Potomac River at Shepherdstown

Last updated: Apr 1, 2025, 11:20 PM UTC

No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for this area.

Warning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.

US Geological Survey
Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

Scale to Flood Categories

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Observed (OBS) 04/01/2025 5:30 PM EDT

Official Forecast (FCST) 04/01/2025 10:16 AM EDT

Record: 42.1 ft

CATEGORY STAGE

Major Flooding 25 ft

Moderate Flooding 22 ft

Minor Flooding 15 ft

Action 8 ft

Reliability of the Forecast:

NOTE: Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.
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	CATEGORY	STAGE
	Major Flooding	25 ft
	Moderate Flooding	22 ft
	Minor Flooding	15 ft
	Action	8 ft

Flood Impacts 🅘

25 - Significant flooding is occurring throughout this stretch of the Potomac, with numerous buildings and roads inundated, and a few homes. Major impacts are occurring on C&O Canal property.
24 - Water begins to cover the parking lot adjacent to the Shepherdstown boat ramp, and approaches the lowest point of an adjacent building. Water also reaches the upper parking area of the boat ramp adjacent to Dam Number Four on the West Virginia side of the river.
22 - Water approaches homes on the West Virginia side of the river near Shepherdstown, and impacts are also observed on the Maryland side, not just to the C&O Canal towpath, but also to roads and structures.

Gauge Info

Coordinates	39.4347, -77.8014
RFC	MARFC
State	WV
WFO	LWX
County	Jefferson
Data Provider(s)
US Geological Survey	USGS--Water Resources of the United States
USGS	01618000

Gauge Location

Recent Crests

1.	20.00 ft	on 05-08-2022	(P)
2.	17.54 ft	on 03-02-2021
3.	15.25 ft	on 05-02-2020	(P)
4.	22.12 ft	on 12-17-2018
5.	21.36 ft	on 09-29-2018

Historic Crests

1.	42.07 ft	on 03-19-1936
2.	39.20 ft	on 06-01-1889
3.	33.20 ft	on 04-27-1937
4.	32.68 ft	on 10-16-1942
5.	32.50 ft	on 01-21-1996

Vertical Datum Table

type	NAVD88
major Flooding	305.26 ft
moderate Flooding	302.26 ft
minor Flooding	295.26 ft
action	288.26 ft
Latest Value	283.08 ft
Gauge Zero	280.26 ft

Gauge Photos

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Probability Information

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Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period
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Weekly Chance of Exceeding Levels
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Short Range Forecast Uncertainty
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Unique Local Info

Potential River Levels - Used to

Potential River Levels Used to Estimate the Chance of Flooding and the Range of Possible River Levels
7 Day (NAEFS)	7 Day (GEFS)

Note: Use the official hydrograph at the top of this web page for river levels within the next 72 hours.

Click individual graphics to enlarge.

Collaborative Agencies

The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.

