Delaware River at Trenton, NJ
USGS gauge 01463500 · drainage 6,780 sq mi · observed Oct 16, 9:15 PM EDT · 65 min old
Last 7 days Live gauge
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values), observed to Oct 16, 9:15 PM EDT. Shaded band: 25th to 75th percentile of USGS daily statistics for each date; dashed: median. Flow in cfs.
Rate of rise and fall Live gauge
| Window | Flow then | Change to latest | Gage height then | Gage height change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 6,380 cfs | ▼ -90 cfs (-1.4%) | 9.11 ft | -0.02 ft |
| 3 h | 6,430 cfs | ▼ -140 cfs (-2.2%) | 9.12 ft | -0.03 ft |
| 6 h | 6,560 cfs | ▼ -270 cfs (-4.1%) | 9.15 ft | -0.06 ft |
| 12 h | 6,830 cfs | ▼ -540 cfs (-7.9%) | 9.21 ft | -0.12 ft |
| 24 h | 7,590 cfs | ▼ -1,300 cfs (-17.1%) | 9.37 ft | -0.28 ft |
Last 7 days
| Measure | Flow | Time | Relative to latest reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest reading | 13,500 cfs | Oct 12, 8:15 PM EDT | 97 h earlier |
| Lowest reading | 3,020 cfs | Oct 10, 1:00 AM EDT | 164 h earlier |
Source: computed from USGS continuous readings (Water Data API) to Oct 16, 9:15 PM EDT. Each row compares the latest reading with the reading closest to that many hours earlier; the arrow is steady (▬) when the change is within 1%.
Daily mean flow Live gauge
| Date (gauge-local) | Mean flow | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2026 | 6,780 cfs | |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 8,459 cfs | |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 10,196 cfs | |
| Oct 13, 2026 | 11,260 cfs | |
| Oct 12, 2026 | 11,192 cfs | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 6,217 cfs | |
| Oct 10, 2026 | 4,342 cfs | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | 3,086 cfs | |
| Oct 8, 2026 | – | Partial day |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values); each mean uses readings on that gauge-local date, shown only with at least 80% of expected readings.
The same 50 days in earlier years Historical record
━ 2026 ╌ 2025 ╌ 2024 ╌ 2023
| Year | Mean flow | Highest day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6,426 cfs | 14,000 cfs |
| 2025 | 3,151 cfs | 4,690 cfs |
| 2024 | 4,460 cfs | 6,360 cfs |
| 2023 | 11,951 cfs | 38,400 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API). Each line is the 50 days from Aug 27 to Oct 15, shifted to the same calendar dates in earlier years; gaps are days without a published value. Recent days are provisional.
Compared with this gauge’s record Historical record
| Measure | Value | When or rank |
|---|---|---|
| Peak daily flow, last 7 days | 11,400 cfs | Oct 12, 2026 |
| Last time daily flow was this high or higher | 14,000 cfs | Sep 6, 2026 (36 days earlier) |
| Last day above the 90th percentile for its date, before this peak | Sep 7, 2026 | 35 days earlier |
| Days above the 75th percentile for their date | 10 of 30 | last 30 days |
| October 1 to 15, mean flow | 6,173 cfs | rank 40 highest of 115 years |
| Peak daily mean compared with annual instantaneous peaks of record | Below the lowest of 121 | lowest annual peak 33,100 cfs |
Source: USGS daily mean flows (Water Data API), 1912 to 2026 (41,621 days), data through Oct 15, 2026, computed 2026-10-17; method record-v1. Percentiles are USGS daily statistics. Recent days are provisional.
Largest annual peaks Historical record
Ten largest peaks of record
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 1955 | 329,000 cfs | 28.60 ft |
| Oct 11, 1903 | 295,000 cfs | 28.50 ft |
| Apr 4, 2005 | 242,000 cfs | 25.33 ft |
| Jun 30, 2006 | 237,000 cfs | 25.09 ft |
| Mar 19, 1936 | 227,000 cfs | 24.43 ft |
| Mar 2, 1902 | 214,000 cfs | 23.60 ft |
| Sep 19, 2004 | 201,000 cfs | 23.41 ft |
| Sep 8, 2011 | 195,000 cfs | 23.11 ft |
| Jan 20, 1996 | 179,000 cfs | 22.20 ft |
| May 24, 1942 | 161,000 cfs | 21.12 ft |
Five most recent annual peaks
| Date | Peak flow | Gage height at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 20, 2023 | 114,000 cfs | 18.72 ft |
| May 2, 2023 | 69,700 cfs | 15.82 ft |
| Apr 9, 2022 | 117,000 cfs | 18.95 ft |
| Sep 2, 2021 | 155,000 cfs | – |
| Aug 5, 2020 | 75,800 cfs | 16.26 ft |
Source: USGS annual peak streamflow (Water Data API), 121 annual peaks, 1897 to 2023. A water year's peak is its highest instantaneous flow.
