Skip Navigation Linkweather.gov 
NOAA logo - Click to go to the NOAA homepage National Weather Service   NWS logo - Click to go to the NWS homepage
Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

  
 
Weather Forecast Office (Baltimore/Washington) Sterling, VA Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center

To see all current watches and warnings, click here.

Hydrograph River at a Glance Download Weekly Chance of
Exceeding Levels		 Chance of Exceeding Levels
During Entire Period
Potomac River near Washington DC (Little Falls) Observed crest: 3.91 ft at 9:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.48 ft at 12:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 12:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 12:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 1:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 1:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.47 ft at 1:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 1:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 2:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 2:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.47 ft at 2:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.47 ft at 2:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 3:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 3:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 3:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 3:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 4:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 4:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 4:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 4:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 5:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 5:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 5:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 5:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 6:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 6:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 6:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 6:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 7:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 7:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 7:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 7:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 8:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 8:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 8:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 8:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 9:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 9:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 9:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 9:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 10:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.48 ft at 10:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 10:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 10:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 11:00am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 11:15am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 11:30am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 11:45am Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 12:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 12:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 12:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 12:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 1:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 1:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 1:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 1:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 2:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 2:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 2:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 2:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 3:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 3:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 3:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 3:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 4:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 4:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.49 ft at 4:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 4:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 5:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 5:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.5 ft at 5:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.51 ft at 5:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.51 ft at 6:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.51 ft at 6:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.51 ft at 6:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.51 ft at 6:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.52 ft at 7:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.52 ft at 7:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.52 ft at 7:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.52 ft at 7:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.53 ft at 8:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.53 ft at 8:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.53 ft at 8:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.53 ft at 8:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.53 ft at 9:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.54 ft at 9:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.54 ft at 9:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.54 ft at 9:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.55 ft at 10:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.55 ft at 10:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.54 ft at 10:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.55 ft at 10:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.54 ft at 11:00pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.55 ft at 11:15pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.55 ft at 11:30pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.54 ft at 11:45pm Nov 21 Observed: 3.56 ft at 12:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.56 ft at 12:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.56 ft at 12:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.56 ft at 12:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.57 ft at 1:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.57 ft at 1:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.57 ft at 1:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.57 ft at 1:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.57 ft at 2:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.58 ft at 2:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.57 ft at 2:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.57 ft at 2:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.58 ft at 3:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.58 ft at 3:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.59 ft at 3:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.59 ft at 3:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.6 ft at 4:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.59 ft at 4:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.59 ft at 4:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.6 ft at 4:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.6 ft at 5:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.6 ft at 5:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.6 ft at 5:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.6 ft at 5:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.61 ft at 6:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.61 ft at 6:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.61 ft at 6:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.61 ft at 6:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.61 ft at 7:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.62 ft at 7:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.61 ft at 7:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.62 ft at 7:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.62 ft at 8:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.62 ft at 8:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.62 ft at 8:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.63 ft at 8:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.63 ft at 9:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.63 ft at 9:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.63 ft at 9:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.63 ft at 9:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.64 ft at 10:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.64 ft at 10:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.64 ft at 10:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.64 ft at 10:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.65 ft at 11:00am Nov 22 Observed: 3.65 ft at 11:15am Nov 22 Observed: 3.66 ft at 11:30am Nov 22 Observed: 3.66 ft at 11:45am Nov 22 Observed: 3.65 ft at 12:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.67 ft at 12:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.67 ft at 12:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.67 ft at 12:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.68 ft at 1:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.68 ft at 1:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.69 ft at 1:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.68 ft at 1:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.69 ft at 2:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.69 ft at 2:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.69 ft at 2:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.71 ft at 2:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.72 ft at 3:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.72 ft at 3:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.72 ft at 3:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.73 ft at 3:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.73 ft at 4:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.75 ft at 4:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.76 ft at 5:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.76 ft at 5:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.76 ft at 5:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.77 ft at 5:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.77 ft at 6:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.78 ft at 6:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.78 ft at 6:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.78 ft at 6:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.79 ft at 7:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.79 ft at 7:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.8 ft at 7:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.8 ft at 7:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.81 ft at 8:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.81 ft at 8:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.81 ft at 8:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.81 ft at 8:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.81 ft at 9:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.81 ft at 9:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.82 ft at 9:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.82 ft at 9:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.82 ft at 10:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.82 ft at 10:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.82 ft at 10:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.81 ft at 10:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.82 ft at 11:00pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.83 ft at 11:15pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.83 ft at 11:30pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.83 ft at 11:45pm Nov 22 Observed: 3.83 ft at 12:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.83 ft at 12:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.83 ft at 12:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 12:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.83 ft at 1:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.83 ft at 1:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.83 ft at 1:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 1:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 2:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 2:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 2:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.83 ft at 2:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 3:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 3:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 3:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 3:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 4:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 4:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 4:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 4:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 5:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 5:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 5:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 5:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 6:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 6:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 6:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 6:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 7:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 7:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 7:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 7:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 8:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 8:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 8:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 8:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 9:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 9:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.83 ft at 9:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 9:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 10:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 10:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.84 ft at 10:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 10:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 11:00am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 11:15am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 11:30am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 11:45am Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 12:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.86 ft at 12:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.85 ft at 12:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.86 ft at 12:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.86 ft at 1:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.87 ft at 1:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.86 ft at 1:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.86 ft at 1:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.87 ft at 2:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.87 ft at 2:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.87 ft at 2:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.86 ft at 2:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.87 ft at 3:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.88 ft at 3:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.88 ft at 3:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.88 ft at 3:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.88 ft at 4:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.87 ft at 4:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.88 ft at 4:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.88 ft at 4:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.88 ft at 5:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.88 ft at 5:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 5:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 5:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 6:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 6:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 6:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 6:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 7:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 7:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 7:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.9 ft at 7:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.9 ft at 8:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 8:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.9 ft at 8:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.9 ft at 8:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.9 ft at 9:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.9 ft at 9:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.9 ft at 9:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.91 ft at 9:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.91 ft at 10:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.89 ft at 10:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.91 ft at 10:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.9 ft at 10:45pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.9 ft at 11:00pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.91 ft at 11:15pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.91 ft at 11:30pm Nov 23 Observed: 3.91 ft at 11:45pm Nov 23 Forecast: 3.9 ft at 1:00pm Nov 23 Forecast: 3.9 ft at 7:00pm Nov 23 Forecast: 3.9 ft at 1:00am Nov 24 Forecast: 3.9 ft at 7:00am Nov 24 Forecast: 3.9 ft at 1:00pm Nov 24 Forecast: 3.8 ft at 7:00pm Nov 24 Forecast: 3.8 ft at 1:00am Nov 25 Forecast: 3.8 ft at 7:00am Nov 25 Forecast: 3.7 ft at 1:00pm Nov 25 Forecast: 3.7 ft at 7:00pm Nov 25 Forecast: 3.7 ft at 1:00am Nov 26 Forecast: 3.7 ft at 7:00am Nov 26 Graph Created (12:37am Nov 24, 2009) Observed Forecast (issued 9:32am Nov 23) USGS--Water Resources of the United States BRKM2 (plotting HGIRG) Gage 0 Datum: 37.95 Latest observed value: 3.91 ft at 11:45 PM EST 23-Nov-2009. Flood Stage is 10.0 ft. Stage (ft) Flow (kcfs)
Printable Image
About this graph
Tabular Data
XML Data
RSS Files
Datum: N/A
Metadata
NOTE: Forecasts for the Potomac River near Washington DC (Little Falls) are issued routinely year-round.

