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Delaware River at Frenchtown

Highest listed crest 27.79 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft15 crests since 1903

The Delaware River at Frenchtown crested at major flood stage 7 times among the 15 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1903 to 2021. The highest, 27.79 ft on August 20, 1955, was major flooding, 11.79 feet above flood stage. 12 other gauges on the Delaware River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 8 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
27.79 ft
August 20, 1955
Flood stage
16.0 ft
Major flooding from 20.0 ft
Crests at major
7
16th of 125 gauges in New Jersey
Most recent flood crest
September 2, 2021
16.60 ft, minor flooding
Location
Hunterdon County
Near Phillipsburg (12.9 mi), Easton (13.7 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Delaware River at Frenchtown
Action stage14.01Jun 30, 1973The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.04Sep 2, 2021Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage18.02Sep 9, 2011Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage20.07Jun 29, 2006Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

15 crests from 1903 to 2021. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Delaware River at Frenchtown, 1903 to 2021 1015202530ft Flood stage 16.0 ftMajor 20.0 ft Oct 10, 1903: 24.40 ft, major floodingMar 13, 1936: 21.70 ft, major floodingMar 19, 1936: 21.93 ft, major floodingMay 24, 1942: 18.60 ft, moderate floodingDec 12, 1952: 17.24 ft, minor floodingAug 20, 1955: 27.79 ft, major floodingJun 30, 1973: 15.75 ft, action stageSep 19, 2004: 20.70 ft, major floodingApr 4, 2005: 23.60 ft, major floodingJun 29, 2006: 23.40 ft, major floodingOct 2, 2010: 13.95 ft, below flood stageMar 12, 2011: 17.21 ft, minor floodingAug 29, 2011: 16.68 ft, minor floodingSep 9, 2011: 19.02 ft, moderate floodingSep 2, 2021: 16.60 ft, minor flooding Highest, 27.79 ft, Aug 20, 1955 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Delaware River at Frenchtown 1900s: 1 1910s: 0 1920s: 0 1930s: 2 1940s: 1 1950s: 2 1960s: 0 1970s: 0 1980s: 0 1990s: 0 2000s: 3 3 2010s: 3 2020s: 1 1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Delaware River at Frenchtown
1Aug 20, 195527.79+11.79Major—
2Oct 10, 190324.40+8.40Major—
3Apr 4, 200523.60+7.60Major—
4Jun 29, 200623.40+7.40Major—
5Mar 19, 193621.93+5.93Major—
6Mar 13, 193621.70+5.70Major—
7Sep 19, 200420.70+4.70Major—
8Sep 9, 201119.02+3.02Moderate—
9May 24, 194218.60+2.60Moderate—
10Dec 12, 195217.24+1.24Minor—
11Mar 12, 201117.21+1.21Minor—
12Aug 29, 201116.68+0.68Minor—
13Sep 2, 202116.60+0.60Minor—
14Jun 30, 197315.75−0.25Action—
15Oct 2, 201013.95−2.05Below flood stage—

The worst floods along the Delaware River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Delaware River that crested above flood stage within a week.

August 20, 1955: 27.79 ft here, major flooding

  • EastonPA · Aug 19, 1955 · 44.40 ft · Major · its highest
  • RiegelsvilleNJ · Aug 20, 1955 · 38.85 ft · Major · its highest
  • Tocks IslandNJ · Aug 19, 1955 · 37.40 ft · Major · its highest
  • MontaguePA · Aug 19, 1955 · 35.15 ft · Major · its highest
  • StocktonPA · Aug 20, 1955 · 30.44 ft · Major · its highest
  • BelvidereNJ · Aug 19, 1955 · 30.21 ft · Major · its highest
  • TrentonNJ · Aug 20, 1955 · 28.60 ft · Major
  • Washington CrossingPA · Aug 20, 1955 · 27.77 ft · Major · its highest
  • BarryvilleNY · Aug 19, 1955 · 26.40 ft · Major
  • New Hope-Lambertville BridgePA · Aug 20, 1955 · 24.16 ft · Major · its highest

October 10, 1903: 24.40 ft here, major flooding

April 4, 2005: 23.60 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the Delaware River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Delaware River
BarryvilleNY17.028.97 ft, Jun 28, 20062
BelvidereNJ22.030.21 ft, Aug 19, 19555
Bridesburg (IN MLLW)PA8.510.99 ft, Jan 10, 20242
Burlington (IN MLLW)PA9.311.99 ft, Jan 10, 20247
CallicoonPA12.020.38 ft, Jun 28, 20065
Delaware City (IN MLLW)DE7.59.73 ft, Oct 30, 20122
EastonPA22.044.40 ft, Aug 19, 19557
Frenchtown this gaugeNJ16.027.79 ft, Aug 20, 19557
LordvillePA20.028.87 ft, Jun 28, 20061
Marcus Hook (IN MLLW)PA7.710.14 ft, Oct 30, 20124
Matamoras/Port JervisPA18.026.60 ft, Feb 12, 19814
MontaguePA25.035.15 ft, Aug 19, 19554
New Hope-Lambertville BridgePA13.024.16 ft, Aug 20, 19558
Newbold Island (IN MLLW)PA10.213.22 ft, Sep 1, 20217
RiegelsvilleNJ22.038.85 ft, Aug 20, 19556
StocktonPA18.030.44 ft, Aug 20, 19555
Tocks IslandNJ21.037.40 ft, Aug 19, 19555
TrentonNJ20.030.60 ft, Mar 8, 19045
USCG Station Washington Street (IN MLLW)PA8.210.66 ft, Jan 10, 20246
Washington CrossingPA16.027.77 ft, Aug 20, 19554

Other gauges in Hunterdon County

Flood gauges in Hunterdon County
Clinton5.57.41 ft, Sep 20, 19890
Reaville6.519.47 ft, Sep 2, 20210
High Bridge10.014.26 ft, Jan 28, 19941
Stanton8.015.22 ft, Aug 19, 195513
Clinton4.05.35 ft, Sep 2, 20210
Glen Gardner7.09.27 ft, Sep 16, 19990

Hunterdon County: every hazard · River floods across the country · New Jersey

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge FREN4, 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.