Historic crests Official NWS
| Date | Crest stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 7, 1904 | 30.60 ft | – |
| Aug 19, 1955 | 28.60 ft | 329,000 cfs |
| Oct 10, 1903 | 28.50 ft | 295,000 cfs |
| Apr 4, 2005 | 25.33 ft | 242,000 cfs |
| Jun 29, 2006 | 25.09 ft | 237,000 cfs |
| Mar 18, 1936 | 24.43 ft | 227,000 cfs |
| Mar 1, 1902 | 23.60 ft | 214,000 cfs |
| Sep 19, 2004 | 23.41 ft | 201,000 cfs |
| Jan 19, 1996 | 22.20 ft | 179,000 cfs |
| Sep 9, 2011 | 22.16 ft | 176,600 cfs |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point TREN4 (Delaware River at Trenton), historic crests as published by the NWS; the NWS may have recorded them on an older gauge datum. The USGS annual peaks above are a separate record and can differ in date, flow and datum.
Gage height to flow rating Historical record
Line: current USGS rating, gage height (ft, horizontal) to flow (cfs, vertical). ● latest reading, 9.09 ft and 6,290 cfs.
Source: USGS rating table for the gauge (NWIS rating depot, expanded shifted rating, 3,865 rows, thinned to 93 points), fetched Oct 16, 10:12 PM EDT. Ratings are provisional and change with the channel.
Water temperature by month Historical record
Source: USGS daily mean water temperature (parameter 00010, Water Data API), 1965 to 2026, mean of all published daily values in each calendar month (days counted under each month; (few) means fewer than 150 daily values).
Water quality sensors Live gauge
| Measure | Latest value | Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Water temperature | 63.3 °F (17.4 °C) | Oct 16, 9:00 PM EDT |
| Dissolved oxygen | 9.6 mg/L | Oct 16, 9:00 PM EDT |
| Turbidity | 3.4 FNU | Oct 16, 9:00 PM EDT |
| pH | 7.9 pH units | Oct 16, 9:00 PM EDT |
| Specific conductance | 217 µS/cm | Oct 16, 9:00 PM EDT |
Source: USGS Water Data API (continuous values). Values as reported by the gauge, provisional.
Flood stages Official NWS
| Category | Gage height (ft) |
|---|---|
| Action | 17.0 ft |
| Minor | 20.0 ft |
| Moderate | 23.0 ft |
| Major | 25.0 ft |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point TREN4 (Delaware River at Trenton), fetched Oct 16, 10:16 PM EDT. Compare with the gage height above; thresholds belong to that forecast point.
Flood impacts by stage Official NWS
| Stage | National Weather Service impact statement |
|---|---|
| 17.0 ft | PA Route 32 North in Yardley Borough begins to flood between Brown Street and Maple Avenue. |
| 18.0 ft | PA Route 32 North is closed between Brown Street and Maple Avenue. |
| 18.5 ft | PA Route 32 South at East College Avenue in Yardley borough begins to flood. Water begins to enter Level 1 of the parking garage at the State Capital Building. Sections of Stacey Park in Trenton are closed. |
| 19.5 ft | Morgan Avenue in Yardley Borough begins to flood. River Road (PA Rt 32) at East Ferry Road in Lower Makefield Township begins to flood. |
| 20.0 ft | Houses on Brown Street in Yardley begin to take on water. Houses on Afton Avenue also take on water. Southbound lanes are closed along stretches of Route 29 in Trenton. Route 32 North is closed in Yardley borough. River Road (Route 32), north of Woodside Road and south of Mt. Eyre Road, in Lower Makefield Township, begins to flood. |
| 21.5 ft | Ferry Street in Yardley begins to flood. |
| 22.0 ft | Route 32 in Yardley is flooded in both directions. Up to two feet of water covers portions of Morgan Avenue, Brown Street, Maple Avenue, and Fuld Avenue. |
| 23.0 ft | North and South Bell Avenues in Yardley begin to flood. |
| 24.5 ft | Carr's Lane in Yardley begins to flood. |
| 25.0 ft | The Delaware River meets the Delaware Canal, backfilling the Rivermawr and Flats neighborhoods making all roads east of the canal impassable. |
Source: National Weather Service forecast point TREN4 (Delaware River at Trenton). Statements are quoted from the NWS and describe that forecast point.
Sources and method
- Data: U.S. Geological Survey. Terms
- River forecasts and flood stages: National Weather Service. National Water Model guidance: NOAA. Terms
USGS daily statistics, downloaded 2026-10-12
Percentile method: trailing 24 h mean vs USGS daily percentiles for calendar date 10-16.
Percentile is estimated from USGS published daily percentiles. Readings are provisional until USGS reviews them. Not endorsed by USGS, NOAA or the National Weather Service. Not for navigation or safety-of-life decisions; the absence of an alert is not a statement that conditions are safe.