The most recent severe flooding
occurred on June 20th and 21st 2003, when the river
reached just under 13 feet. At this level, Route 1
was closed in both directions by the State Police.
You could drive through the Route 1 and 100 intersection
in about 1 foot of water. Route 100 North was
totally impassable, as was 100 South behind Wawa.
Around 11 feet Route 1 open on the Northbound side and
traffic was allowed through single file in both
directions.
During the 2003 - 2004 school
year, school was cancelled quite a few times due to high
water. The highest water was actually in the Kennett
area when the Red Clay Creek overflowed, putting the
Kennett YMCA under several feet of water.
On September 16, 1999 the
river crested at 17.15 feet. Water was several feet
deep INSIDE Leader Sunoco, panels of their garage doors
caved in. The newspaper boxes by Hank's Place
floated two blocks up Route 100 by the Route 100 South
entrance. Many cars parked in the area were
submerged. This level was a "once in 50 years"
level.
Driving - Parking Info: If Route 1 is closed at 202,
you MIGHT be able to get here (or close) by driving North
on 202 to Oakland Road (by Wawa). Take Oakland to
Webb, then Webb to Route 1. If you can't drive
through the Route 1 / Route 100 intersection, park on high
ground and walk from the Brandywine River Hotel to the
Christian Sanderson Museum on a walkway, which comes out
on Route 100. If you want to park at the hotel,
please get permission from them.
Here are some helpful links:
National Weather Service Report Selection Page - if you want more detail than appears below
If you click on River at a
Glance, then check Chadds Ford and ALL,
you will get a report including FORECASTED levels for the
river (forecast is only during flood warning periods).
