Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford, PA
River level and flood forecast · Delaware County
Normal3.8 ftas of Mon 3:30 PM
The river is 5.2 ft below flood stage (9 ft).
Forecast to fall to 2.1 ft by Thu, Oct 15, 2 PM.
Flow: 1,150 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 3:02 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 13 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 11 ft |
| Flood stage | 9 ft |
| Action stage | 8 ft |
| Record crest (September 2, 2021) | 21.04 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 14 ftBusinesses along Route 1 and Creek Road take on water.
- 13 ftResidential evacuations begin at this stage. Route 1 and Route 100 are closed. Fairville Road is also closed.
- 12 ftBusinesses upstream of the gage begin to flood.
- 11.8 ftBrandywine River Museum begins to take on water. Route 1 also takes on water.
- 10 ftThe intersections of Creek Road and Route 926 near Pocopson floods upstream of Chadds Ford.
- 8 ftOpen adjacent land next to the creek floods.
Highest crests on record
- 21.04 ft — September 2, 2021
- 17.15 ft — September 17, 1999
- 16.56 ft — June 22, 1972
- 16.05 ft — May 1, 2014
- 15.23 ft — August 28, 2011
Recent crests: 12.84 ft (January 10, 2024) · 10.25 ft (December 28, 2023) · 12.18 ft (December 18, 2023) · 21.04 ft (September 2, 2021) · 11.81 ft (June 9, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- Red Clay Creek at Kennett Square, PA
- East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown, PA
- Chester Creek near Chester, PA
- White Clay Creek at Strickersville, PA
- West Branch Brandywine Creek at Modena, PA
- West Branch Brandywine Creek at Coatesville, PA
- Valley Creek at PA Turnpike Bridge near Valley Forge, PA
- Darby Creek at 84th Street Bridge at Eastwick, PA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (CDFP1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.