Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, creeks and streams reach flood stage after heavy rain
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Schuylkill and Delaware rivers and the Neshaminy, Perkiomen and Rancocas creeks are among the bodies of water in our area near or above flood stage Wednesday, after a storm brought heavy rain and toppled trees and power lines across the Philadelphia region.
After rain fell in heavy amounts Tuesday night, water has now drained into the rivers and streams.
Early Wednesday morning, we've already seen flooding along Kelly Drive.
Check out this tool from the National Water Prediction Service to see what bodies of water near you are experiencing flooding. Spots marked in red are "moderate" flooding. Minor flooding is expected in other locations. Major flooding is noted in purple.
The hydrographs that come up on the map linked above also include when the flood stage will recede.
The Schuylkill is forecast to reach moderate flood stage above 12 feet near Boathouse Row later on Wednesday, above previous forecasts of about 11 and a half feet, according to an online tool from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Main Street in Manayunk has previously flooded when the Schuylkill reached 12 feet.
Based on the river gauge forecast, it's supposed to be at its peak around 7 a.m. But the river will stay at roughly that level through midafternoon. It doesn't peak and then drop quickly like smaller streams do, CBS Philadelphia Meteorologist Kate Bilo says.
Farther upriver in Norristown, the Schuylkill was forecast to reach the moderate flood stage at 18 feet - close to the level for "major" flooding at 19 feet.
The Delaware River is a tidal river, meaning it ebbs and flows in conjunction with the Atlantic Ocean. High tides are around 12:30 p.m. and midnight.
Preliminary data from the U.S. Coast Guard station at Washington Avenue show the river crested at 10.6 feet at high tide after midnight Wednesday, which would be a record high. The river is currently forecasted to reach 9.4 feet at the next high tide Wednesday afternoon.
Latest on coastal flood warnings, watches in Pa., NJ, Del.
Flood watches and large-scale flood warnings have been canceled across the region. But there are flood warnings still in place Wednesday for several areas along streams, rivers and creeks that experienced flooding overnight.
A coastal flood warning is still in place for areas along the Delaware River for its high tide this afternoon.
Neshaminy, Rancocas, Perkiomen, Darby creeks reach flood stage
Outside the city, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned residents near the Rancocas Creek in New Jersey and Neshaminy Creek in Pennsylvania that the bodies of water could reach flood stage Wednesday.
"Definitely some roadway impacts, could be impacting some homes, in some cases it might be basement flooding or something like that," Robert Shedd of NOAA told CBS News Philadelphia.
The Neshaminy Creek crested at 13.8 feet near Langhorne, inches away from the "major" flooding mark of 14 feet, according to the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, a National Weather Service tool. The creek's flood stage is at nine feet there.
PHOTOS: Flooding along the Neshaminy Creek
Farther north in Penns Park, the creek crested at 18 feet, considered "major" flooding - five feet above flood stage at this part of the creek.
The Perkiomen Creek crested at 13 and a half feet on Wednesday, which would be considered moderate flooding and over two feet above the flood stage of 11 feet.
Out in Delaware County, rain led to flooded roads around the Darby Creek.
The Brandywine Creek in Chester County reached 12.8 feet near Chadds Ford, well above the flood stage of nine feet and near the "major" flooding stage of 13 feet. The view from Chopper 3 showed significant flooding at the Chadds Ford Historical Society and the former Hank's Place location on Creek Road.
The restaurant was demolished in December after sustaining irreparable flood damage from Hurricane Ida two years ago, but had plans to rebuild.
In New Jersey, data showed minor flooding along the Rancocas Creek in Burlington County.
These creeks are forecasted to drop back below flood stage Wednesday evening.
River and stream levels were already higher than normal before the storm, because this has been a wet month.
