Alert archive / Pennsylvania / River Flood Warnings in 2025

River Flood Warning 2, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

May 16, 2025Chester County, Pennsylvania

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this river flood warning at May 16, 2025, 2:02 PM EDT for Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was in force for 5 hr.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 16, 2025, 2:02 PM EDT (18:02 UTC)
Expired: May 16, 2025, 7:06 PM EDT
In force: 5 hr
Issued by: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: Minor

County Chester County, PA

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:05 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The river

Written for the forecast point East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown (DWNP1). The gauge peaked at 7.75 ft at May 16, 2025, 4:00 PM EDT.

Action stage: 6 ft
Minor stage: 7 ft
Moderate stage: 9 ft
Major stage: 11 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 01480870, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.

The text

As transmitted.

488 
WGUS41 KPHI 161802
FLWPHI

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
202 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a Flood 
Warning for the following rivers in Pennsylvania...

  East Branch Brandywine Creek Below Downingtown affecting Chester 
  County.

For the Brandywine Creek...including Downingtown...Minor flooding is 
forecast.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around...don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most 
flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/phi.

The next statement will be issued this evening at 915 PM EDT.

&&

PAC029-170115-
/O.NEW.KPHI.FL.W.0002.250516T1802Z-250517T0108Z/
/DWNP1.1.ER.250516T1759Z.250516T1900Z.250516T1907Z.NO/
202 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON TO LATE THIS 
EVENING...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast.

* WHERE...East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown.

* WHEN...From this afternoon to late this evening.

* IMPACTS...At 6.0 feet, Open adjacent land next to the creek floods.
  At 8.0 feet, Dowlin Forge Road begins to flood.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - At 1:45 PM EDT Friday the stage was 6.7 feet.
  - Forecast...The river will rise above flood stage to 7.1 feet
    late this afternoon. Water levels will decrease tonight.
  - Flood stage is 7.0 feet.
  - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of
    7.2 feet on 03/01/2021.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

&&

  Fld   Observed           Forecasts (2 pm EDT)
Location                    Stg   Stg   Day/Time     Sat   Sun   Mon

East Branch Brandywine Creek
Downingtown                 7.0   6.7   Fri 1 pm EDT 3.5   MSG   MSG


&&

LAT...LON 4002 7567 3993 7561 3991 7567 4001 7574


$$

Kruzdlo

3 follow-up statements

687 
WGUS81 KPHI 161859
FLSPHI

Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
259 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in 
Pennsylvania...

  East Branch Brandywine Creek Below Downingtown affecting Chester 
  County.

For the Brandywine Creek...including Downingtown...Minor flooding is 
forecast.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around...don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most 
flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/phi.

The next statement will be issued this evening at 915 PM EDT.

&&

PAC029-170115-
/O.CON.KPHI.FL.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250517T0108Z/
/DWNP1.1.ER.250516T1759Z.250516T1900Z.250516T2057Z.NO/
259 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL LATE THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring.

* WHERE...East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown.

* WHEN...Until late this evening.

* IMPACTS...At 6.0 feet, Open adjacent land next to the creek floods.
  At 8.0 feet, Dowlin Forge Road begins to flood.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - At 2:45 PM EDT Friday the stage was 7.4 feet.
  - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours
    ending at 2:45 PM EDT Friday was 7.4 feet.
  - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 7.5
    feet late this afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage
    late this afternoon or this evening.
  - Flood stage is 7.0 feet.
  - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of
    7.2 feet on 03/01/2021.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

&&

  Fld   Observed           Forecasts (3 pm EDT)
Location                    Stg   Stg   Day/Time     Sat   Sun   Mon

East Branch Brandywine Creek
Downingtown                 7.0   7.4   Fri 2 pm EDT 3.4   MSG   MSG


&&

LAT...LON 4002 7567 3993 7561 3991 7567 4001 7574


$$

Kruzdlo

976 
WGUS81 KPHI 162039
FLSPHI

Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
439 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in 
Pennsylvania...

  East Branch Brandywine Creek Below Downingtown affecting Chester 
  County.

For the Brandywine Creek...including Downingtown...Minor flooding is 
forecast.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around...don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most 
flood deaths occur in vehicles.

Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/phi.

The next statement will be issued this evening at 915 PM EDT.

&&

PAC029-170115-
/O.CON.KPHI.FL.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250517T0108Z/
/DWNP1.1.ER.250516T1759Z.250516T2100Z.250516T2318Z.NO/
439 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL LATE THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring.

* WHERE...East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown.

* WHEN...Until late this evening.

* IMPACTS...At 6.0 feet, Open adjacent land next to the creek floods.
  At 8.0 feet, Dowlin Forge Road begins to flood.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - At 3:45 PM EDT Friday the stage was 7.7 feet.
  - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours
    ending at 3:45 PM EDT Friday was 7.7 feet.
  - Forecast...The river will oscillate above flood stage with a
    maximum value of 7.8 feet late this afternoon. It will fall
    below flood stage this evening.
  - Flood stage is 7.0 feet.
  - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of
    7.9 feet on 08/19/2021.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

&&

  Fld   Observed           Forecasts (5 pm EDT)
Location                    Stg   Stg   Day/Time     Sat   Sun   Mon

East Branch Brandywine Creek
Downingtown                 7.0   7.7   Fri 3 pm EDT 3.4   MSG   MSG


&&

LAT...LON 4002 7567 3993 7561 3991 7567 4001 7574


$$

Kruzdlo

398 
WGUS81 KPHI 162306
FLSPHI

Flood Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
706 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...The Flood Warning is cancelled for the following rivers in 
Pennsylvania...

  East Branch Brandywine Creek Below Downingtown affecting Chester 
  County.

PAC029-170015-
/O.CAN.KPHI.FL.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250516T2306Z/
/DWNP1.1.ER.250516T1759Z.250516T2015Z.250516T2150Z.NO/
706 PM EDT Fri May 16 2025

...FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The Flood Warning is cancelled for
  the East Branch Brandywine Creek Below Downingtown.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - At 6:45 PM EDT Friday the stage was 6.1 feet.
  - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 6.7
    feet tomorrow morning.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

&&

  Fld   Observed           Forecasts (7 pm EDT)
Location                    Stg   Stg   Day/Time     Sat   Sun   Mon

East Branch Brandywine Creek
Downingtown                 7.0   6.1   Fri 6 pm EDT 6.3   MSG   MSG


&&

LAT...LON 4002 7567 3993 7561 3991 7567 4001 7574


$$

MJL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 15, 9:34 PM EDT	Dense Fog Advisory	PHI	Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh and 4 more	12 hr
May 16, 10:24 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Lehigh, Monroe and 2 more	66 min
May 16, 11:16 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia	59 min
May 16, 11:22 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia	53 min
May 16, 11:32 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	PHI	Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia	4 hr
May 16, 11:41 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	PHI	Chester, Delaware	4 hr
May 16, 12:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Delaware, Philadelphia	40 min
May 16, 12:21 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	PHI	Bucks, Montgomery	4 hr
May 16, 3:29 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Berks	6 hr
May 16, 3:53 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Montgomery	100 min
May 16, 4:42 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Montgomery, Philadelphia	4 hr
May 16, 5:15 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Bucks	112 min
May 16, 6:43 PM EDT	Areal Flood Warning	PHI	Philadelphia	113 min

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in Pennsylvania, 2025 Every river flood warning in 2025

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.