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Elizabeth River at the Midtown Tunnel (in MLLW)

Highest listed crest 6.73 ftFlood stage 5.0 ft26 crests since 2020

The Elizabeth River at the Midtown Tunnel (in MLLW) crested above flood stage 26 times among the 26 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2020 to 2026. The highest, 6.73 ft on January 3, 2022, was moderate flooding, 1.73 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Elizabeth River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
6.73 ft
January 3, 2022
Flood stage
5.0 ft
Major flooding from 7.0 ft
Crests at major
0
26 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
September 25, 2026
6.40 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Norfolk city
Near Portsmouth (2.6 mi), Norfolk (5.5 mi), Chesapeake (12.6 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Elizabeth River at the Midtown Tunnel (in MLLW)
Action stage4.50—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)5.023Oct 28, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage6.03Sep 25, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage7.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

26 crests from 2020 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Elizabeth River at the Midtown Tunnel (in MLLW), 2020 to 2026 55.566.57ft Flood stage 5.0 ftMajor 7.0 ft May 31, 2020: 5.43 ft, minor floodingAug 16, 2020: 5.05 ft, minor floodingSep 21, 2020: 5.57 ft, minor floodingOct 17, 2020: 5.09 ft, minor floodingMar 19, 2021: 5.09 ft, minor floodingMay 30, 2021: 5.88 ft, minor floodingOct 11, 2021: 5.57 ft, minor floodingNov 7, 2021: 5.78 ft, minor floodingJan 3, 2022: 6.73 ft, moderate floodingMay 10, 2022: 5.93 ft, minor floodingSep 9, 2022: 5.35 ft, minor floodingSep 30, 2022: 5.87 ft, minor floodingJun 4, 2023: 5.06 ft, minor floodingJun 21, 2023: 5.09 ft, minor floodingAug 31, 2023: 5.57 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 2024: 5.25 ft, minor floodingMay 11, 2024: 5.47 ft, minor floodingSep 22, 2024: 5.48 ft, minor floodingOct 1, 2024: 5.05 ft, minor floodingNov 15, 2024: 5.82 ft, minor floodingAug 22, 2025: 5.85 ft, minor floodingSep 10, 2025: 5.28 ft, minor floodingSep 16, 2025: 5.98 ft, minor floodingOct 12, 2025: 6.50 ft, moderate floodingOct 28, 2025: 5.63 ft, minor floodingSep 25, 2026: 6.40 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 6.73 ft, Jan 3, 2022 202020252030
  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, Elizabeth River at the Midtown Tunnel (in MLLW)
1Jan 3, 20226.73+1.73Moderate—
2Oct 12, 20256.50+1.50Moderate—
3Sep 25, 20266.40+1.40Moderate—
4Sep 16, 20255.98+0.98Minor—
5May 10, 20225.93+0.93Minor—
6May 30, 20215.88+0.88Minor—
7Sep 30, 20225.87+0.87Minor—
8Aug 22, 20255.85+0.85Minor—
9Nov 15, 20245.82+0.82Minor—
10Nov 7, 20215.78+0.78Minor—
11Oct 28, 20255.63+0.63Minor—
12Sep 21, 20205.57+0.57Minor—
13Oct 11, 20215.57+0.57Minor—
14Aug 31, 20235.57+0.57Minor—
15Sep 22, 20245.48+0.48Minor—
16May 11, 20245.47+0.47Minor—
17May 31, 20205.43+0.43Minor—
18Sep 9, 20225.35+0.35Minor—
19Sep 10, 20255.28+0.28Minor—
20Mar 10, 20245.25+0.25Minor—
21Oct 17, 20205.09+0.09Minor—
22Mar 19, 20215.09+0.09Minor—
23Jun 21, 20235.09+0.09Minor—
24Jun 4, 20235.06+0.06Minor—
25Aug 16, 20205.05+0.05Minor—
26Oct 1, 20245.05+0.05Minor—

The worst floods along the Elizabeth River

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

January 3, 2022: 6.73 ft here, moderate flooding

October 12, 2025: 6.50 ft here, moderate flooding

September 25, 2026: 6.40 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Elizabeth River

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

Flood gauges on the Elizabeth River
Bailey Creek near Chesapeake VA (IN MLLW)VA5.56.76 ft, Oct 12, 20250
Route 165 in Virginia BeachVA4.56.45 ft, Oct 9, 20160
Scuffeltown Creek (IN MLLW)VA5.06.54 ft, Oct 12, 20250
The Hague at Pedestrian BridgeVA4.56.87 ft, Oct 4, 20151
the Midtown Tunnel (in MLLW) this gaugeVA5.06.73 ft, Jan 3, 20220
Money Point (IN MLLW)VA5.08.60 ft, Nov 12, 20098
Pinehurst in Portsmouth (IN MLLW)VA5.06.85 ft, Oct 4, 20150

Other gauges in Norfolk city

Flood gauges in Norfolk city
Grandy Village (IN MLLW)5.06.57 ft, Oct 12, 20250
The Hague at Pedestrian Bridge4.56.87 ft, Oct 4, 20151
Sewell's Point (IN MLLW)4.58.02 ft, Aug 23, 193311
North Colley (IN MLLW)4.06.47 ft, Oct 12, 20252
East Beach Marina (IN MLLW)4.57.69 ft, Sep 18, 20032

Norfolk city: every hazard · River floods across the country · Virginia

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge EZMV2, 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.