North Branch Potomac River at Luke, MD
River level and flood forecast · Allegany County
The river is 8.6 ft below flood stage (10.5 ft).
Forecast to hold near 1.9 ft through Thu, Oct 15, 8 PM.
Flow: 400 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 8:57 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
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An email when the National Weather Service forecasts North Branch Potomac River at Luke to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 15 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 12.5 ft |
| Flood stage | 10.5 ft |
| Action stage | 9 ft |
| Record crest (October 15, 1954) | 17.15 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 20 ftWater overtops the railroad bridges at the old paper mill.
- 17 ftLevees protect the old paper mill at Luke up to approximately this level. If water reaches the top of the levee, water may affect structures.
- 16 ftWater reaches the railroad tracks in the town of Westernport.
- 15 ftSignificant flooding is occurring in Westernport and Piedmont, with buildings and roads flooded.
- 13.5 ftMaryland Route 135 begins to flood west of the town of Luke. Water also reaches the underside of railroad bridges near the old paper mill.
- 12.5 ftBackwater from the Potomac begins to flood the town of Westernport. Portions of Maryland Route 135 east of downtown may be affected, and water will approach Westernport Elementary School. This flooding will be more severe if Georges Creek is also in flood.
- 12 ftFloodwaters begin to affect portions of Piedmont, West Virginia.
- 10.5 ftIf water levels are elevated on Georges Creek, a combination of the creek and backwater from the Potomac will begin to flood the town of Westernport. Portions of Maryland Route 135 may be affected, and water will approach Westernport Elementary School.
- 7 ftWater begins to flow over the dam near the old paper mill in Luke. No flooding is occurring.
Highest crests on record
- 17.15 ft — October 15, 1954
- 17 ft — March 25, 1924
- 16.76 ft — March 17, 1936
- 15.53 ft — August 17, 1955
- 14.87 ft — July 3, 1978
Recent crests: 9.49 ft (May 11, 2003) · 10.26 ft (September 7, 1996) · 9.83 ft (April 1, 1993) · 9.76 ft (May 6, 1988) · 9.72 ft (April 5, 1984)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamNorth Branch Potomac River at Barnum, WV
- DownstreamNorth Branch Potomac River at Cumberland, MD
- Georges Creek near Franklin/Westernport, MD
- Savage River near Bloomington, MD
- Savage River near Barton, MD
- North Branch Potomac River at Kitzmiller, MD
- Abram Creek at Oakmont, WV
- Patterson Creek near Headsville, WV
- Linton Creek near Laurel Dale, WV
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (LUKM2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.