POTOMAC RIVER
March 8, 2025
TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE
Total streamflow across the
Potomac River
was last observed at
23,410
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
46,433
acre-ft of water today; about 45%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
52,197 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2018-06-05 when daily discharge volume was observed at
498,100 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Potomac River Near Wash
reporting a streamflow rate of 7,000 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Potomac River At Paw Paw
with a gauge stage of 6.7 ft.
This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Potomac River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 501 ft, the
Potomac River At Paw Paw.
| Last Updated | 2025-03-07 |
| Discharge Volume | 46,433 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
23,410.0 cfs
+1730.0 cfs (+7.98%) |
| Percent of Normal | 44.85% |
| Maximum |
498,100.0 cfs
2018-06-05 |
| Seasonal Avg | 52,197 cfs |
YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)
Streamflow Conditions
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Potomac River At Paw Paw
USGS 01610000 |
3340 cfs | 6.7 ft | 34.14 | |||||
|
Potomac River At Hancock
USGS 01613000 |
3740 cfs | 5.29 ft | 49.6 | |||||
|
Potomac River At Shepherdstown
USGS 01618000 |
3590 cfs | 3.16 ft | -0.83 | |||||
|
Potomac River At Point Of Rocks
USGS 01638500 |
5740 cfs | 2.53 ft | -2.88 | |||||
|
Potomac River Near Wash
USGS 01646500 |
7000 cfs | 3.63 ft | -2.23 |
History of the River
The Potomac River ( (listen)) is found within the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and flows from the Potomac Highlands into the Chesapeake Bay. The river (main stem and North Branch) is approximately 405 miles (652 km) long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles (38,000 km2). In terms of area, this makes the Potomac River the fourth largest river along the Atlantic coast of the United States and the 21st largest in the United States. Over 5 million people live within the Potomac watershed.
The river forms part of the borders between Maryland and Washington, D.C., on the left descending bank and West Virginia and Virginia on the river's right descending bank. The majority of the lower Potomac River is part of Maryland. Exceptions include a small tidal portion within the District of Columbia, and the border with Virginia being delineated from "point to point" (thus various bays and shoreline indentations lie in Virginia). Except for a small portion of its headwaters in West Virginia, the North Branch Potomac River is considered part of Maryland to the low water mark on the opposite bank. The South Branch Potomac River lies completely within the state of West Virginia except for its headwaters, which lie in Virginia.