Summary
Total streamflow across the
Potomac River
was last observed at
8,316
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
16,495
acre-ft of water today; about 21%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
39,171 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 2,600 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Potomac River At Paw Paw
with a gauge stage of 4.33 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.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-28 |
| Discharge Volume | 16,495 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
8,316.0 cfs
-310.0 cfs (-3.59%) |
| Percent of Normal | 21.23% |
| Maximum |
498,100.0 cfs
2018-06-05 |
| Seasonal Avg | 39,171 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Potomac River At Paw Paw
USGS 01610000 |
986 cfs | 4.33 ft | 6.83 | |||||
|
Potomac River At Hancock
USGS 01613000 |
1000 cfs | 3.29 ft | 0.7 | |||||
|
Potomac River At Shepherdstown
USGS 01618000 |
1520 cfs | 2.15 ft | -5 | |||||
|
Potomac River At Point Of Rocks
USGS 01638500 |
2210 cfs | 1.32 ft | -2.21 | |||||
|
Potomac River Near Wash
USGS 01646500 |
2600 cfs | 2.95 ft | -8.77 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
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.
Dalecarlia Reservoir
Gillam Branch (historical)
Davis Branch (historical)
Maddox Branch
Georgetown Reservoir