Creek Gauge Stage Lookup for Chester County
When the National Weather Service forecasts a crest for the Brandywine, the number alone does not tell you much. Pick a gauge, enter the forecast or current stage in feet, and this lookup shows the flood category, the NWS's own description of what floods at that level, and how it compares with the record crests.
Your result appears here after you answer the questions and press the button.
This tool gives planning ranges only. It is an estimate, not a quote or inspection. A local provider who reviews the property sets the actual scope and price. Nothing you enter here is saved or sent; only the request form sends information.
Want a provider to look at it? Call or send a short request, and a local provider may contact you.
The gauges included
- East Branch Brandywine below Downingtown (DWNP1). Minor flooding begins at 7 feet, moderate at 9 and major at 11. The NWS lists residential basements flooding along Jefferson Avenue at 12 feet.
- Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford (CDFP1). Minor at 9, moderate at 11, major at 13. At 13 feet the NWS says residential evacuations begin and Routes 1 and 100 close.
- West Branch Brandywine at Coatesville (COTP1). Minor at 7, moderate at 9, major at 11. The NWS has not published street-level impact statements for this gauge, so the lookup shows categories and records only.
- West Branch Brandywine at Modena (MODP1), downstream of Coatesville. Minor at 9, moderate at 10, major at 12.
- Valley Creek near Valley Forge (VFGP1), which drains part of the Chester Valley. Minor at 10, moderate at 12, major at 16.
- Schuylkill River at Pottstown (PTNP1), upstream of Phoenixville. The NWS notes Route 724 flooding in North Coventry Township, Chester County, beginning around 12.5 feet.
How to use a forecast
The NWS issues river forecasts for these gauges during significant rain. Open the live gauge page, read the forecast crest and time, and enter the crest here. The lookup tells you which category that crest falls in and lists every impact the NWS describes at or below that height. That is the information to act on: moving cars, lifting basement contents, or leaving before roads close.
Records worth knowing
The remnants of Ida in September 2021 set the record at several of these gauges. NWS crest history lists 19.11 feet below Downingtown and 21.04 feet at Chadds Ford, both well above the previous records from Floyd in 1999. At Coatesville, the record still belongs to the flood of August 9, 1942, at 12.3 feet. Valley Creek's record is also from Ida, at 16.44 feet. The lookup shows how your entered stage compares with each gauge's top crests.
What this tool is not
It is not a forecast and it does not know your street's elevation. Impact statements describe typical effects near the gauge. The data on this page is a dated snapshot; the live NWS gauge page is the source of record. For flood zones, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
If water has already entered your home, call (484) 275-9544 or send the request form when it is safe. A qualified local provider may contact you to plan pump-out after the crest passes.
FAQ
Where do I find the forecast crest?
On the live NWS gauge page linked in each result, when a forecast is issued.
Why does Coatesville show no impacts?
The NWS has flood categories and crest history for that gauge but has not published impact statements.
What does "action stage" mean?
It is the level where the NWS and local officials begin to prepare. Flooding of property usually starts at minor stage.
Is my house safe below minor stage?
Not necessarily. Small streams, storm drains and groundwater can flood basements regardless of the creek gauge.
Sources
- NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service gauge pages and API (flood categories, impact statements, historic crests), snapshot Nov 15, 2026: https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/dwnp1, /cdfp1, /cotp1, /modp1, /vfgp1, /ptnp1
- USGS peak-flow file, West Branch Brandywine Creek at Coatesville (01480500), and USGS water-data report note on the Aug. 9, 1942 flood. https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/peak?site_no=01480500
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center. https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home
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