Jefferson Creek at South Bethany Beach (IN MLLW)

Highest listed crest 5.71 ftFlood stage 2.6 ft10 crests since 2012

The Jefferson Creek at South Bethany Beach (IN MLLW) crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 10 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2012 to 2026. The highest, 5.71 ft on October 29, 2012, was major flooding, 3.11 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest: 5.71 ft; October 29, 2012
Flood stage: 2.6 ft; Major flooding from 4.6 ft
Crests at major: 1; 12th of 18 gauges in Delaware
Most recent flood crest: October 22, 2026; 3.64 ft, moderate flooding
Location: Sussex County; Delaware
Identifiers: NWS SBED1; USGS 01484696

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Jefferson Creek at South Bethany Beach (IN MLLW)

Flood stage (minor)	2.6	0	—	Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage	3.6	9	Oct 22, 2026	Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage	4.6	1	Oct 29, 2012	Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

10 crests from 2012 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Jefferson Creek at South Bethany Beach (IN MLLW)

1	Oct 29, 2012	5.71	+3.11	Major	—
2	Sep 27, 2026	4.28	+1.68	Moderate	—
3	Oct 29, 2021	4.14	+1.54	Moderate	—
4	Oct 12, 2019	3.94	+1.34	Moderate	—
5	Jan 10, 2024	3.89	+1.29	Moderate	—
6	Oct 30, 2025	3.85	+1.25	Moderate	—
7	Oct 13, 2025	3.82	+1.22	Moderate	—
8	Dec 16, 2022	3.78	+1.18	Moderate	—
9	Oct 22, 2026	3.64	+1.04	Moderate	—
10	Sep 23, 2023	3.63	+1.03	Moderate	—

Other gauges in Sussex County

Flood gauges in Sussex County

Delaware Bay at Lewes (IN MLLW)	6.0	9.26 ft, Jan 23, 2016	8
Rosedale Beach (IN MLLW)	4.5	7.71 ft, Feb 5, 1998	5
Indian River Inlet (IN MLLW)	4.2	7.66 ft, Oct 29, 2012	12
Little Assawoman Bay at Fenwick Island (IN MLLW)	2.5	5.07 ft, Oct 29, 2012	1
Bridgeville	9.5	10.31 ft, Feb 26, 1979	0
Rehoboth Bay at Dewey Beach (IN MLLW)	3.3	7.34 ft, Mar 6, 1962	4

Sussex County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Delaware

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge SBED1, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.