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SwedenEast Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown water level
River gauge, East Branch Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvania, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 72.8 cfs
- Water temperature
- 59 °F
History
What this means
East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown is at 3.12 ft, in the normal range.
It is 3.88 ft below the flood stage of 7.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.12 ft and 3.36 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 59 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 19.11 ftSeptember 2, 2021
Floating and fishing near East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 7.00 ft, 3.88 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 13.00 ft
- Route 30 in Downingtown is closed due to flooding. Route 322 (Brandywine Avenue) is closed between Business 30 and Boot Road due to flooding. Businesses along business Route 30, between the creek and Downing Avenue, take on water.
- 12.00 ft
- Residential basements flood along Jefferson Avenue.
- 11.00 ft
- Jefferson Avenue in Downingtown floods. Business Route 30 and Pennsylvania Avenue also flood.
- 9.00 ft
- High water on the Brandywine sends backwater up Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek floods inundating parks and the Downingtown Little League fields.
- 8.00 ft
- Dowlin Forge Road begins to flood.
- 6.00 ft
- Open adjacent land next to the creek floods.
- 3.12 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.11 ft | September 2, 2021 |
| 2 | 14.79 ft | September 16, 1999 |
| 3 | 14.38 ft | June 28, 2006 |
| 4 | 13.73 ft | August 28, 2011 |
| 5 | 13.59 ft | August 4, 2020 |
| 6 | 13.56 ft | September 15, 2003 |
| 7 | 13.50 ft | May 1, 2014 |
| 8 | 13.22 ft | June 20, 2003 |
| 9 | 13.00 ft | October 1, 2010 |
| 10 | 12.83 ft | September 28, 2004 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on East Branch Brandywine Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Branch Brandywine Creek near DowningtownRiver gauge, East Branch Brandywine Creek | 48.7 cfs | Normal | −2.7 cfs | 4.9 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marsh Creek near DowningtownRiver gauge, Marsh Creek | 17.0 cfs | Normal | −0.9 cfs | 6 mi |
| West Branch Brandywine Creek at ModenaRiver gauge, West Branch Brandywine Creek | 2.92 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 7 mi |
| Brandywine Creek at Chadds FordRiver gauge, Brandywine Creek | 1.94 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 8 mi |
| West Branch Brandywine Creek at CoatesvilleRiver gauge, West Branch Brandywine Creek | 3.55 ft | Below flood stage | −0.10 ft | 8 mi |
| Buck Run at Doe RunRiver gauge, Buck Run | 16.3 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 8 mi |
| EB White Clay Creek Tributary near London GroveRiver gauge, EB White Clay Creek Tributary | 2.4 cfs | Normal | −0.2 cfs | 10 mi |
| Marsh Creek near GlenmooreRiver gauge, Marsh Creek | 4.4 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 10 mi |
| Birch Run near WagontownRiver gauge, Birch Run | 2.3 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 10 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown?
The official flood stage is 7.00 ft. The level is currently 3.88 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 02:45 PM EDT, the water level was 3.12 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.24 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown?
The highest level on record is 19.11 ft on September 2, 2021.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:01480870(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.96872, -75.67327(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NGVD29
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 3.12 ft | 2026-10-20 18:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 72.8 cfs | 2026-10-20 18:45 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 59 °F | 2026-10-20 18:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: East Branch Brandywine Creek below Downingtown (usgs:01480870). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/pennsylvania/east-branch-brandywine-creek-below-downingtown
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer