River Meets Road in Downtown Easton

Flooding pushed the Delaware River over its banks Friday night and onto Larry Holmes Drive in Easton. 

The roadway was blocked off by the city as water made it impassable in spots. It didn't stop pedestrians from coming down to take a look. 

Earlier in the day, dozens of people had flocked to Scott Park Friday afternoon as the previous day's heavy rains pushed the river past flood stage. As of 9 p.m. Friday, the river was at 25.8 feet, and still had a few more inches to go before it was expected to crest.

People lined up along the river bank to watch the waters rush by, carrying branches, debris, and at one point, a picnic table. Traffic crawled along Larry Holmes Drive as motorists slowed down to look at the river; nearly everyone snapped photos. 

The river was expected to crest at 1 o'clock Saturday morning at 26.5 feet, according to the National Weather Service.

The most recent forecast from the NWS shows the river hitting just below what's known as "moderate" flood stage Saturday at 1 a.m. Earlier predictions had shown the river cresting at 28 feet, then 27, then 25, then back to 26.

Flood waters in that range would mean the river would reach the drive, but not cause the type of damage seen in Easton in the last decade. 

 Flooding closed area roads Friday, PennDOT said, including:

• Route 611 between Third Street and Smith Avenue in Easton.
• Lehigh Drive between Hugh Moore Park Road in West Easton Borough and Adamson Street in the City of Easton;
• Zucksville Road between Bushkill Drive and Sullivan Trail in
  Forks Township.

This story has been updated since its original version.