Resources

Hydrologic Resource Links

Additional Resource Links

WFO Information

Weather Forecast Office

(Baltimore/Washington) Sterling

43858 Weather Service Rd.

Sterling, VA 20166

(571) 888-3500

Ask Questions/Webmaster

Official Homepage

1.	20.00 ft	on 05-08-2022	(P)
2.	17.54 ft	on 03-02-2021
3.	15.25 ft	on 05-02-2020	(P)
4.	22.12 ft	on 12-17-2018
5.	21.36 ft	on 09-29-2018
6.	15.59 ft	on 09-26-2018
7.	21.79 ft	on 09-11-2018
8.	23.02 ft	on 06-04-2018
9.	17.78 ft	on 05-20-2018
10.	15.30 ft	on 04-18-2018
11.	18.48 ft	on 12-12-2003
12.	19.88 ft	on 09-20-2003
13.	15.50 ft	on 05-12-2003	(P)
14.	16.73 ft	on 03-22-2003
15.	16.57 ft	on 01-03-2003
16.	15.65 ft	on 04-21-1998
17.	19.83 ft	on 03-22-1998
18.	15.30 ft	on 02-19-1998
19.	15.04 ft	on 02-06-1998
20.	17.17 ft	on 01-09-1998
21.	15.00 ft	on 12-03-1996
22.	29.00 ft	on 09-08-1996
23.	15.00 ft	on 01-28-1996
24.	32.50 ft	on 01-21-1996
25.	18.00 ft	on 03-31-1994
26.	16.80 ft	on 03-09-1994
27.	16.20 ft	on 02-25-1994
28.	16.30 ft	on 02-11-1994
29.	19.42 ft	on 11-29-1993
30.	20.97 ft	on 04-18-1993
31.	18.96 ft	on 04-02-1993
32.	15.64 ft	on 03-29-1993
33.	17.86 ft	on 03-25-1993
34.	22.15 ft	on 03-05-1993
35.	16.11 ft	on 03-24-1991
36.	16.12 ft	on 01-18-1991
37.	16.20 ft	on 05-17-1989
38.	18.19 ft	on 05-19-1988
39.	17.63 ft	on 05-07-1988
40.	20.44 ft	on 04-18-1987
41.	16.53 ft	on 04-05-1987
42.	21.43 ft	on 03-16-1986
43.	15.30 ft	on 02-20-1986
44.	31.44 ft	on 11-07-1985
45.	15.08 ft	on 02-13-1985
46.	19.97 ft	on 04-06-1984
47.	19.25 ft	on 03-30-1984
48.	26.07 ft	on 02-15-1984
49.	19.17 ft	on 04-26-1983
50.	16.64 ft	on 06-14-1982
51.	15.12 ft	on 03-18-1982
52.	15.54 ft	on 03-07-1979
53.	23.60 ft	on 02-27-1979
54.	16.55 ft	on 01-25-1979
55.	18.12 ft	on 05-17-1978
56.	18.12 ft	on 03-27-1978
57.	20.81 ft	on 03-16-1978
58.	16.57 ft	on 04-06-1977
59.	25.31 ft	on 10-10-1976
60.	18.33 ft	on 01-02-1976
61.	16.37 ft	on 10-19-1975
62.	20.49 ft	on 09-27-1975
63.	22.19 ft	on 03-21-1975
64.	19.52 ft	on 12-28-1973
65.	17.06 ft	on 04-29-1973
66.	15.10 ft	on 12-23-1972
67.	17.02 ft	on 12-10-1972
68.	31.58 ft	on 06-23-1972
69.	15.70 ft	on 02-27-1972
70.	17.86 ft	on 02-24-1971
71.	15.68 ft	on 12-24-1970
72.	19.45 ft	on 04-03-1970
73.	15.27 ft	on 05-29-1968
74.	15.69 ft	on 03-18-1968
75.	22.54 ft	on 03-08-1967
76.	16.23 ft	on 02-14-1966
77.	18.07 ft	on 03-06-1965
78.	18.30 ft	on 04-30-1964
79.	16.94 ft	on 03-06-1964
80.	21.10 ft	on 03-21-1963
81.	19.90 ft	on 03-23-1962
82.	18.17 ft	on 02-27-1961
83.	18.57 ft	on 02-20-1961
84.	20.35 ft	on 05-10-1960
85.	17.32 ft	on 04-05-1960
86.	17.33 ft	on 04-01-1960
87.	15.88 ft	on 05-07-1958
88.	15.28 ft	on 02-11-1957
89.	25.26 ft	on 08-20-1955
90.	17.83 ft	on 03-23-1955
91.	22.00 ft	on 10-17-1954
92.	19.47 ft	on 03-03-1954
93.	19.98 ft	on 11-23-1952
94.	19.09 ft	on 04-29-1952
95.	17.81 ft	on 03-12-1952
96.	19.60 ft	on 06-15-1951
97.	15.23 ft	on 03-31-1951
98.	18.00 ft	on 12-09-1950
99.	19.50 ft	on 12-05-1950
100.	19.84 ft	on 06-19-1949
101.	16.90 ft	on 12-17-1948
102.	18.49 ft	on 04-15-1948
103.	19.31 ft	on 09-19-1945
104.	21.40 ft	on 12-31-1942
105.	32.68 ft	on 10-16-1942
106.	18.97 ft	on 05-24-1942
107.	16.35 ft	on 06-01-1940
108.	17.75 ft	on 04-21-1940
109.	15.75 ft	on 04-18-1939
110.	20.36 ft	on 02-05-1939
111.	26.78 ft	on 10-29-1937
112.	33.20 ft	on 04-27-1937
113.	16.16 ft	on 01-23-1937
114.	16.90 ft	on 03-22-1936
115.	42.07 ft	on 03-19-1936
116.	16.52 ft	on 03-13-1936
117.	19.21 ft	on 02-28-1936
118.	17.00 ft	on 12-02-1934
119.	19.10 ft	on 04-21-1933
120.	24.75 ft	on 05-14-1932
121.	19.83 ft	on 10-23-1929
122.	25.53 ft	on 04-17-1929
123.	15.49 ft	on 03-07-1929
124.	29.80 ft	on 05-13-1924
125.	39.20 ft	on 06-01-1889

