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
South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg Forecast crest: 4.8 ft at 1:00am Nov 24 Observed crest: 1.7e+308 ft at 7:00am Nov 21 Forecast: 4.6 ft at 1:00pm Nov 23 Forecast: 4.7 ft at 7:00pm Nov 23 Forecast: 4.8 ft at 1:00am Nov 24 Forecast: 4.7 ft at 7:00am Nov 24 Forecast: 4.6 ft at 1:00pm Nov 24 Forecast: 4.6 ft at 7:00pm Nov 24 Forecast: 4.6 ft at 1:00am Nov 25 Forecast: 4.5 ft at 7:00am Nov 25 Graph Created (7:37pm Nov 23, 2009) Observed Forecast (issued 9:32am Nov 23) USGS--Water Resources of the United States PETW2 (plotting HGIRG) Gage 0 Datum: 968.34 Latest observed value: n/a ft at 7:00 AM EST 21-Nov-2009. Flood Stage is 13.0 ft. Stage (ft) Flow (kcfs)
Printable Image
About this graph
Tabular Data
XML Data
RSS Files
Datum: N/A
Metadata
NOTE: Forecasts for the South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg are issued routinely year-round.

Return to Area Map

Upstream Gauge - at Franklin Upstream Gauge Downstream Gauge Downstream Gauge - near Springfield

Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage:17
Moderate Flood Stage:15
Flood Stage:13
Action Stage:13

Historical Crests
(1) 22.83 ft on 06/17/1949
(2) 22.20 ft on 09/06/1996
(3) 21.80 ft on 11/05/1985
(4) 21.20 ft on 11/24/1877
(5) 20.30 ft on 03/17/1936
Show More Historical Crests

Low Water Records
(1) 0.4 ft on 08/20/1988
(2) 0 ft on 09/11/1966
(2) 0 ft on 09/28/1959
(2) 0 ft on 08/19/1999

 South Branch Potomac River near Petersburg location map

Flood Impacts Collapse
5.0 the river is at hazardous levels for recreational use.

About This Location Collapse
Latitude: 38.991100° N, Longitude: 79.176100° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83

River Stage
Reference Frame		 Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 13 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 29 968.34 ft 981.34 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 Petersburg

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