake Tenkiller. State Highway 10 is closed northeast of its intersection with Highway 51. Many cabins and parks are severely flooded or are totally isolated for an extended duration. This is a very dangerous and life threatening situation. This will approach the record flood of 30.7 feet in December 2015.
- 31.0 ft devastating flooding occurs along the Illinois River from near Hanging Rock to the headwaters of Lake Tenkiller. Impacts will be similar to the record flood of 30.7 feet in December 2015. State Highway 10 is closed northeast of its intersection with Highway 51. Many cabins and parks are severely flooded or are totally isolated for an extended duration. This is a very dangerous and life threatening situation.
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Moderate flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft moderate flooding occurs from Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. Access roads east of the Combs Bridge near Eagles Bluff will be impassable. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
- 15.0 ft moderate flooding occurs from Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. Access roads east of the Combs Bridge near Eagles Bluff are impassable. Some cabins and parks may begin to flood. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
- 17.0 ft severe flooding occurs from Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. Access roads east of Combs Bridge near Eagles Bluff are impassable. Some cabins and parks may be flooded to a depth of a couple of feet. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
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Minor flood 11.0 ft
- 11.0 ft minor flooding occurs from near Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. Floating the river is too hazardous due to strong turbulence.
- 12.0 ft minor flooding occurs from near Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
- 13.0 ft minor flooding occurs from near Hanging Rock downstream towards Tahlequah. Access roads east of the Combs Bridge near Eagles Bluff may be threatened. Extreme turbulence makes the river too hazardous for floating.
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Action 9.0 ft
- 9.0 ft no flooding occurs but all recreational floating along the Illinois River ceases at and above 9.5 feet.
- Right now 5.28 ft
NWS forecast: 5.20 ft by Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Tahlequah
Daily values from USGS gauge 07196500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Tahlequah
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 30.69 ft | 126,000 CFS | Dec 28, 2015 |
| 29.29 ft | 108,000 CFS | Apr 30, 2017 |
| 27.94 ft | 150,000 CFS | May 10, 1950 |
| 27.53 ft | 94,884 CFS | May 6, 2022 |
| 26.00 ft | — | Jan 1, 1916 |
| 25.97 ft | 85,400 CFS | Apr 26, 2011 |
| 25.37 ft | 93,200 CFS | May 11, 1943 |
| 23.60 ft | 68,800 CFS | Apr 15, 1945 |
| 23.02 ft | 66,400 CFS | Jun 9, 1974 |
| 22.54 ft | 56,800 CFS | Oct 1, 1986 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Illinois River at Tahlequah
This gauge measures Illinois River at Tahlequah, Oklahoma — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Largest float economy in Oklahoma; 10+ outfitters.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 256 CFS for late July, from 90 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Illinois River at Tahlequah — common questions
What is the current flow on Illinois River at Tahlequah?
As of the last reading on this page, Illinois River at Tahlequah was running 454 CFS at a gage height of 5.28 ft, or 177% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07196500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 256 CFS, calculated from 90 years of record (1936–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What flow is good for tubing Illinois River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.