1.	42.07 ft	on 03-19-1936
2.	39.20 ft	on 06-01-1889
3.	33.20 ft	on 04-27-1937
4.	32.68 ft	on 10-16-1942
5.	32.50 ft	on 01-21-1996
6.	31.58 ft	on 06-23-1972
7.	31.44 ft	on 11-07-1985
8.	29.80 ft	on 05-13-1924
9.	29.00 ft	on 09-08-1996
10.	26.78 ft	on 10-29-1937
11.	26.07 ft	on 02-15-1984
12.	25.53 ft	on 04-17-1929
13.	25.31 ft	on 10-10-1976
14.	25.26 ft	on 08-20-1955
15.	24.75 ft	on 05-14-1932
16.	23.60 ft	on 02-27-1979
17.	23.02 ft	on 06-04-2018
18.	22.54 ft	on 03-08-1967
19.	22.19 ft	on 03-21-1975
20.	22.15 ft	on 03-05-1993
21.	22.12 ft	on 12-17-2018
22.	22.00 ft	on 10-17-1954
23.	21.79 ft	on 09-11-2018
24.	21.43 ft	on 03-16-1986
25.	21.40 ft	on 12-31-1942
26.	21.36 ft	on 09-29-2018
27.	21.10 ft	on 03-21-1963
28.	20.97 ft	on 04-18-1993
29.	20.81 ft	on 03-16-1978
30.	20.49 ft	on 09-27-1975
31.	20.44 ft	on 04-18-1987
32.	20.36 ft	on 02-05-1939
33.	20.35 ft	on 05-10-1960
34.	20.00 ft	on 05-08-2022	(P)
35.	19.98 ft	on 11-23-1952
36.	19.97 ft	on 04-06-1984
37.	19.90 ft	on 03-23-1962
38.	19.88 ft	on 09-20-2003
39.	19.84 ft	on 06-19-1949
40.	19.83 ft	on 03-22-1998
41.	19.83 ft	on 10-23-1929
42.	19.60 ft	on 06-15-1951
43.	19.52 ft	on 12-28-1973
44.	19.50 ft	on 12-05-1950
45.	19.47 ft	on 03-03-1954
46.	19.45 ft	on 04-03-1970
47.	19.42 ft	on 11-29-1993
48.	19.31 ft	on 09-19-1945
49.	19.25 ft	on 03-30-1984
50.	19.21 ft	on 02-28-1936
51.	19.17 ft	on 04-26-1983
52.	19.10 ft	on 04-21-1933
53.	19.09 ft	on 04-29-1952
54.	18.97 ft	on 05-24-1942
55.	18.96 ft	on 04-02-1993
56.	18.57 ft	on 02-20-1961
57.	18.49 ft	on 04-15-1948
58.	18.48 ft	on 12-12-2003
59.	18.33 ft	on 01-02-1976
60.	18.30 ft	on 04-30-1964
61.	18.19 ft	on 05-19-1988
62.	18.17 ft	on 02-27-1961
63.	18.12 ft	on 03-27-1978
64.	18.12 ft	on 05-17-1978
65.	18.07 ft	on 03-06-1965
66.	18.00 ft	on 03-31-1994
67.	18.00 ft	on 12-09-1950
68.	17.86 ft	on 03-25-1993
69.	17.86 ft	on 02-24-1971
70.	17.83 ft	on 03-23-1955
71.	17.81 ft	on 03-12-1952
72.	17.78 ft	on 05-20-2018
73.	17.75 ft	on 04-21-1940
74.	17.63 ft	on 05-07-1988
75.	17.54 ft	on 03-02-2021
76.	17.33 ft	on 04-01-1960
77.	17.32 ft	on 04-05-1960
78.	17.17 ft	on 01-09-1998
79.	17.06 ft	on 04-29-1973
80.	17.02 ft	on 12-10-1972
81.	17.00 ft	on 12-02-1934
82.	16.94 ft	on 03-06-1964
83.	16.90 ft	on 12-17-1948
84.	16.90 ft	on 03-22-1936
85.	16.80 ft	on 03-09-1994
86.	16.73 ft	on 03-22-2003
87.	16.64 ft	on 06-14-1982
88.	16.57 ft	on 01-03-2003
89.	16.57 ft	on 04-06-1977
90.	16.55 ft	on 01-25-1979
91.	16.53 ft	on 04-05-1987
92.	16.52 ft	on 03-13-1936
93.	16.37 ft	on 10-19-1975
94.	16.35 ft	on 06-01-1940
95.	16.30 ft	on 02-11-1994
96.	16.23 ft	on 02-14-1966
97.	16.20 ft	on 05-17-1989
98.	16.20 ft	on 02-25-1994
99.	16.16 ft	on 01-23-1937
100.	16.12 ft	on 01-18-1991
101.	16.11 ft	on 03-24-1991
102.	15.88 ft	on 05-07-1958
103.	15.75 ft	on 04-18-1939
104.	15.70 ft	on 02-27-1972
105.	15.69 ft	on 03-18-1968
106.	15.68 ft	on 12-24-1970
107.	15.65 ft	on 04-21-1998
108.	15.64 ft	on 03-29-1993
109.	15.59 ft	on 09-26-2018
110.	15.54 ft	on 03-07-1979
111.	15.50 ft	on 05-12-2003	(P)
112.	15.49 ft	on 03-07-1929
113.	15.30 ft	on 04-18-2018
114.	15.30 ft	on 02-20-1986
115.	15.30 ft	on 02-19-1998
116.	15.28 ft	on 02-11-1957
117.	15.27 ft	on 05-29-1968
118.	15.25 ft	on 05-02-2020	(P)
119.	15.23 ft	on 03-31-1951
120.	15.12 ft	on 03-18-1982
121.	15.10 ft	on 12-23-1972
122.	15.08 ft	on 02-13-1985
123.	15.04 ft	on 02-06-1998
124.	15.00 ft	on 01-28-1996
125.	15.00 ft	on 12-03-1996