Rivers in Delaware

Murderkill River at Bowers Beach (IN MLLW)

Kent County, DelawareNWS BOWD1USGS 01484085Mount Holly office

Below flood stage
6.47ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 22, 9:18 PM EDT

Flood stage
6.60 ft
Forecast crest
7.80 ftThu, Sep 24, 9:00 PM EDT
Record crest
8.63 ft2018

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood8.60 ft
Moderate flood7.60 ft
Minor flood6.60 ft
  1. 8.63 ft(Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW)) The level reached on September 9, 2018.
  2. 8.60 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.
  3. 7.60 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.
  4. 7.40 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.
  5. 7.20 ft(MLLW) DE Route 9 (Main Street) in Little Creek begins to flood. Flooding begins in Frederica around the Murderkill River and Spring Creek.
  6. 7.00 ft(MLLW) Flooding begins around the Mispillion Light. Flooding begins in Slaughter Beach.
  7. 6.90 ft(MLLW) COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY LEVEL.
  8. 6.80 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.
  9. 6.60 ft(MLLW) MINOR FLOODING.

Crest history

15 crests on NOAA’s list since 2011.

#DateStage
1September 9, 20188.63 ft
2October 29, 20118.10 ft
3October 3, 20158.03 ft
4April 19, 20227.94 ft
5August 21, 20257.90 ft
6October 12, 20257.85 ft
7June 3, 20237.81 ft
8September 23, 20237.80 ft
9October 29, 20127.78 ft
10February 9, 20167.75 ft
11October 27, 20187.75 ft
12September 29, 20167.73 ft
13April 15, 20187.66 ft
14March 6, 20137.65 ft
15June 4, 20127.65 ft

Most recent crests

  • October 12, 2025: 7.85 ft
  • August 21, 2025: 7.90 ft
  • September 23, 2023: 7.80 ft
  • June 3, 2023: 7.81 ft
  • April 19, 2022: 7.94 ft
  • October 27, 2018: 7.75 ft
  • September 9, 2018: 8.63 ft
  • April 15, 2018: 7.66 ft
  • September 29, 2016: 7.73 ft
  • February 9, 2016: 7.75 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <style type="text/css"> .style1 {background-color: #FFFF00;} </style> </head> Please refer to our <a href="http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&amp;issuedby=PHI&amp;product=CFW&amp;format=CI&amp;version=1&amp;glossary=0"> <span class="style1">Coastal Hazard Message</span></a> for specific information regarding Coastal Flood Watches, Warnings and Advisories. Flood impacts are based on long-term averages. Actual impacts from any tidal flooding event may vary due to factors such as rainfall, wave action, and the number of tide cycles during which there is an onshore flow. During tropical cyclones, please refer <span class="style1"> <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&amp;issuedby=PHI&amp;product=TCV&amp;format=CI&amp;version=1&amp;glossary=1">here</a></span> for additional storm surge information. <style type="text/css">.style1 { background-color: #FFFF00;}</style> During a Tropical Storm or Hurricane Watch or Warning, inundation mapping provided by the <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/"><span class="style1">National Hurricane Center</span> </a>reflects a reasonable worst case scenario. The experimental forecast above is the total water forecast that is expected to occur.

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.