Return to Area Map

Upstream Gauge - at Point of Rocks Upstream Gauge Downstream Gauge Downstream Gauge - at Wisconsin Ave

Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage:14
Moderate Flood Stage:12
Flood Stage:10
Action Stage:5

Historical Crests
(1) 28.10 ft on 03/19/1936
(2) 26.88 ft on 10/17/1942
(3) 23.30 ft on 04/28/1937
(4) 22.03 ft on 06/24/1972
(5) 19.29 ft on 01/21/1996
Show More Historical Crests

Low Water Records
(1) 0 ft on 09/09/1966

 Potomac River near Washington DC (Little Falls) location map

Flood Impacts Collapse
12.0 water will begin to inundate the C&O towpath, along the Maryland side of the river. Downstream in the District of Columbia at Wisconsin Avenue, the tidal potomac river will near its 7 foot flood stage at time of high tide.
10.0 the river will begin to overflow into low lying areas on the Maryland side of the river with several boat houses downstream beginning to flood.
7.0 the river begins to inundate Whites Ferry upstream in Montgomery county Maryland..
5.0 the river is at hazardous levels for recreational use.

About This Location Collapse
Latitude: 38.949400° N, Longitude: 77.127800° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83

River Stage
Reference Frame		 Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 10 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum Elevation
(gauge height = 0)		 Elevation
(gauge height = flood stage)		 Elevation information source
NAVD88 N/A N/A Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29 37.95 ft 47.95 ft Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL N/A N/A Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other N/A N/A  

Other Data Sources:
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Washington DC (Little Falls)

Resources Collapse
Hydrologic Resources
 Additional Resources
   

Collaborative Agencies Collapse
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.

NWS Information
National Weather Service
(Baltimore/Washington) Sterling Weather Forecast Office
43858 Weather Service Rd.
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 996-2200
Ask Questions/Webmaster
Page last modified: 29-Jun-2009 10:11 PM 		Disclaimer
Credits
Glossary 		Privacy Policy
About Us
Career Opportunities