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

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Hydrograph River at a Glance Download Weekly Chance of
Exceeding Levels		 Chance of Exceeding Levels
During Entire Period
Potomac River at Point of Rocks Observed crest: 4.01 ft at 12:00pm Feb 08 Observed: 4.01 ft at 12:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 4 ft at 12:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.99 ft at 12:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.97 ft at 12:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.95 ft at 1:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.93 ft at 1:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.91 ft at 1:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.89 ft at 1:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.87 ft at 2:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.86 ft at 2:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.84 ft at 2:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.83 ft at 2:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.82 ft at 3:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.81 ft at 3:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.8 ft at 3:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.79 ft at 3:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.78 ft at 4:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.78 ft at 4:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.77 ft at 4:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 4:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 5:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 5:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 5:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 5:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 6:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 6:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 6:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 6:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 7:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 7:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 7:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 7:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 8:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 8:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 8:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 8:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.75 ft at 9:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 9:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 9:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 9:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 10:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.76 ft at 10:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.77 ft at 10:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.77 ft at 10:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.77 ft at 11:00pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.77 ft at 11:15pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.77 ft at 11:30pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.77 ft at 11:45pm Feb 8 Observed: 3.77 ft at 12:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.77 ft at 12:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.77 ft at 12:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.77 ft at 12:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.77 ft at 1:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.77 ft at 1:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.77 ft at 1:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.76 ft at 1:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.76 ft at 2:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.76 ft at 2:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.76 ft at 2:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.75 ft at 2:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.75 ft at 3:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.75 ft at 3:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 3:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 3:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 5:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.75 ft at 5:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.76 ft at 5:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.77 ft at 5:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.78 ft at 6:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.79 ft at 6:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.81 ft at 6:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.82 ft at 6:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.84 ft at 7:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.86 ft at 7:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.87 ft at 7:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.88 ft at 7:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.9 ft at 8:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.91 ft at 8:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.92 ft at 8:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.93 ft at 8:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.94 ft at 9:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.95 ft at 9:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.95 ft at 9:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.95 ft at 9:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.95 ft at 10:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.94 ft at 10:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.94 ft at 10:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.93 ft at 10:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.93 ft at 11:00am Feb 9 Observed: 3.93 ft at 11:15am Feb 9 Observed: 3.93 ft at 11:30am Feb 9 Observed: 3.93 ft at 11:45am Feb 9 Observed: 3.93 ft at 12:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.92 ft at 12:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.9 ft at 12:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.89 ft at 12:45pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.88 ft at 1:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.86 ft at 1:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.85 ft at 1:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.83 ft at 1:45pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.82 ft at 2:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.8 ft at 2:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.79 ft at 2:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.78 ft at 2:45pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.77 ft at 3:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.76 ft at 3:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.76 ft at 3:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.75 ft at 3:45pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.75 ft at 4:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.75 ft at 4:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 4:45pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 5:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 5:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 5:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.74 ft at 5:45pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.73 ft at 6:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.73 ft at 6:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.73 ft at 6:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.73 ft at 6:45pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.72 ft at 7:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.72 ft at 7:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.72 ft at 7:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.72 ft at 7:45pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.72 ft at 8:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.72 ft at 8:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.72 ft at 8:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.72 ft at 8:45pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.71 ft at 9:00pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.71 ft at 9:15pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.71 ft at 9:30pm Feb 9 Observed: 3.7 ft at 9:45pm Feb 9 Graph Created (10:37pm Feb 9, 2010) Observed USGS--Water Resources of the United States PORM2 (plotting HGIRG) Gage 0 Datum: 200.63 Latest observed value: 3.7 ft at 9:45 PM EST 9-Feb-2010. Flood Stage is 16.0 ft. Stage (ft) Flow (kcfs)
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NOTE: Forecasts for the Potomac River at Point of Rocks are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.

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Upstream Gauge - at Harpers Ferry Upstream Gauge Downstream Gauge Downstream Gauge - near Washington DC (Little Falls)

Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage:25
Moderate Flood Stage:20
Flood Stage:16
Action Stage:15

Historical Crests
(1) 41.03 ft on 03/19/1936
(2) 40.43 ft on 10/16/1942
(3) 40.20 ft on 06/02/1889
(4) 37.43 ft on 06/23/1972
(5) 36.34 ft on 01/21/1996
Show More Historical Crests

Low Water Records
(1) 0.3 ft on 09/11/1966

 Potomac River at Point of Rocks location map

Flood Impacts & Photos Collapse
36.0 water inundates the Point of Rocks Train Station and Main Street (Rt 28) through town has several feet of water.
34.0 water reaches the first floor of Kerrigan's Liquor Store in Point of Rocks. Low lying sections of Main Street (Rt 28) are covered with several feet of water. Water also covers the Railroad Tracks and Yard upriver at Brunswick Maryland.
30.0 the river floods Rt 28 through the town of Point of Rocks.
23.0 water inundates the C&O Canal Towpath.
22.0 water approaches the Railroad Tracks and Residents on the south side of Rt 28 in Point of Rocks.
21.0 water begins to overflow into the campground and residents immediately adjacent to the river at Point of Rocks Maryland.
15.0 water inundates the low water road adjacent to the river upstream in Brunswick Maryland.
5.0 the river is at hazardous levels for recreational use.
Photos
(1) USGS Wellhouse Adjacent to US Route 15 at Point of Rocks
(2) Staff Gage Being Installed in 1993 on US Route 15 Bridge Support Beam
(3) Looking Upstream at Paton Island from US 15 Bridge
(4) Railroad Tunnel Just Above Gage on Maryland Side of Potomac

About This Location Collapse
Latitude: 39.273600° N, Longitude: 77.543100° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83

River Stage
Reference Frame		 Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 16 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 29 200.63 ft 216.63 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 Point of Rocks

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
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