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Murderkill River at Bowers Beach (IN MLLW)

Highest listed crest 8.63 ftFlood stage 6.6 ft16 crests since 2011

The Murderkill River at Bowers Beach (IN MLLW) crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 16 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2011 to 2026. The highest, 8.63 ft on September 9, 2018, was major flooding, 2.03 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
8.63 ft
September 9, 2018
Flood stage
6.6 ft
Major flooding from 8.6 ft
Crests at major
1
12th of 18 gauges in Delaware
Most recent flood crest
September 26, 2026
8.04 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Kent County
Near Dover (9.7 mi), Milford (10.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Murderkill River at Bowers Beach (IN MLLW)
Flood stage (minor)6.60—Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage7.615Sep 26, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage8.61Sep 9, 2018Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

16 crests from 2011 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Murderkill River at Bowers Beach (IN MLLW), 2011 to 2026 6.577.588.59ft Flood stage 6.6 ftMajor 8.6 ft Oct 29, 2011: 8.10 ft, moderate floodingJun 4, 2012: 7.65 ft, moderate floodingOct 29, 2012: 7.78 ft, moderate floodingMar 6, 2013: 7.65 ft, moderate floodingOct 3, 2015: 8.03 ft, moderate floodingFeb 9, 2016: 7.75 ft, moderate floodingSep 29, 2016: 7.73 ft, moderate floodingApr 15, 2018: 7.66 ft, moderate floodingSep 9, 2018: 8.63 ft, major floodingOct 27, 2018: 7.75 ft, moderate floodingApr 19, 2022: 7.94 ft, moderate floodingJun 3, 2023: 7.81 ft, moderate floodingSep 23, 2023: 7.80 ft, moderate floodingAug 21, 2025: 7.90 ft, moderate floodingOct 12, 2025: 7.85 ft, moderate floodingSep 26, 2026: 8.04 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 8.63 ft, Sep 9, 2018 201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Murderkill River at Bowers Beach (IN MLLW) 2010s: 10 10 2020s: 6 2010s2020s
  1. 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.
  2. 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, Murderkill River at Bowers Beach (IN MLLW)
1Sep 9, 20188.63+2.03Major—
2Oct 29, 20118.10+1.50Moderate—
3Sep 26, 20268.04+1.44Moderate—
4Oct 3, 20158.03+1.43Moderate—
5Apr 19, 20227.94+1.34Moderate—
6Aug 21, 20257.90+1.30Moderate—
7Oct 12, 20257.85+1.25Moderate—
8Jun 3, 20237.81+1.21Moderate—
9Sep 23, 20237.80+1.20Moderate—
10Oct 29, 20127.78+1.18Moderate—
11Feb 9, 20167.75+1.15Moderate—
12Oct 27, 20187.75+1.15Moderate—
13Sep 29, 20167.73+1.13Moderate—
14Apr 15, 20187.66+1.06Moderate—
15Jun 4, 20127.65+1.05Moderate—
16Mar 6, 20137.65+1.05Moderate—

Other gauges in Kent County

Flood gauges in Kent County
Dover6.511.72 ft, Aug 28, 20111

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BOWD1, 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.