Potomac River Flow Today
As of October 23, 2026 at 3:50 AM, the Potomac River is flowing at 3,980 cfs near Wash, MD — 150% of normal for the date and down 13% in 24 hours. 5 of 5 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 1,410 to 3,980 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Potomac River map
See the Potomac River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
✓ Free for 7 days · ✓ Cancel anytime
Potomac River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Wash, the Potomac River is running 3,980 cfs — 150% of normal, down 13% since yesterday. Along the river, 5 of 5 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 193% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Point Of Rocks (-13%) and Wash (-13%).
Highest against normal: Hancock at 207%. Lowest: Point Of Rocks at 130%.
How the Potomac River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Paw Paw501 ft 1,410 cfs202%
- Hancock396 ft 1,670 cfs207%
- Shepherdstown283 ft 2,200 cfs193%
- Point Of Rocks192 ft 3,270 cfs130%
- Wash43 ft 3,980 cfs150%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Potomac River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (193%).
Potomac River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Potomac River At Paw Paw MD
Oct 23, 3:15 AM · USGS 01610000 |
1,410 cfs | 202% | -9% | 4.91 ft | 20.1 ft below | 501 ft |
|
Potomac River At Hancock MD
Oct 23, 3:15 AM · USGS 01613000 |
1,670 cfs | 207% | -9% | 3.89 ft | 21.1 ft below | 396 ft |
|
Potomac River At Shepherdstown WV
Oct 23, 3:30 AM · USGS 01618000 |
2,200 cfs | 193% | -9% | 2.50 ft | 12.5 ft below | 283 ft |
|
Potomac River At Point Of Rocks MD
Oct 23, 3:55 AM · USGS 01638500 |
3,270 cfs | 130% | -13% | 1.93 ft | 14.1 ft below | 192 ft |
|
Potomac River Near Wash MD
Oct 23, 3:50 AM · USGS 01646500 |
3,980 cfs | 150% | -13% | 3.20 ft | 6.8 ft below | 43 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Potomac River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Potomac River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Fishing near the Potomac River
About the Potomac River
How is the Potomac River flowing right now?
As of October 23, 2026, the Potomac River is flowing at 3,980 cfs near Wash, MD, about 150% of normal for the date. Across its 5 USGS gauges, current flows range from 1,410 to 3,980 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Potomac River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Potomac River is at 193% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Potomac River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Paw Paw (25.0 ft), Hancock (25.0 ft), Shepherdstown (15.0 ft), Point Of Rocks (16.0 ft), Wash (10.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.