Potomac River level at Washington
District of Columbia · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 01646500 — POTOMAC RIVER NEAR WASH, DC LITTLE FALLS PUMP STA · NWS forecast point BRKM2
Reading taken · as of 13 min ago
In its normal runnable range
At 2,120 CFS, this gauge is running 91% of normal for mid-September — close to the 2,340 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 96 years of record (1930–2026). The stage is 2.2 ft below the NWS action stage of 5.0 ft.
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Flood stages at Washington
National Weather Service categories for gauge BRKM2, WFO LWX. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
-
Major flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Significant portions of the C&O Canal towpath are flooded. The Blockhouse Point Park is flooded. Water reaches the retaining wall at Overlook 1 at Great Falls National Park but does not overtop it.
- 15.0 ft Most of the C&O Canal towpath from Pennyfield downstream is flooded.
- 16.0 ft Water reaches the clubhouse on Sycamore Island.
- 17.0 ft Water overflows the overlooks at Great Falls National Park and approaches the lower level of the visitors center. Most of the C&O Canal towpath downstream of Pennyfield is flooded. There is approximately a foot of water in the clubhouse on Sycamore Island.
-
Moderate flood 12.0 ft
- 12.0 ft The C&O Canal overflows at the Great Falls Tavern. Water covers the towpath in many areas.
-
Minor flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Water begins to overflow the banks into low lying areas on the Maryland side of the river near Little Falls. Water begins to enter the canoe shed at Sycamore Island.
- 11.0 ft Water covers the towpath between Swains Lock and Pennyfield Lock, mileposts 17 to 19 on the C&O Canal.
- 11.5 ft Water covers the towpath in multiple spots between the Washington Aqueduct Dam and Pennyfield Lock, mileposts 15 to 19 on the C&O Canal.
-
Action 5.0 ft · 22,000 CFS
- 5.0 ft Portions of the Potomac Heritage Trail begin to flood. Water begins to affect portions of the Billy Goat Trail between Great Falls and Carderock. These trails will be closed.
- 5.5 ft Water reaches the top of the ferry landing for Sycamore Island. Ferry service to the island will likely be suspended.
- 7.0 ft Upper portions of the River Trail at Great Falls National Park begin to flood and will be closed.
- 9.0 ft Several trails on both sides of the river between Great Falls and the Chain Bridge are flooded and will be closed.
- Right now 2.85 ft
NWS forecast: 2.90 ft by .
Flow history at Washington
Daily values from USGS 01646500, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for BRKM2 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Washington
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 28.10 ft | 484,000 CFS | Mar 19, 1936 |
| 26.88 ft | 447,000 CFS | Oct 17, 1942 |
| 23.30 ft | 347,000 CFS | Apr 28, 1937 |
| 22.03 ft | 359,000 CFS | Jun 24, 1972 |
| 19.29 ft | 347,000 CFS | Jan 21, 1996 |
| 17.99 ft | 317,000 CFS | Nov 7, 1985 |
| 17.84 ft | 314,000 CFS | Sep 8, 1996 |
| 17.60 ft | 216,000 CFS | Aug 20, 1955 |
| 15.62 ft | 181,000 CFS | Oct 30, 1937 |
| 15.25 ft | 168,000 CFS | May 14, 1932 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Potomac River at Washington
In District of Columbia — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Little Falls; the DC-region reference gauge.
Potomac River at Washington — common questions
3 questions
How fast can Potomac River at Washington come up?
Fast. It is free-flowing, so rain upstream moves it directly. Several feet in a few hours is normal after a heavy storm.
Is Potomac River at Washington high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 2,340 CFS, from 96 years of record (1930–2026). Today is 91% of it. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 01646500 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for BRKM2 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.