Murderkill River at Bowers Beach, DE

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 4:44 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 8.63 ft(Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW)) The level reached on September 9, 2018.
• 8.6 ft(MLLW) MAJOR FLOODING. At this level, flooding starts to become severe enough to begin causing structural damage along with widespread flooding of roadways near the bay in Kent County and in far northern Sussex County. Vulnerable homes and businesses may be severely damaged as water levels rise further above this threshold. Numerous roads become impassable and some neighborhoods may be isolated. The flood waters become a danger to anyone who attempts to cross on foot or in a vehicle.
• 7.6 ft(MLLW) MODERATE FLOODING. At this level, widespread flooding of roadways begins with many roads becoming impassable near the bay in Kent County and in far northern Sussex County. Lives may be at risk when people put themselves in harm's way. Some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur. COASTAL FLOOD WARNING LEVEL.
• 7.4 ft(MLLW) DE Route 9 in Leipsic begins to flood in the vicinity of the Leipsic River. Flooding begins in Milford along the Mispillion River.
• 7.2 ft(MLLW) DE Route 9 (Main Street) in Little Creek begins to flood. Flooding begins in Frederica around the Murderkill River and Spring Creek.
• 7 ft(MLLW) Flooding begins around the Mispillion Light. Flooding begins in Slaughter Beach.
• 6.9 ft(MLLW) COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY LEVEL.
• 6.8 ft(MLLW) DE Route 6 into Woodland Beach, Kent County Route 89 into Port Mahon and Kent County Route 349 into Pickering Beach begin to flood. Flooding begins along Kent County Route 68 in Kitts Hummock, along Kent County Route 107 near Barkers Landing and along Kent County Route 18 into Bowers Beach. Kent County Route 121 into Webb Landing and South Bowers, and Kent County Route 124 into Big Stone Beach begin to flood.
• 6.6 ft(MLLW) MINOR FLOODING.

Highest crests on record

1. 8.63 ft — September 9, 2018
2. 8.1 ft — October 29, 2011
3. 8.04 ft — September 26, 2026
4. 8.03 ft — October 3, 2015
5. 7.94 ft — April 19, 2022

Recent crests: 8.04 ft (September 26, 2026) · 7.85 ft (October 12, 2025) · 7.9 ft (August 21, 2025) · 7.8 ft (September 23, 2023) · 7.81 ft (June 3, 2023)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• St. Jones River at Dover, DE
• Nanticoke River at Bridgeville, DE
• Unicorn Branch near Millington, MD
• Cohansey River at Seeley, NJ
• Maurice River at Norma, NJ
• Tuckahoe River at Tuckahoe, NJ
• Salem River at Woodstown, NJ
• Christina River at Coochs Bridge, DE