Potomac River at Edwards Ferry, MD
River level and flood forecast · Montgomery County
The river is 8.8 ft below flood stage (15 ft).
Forecast to rise to 9.0 ft Wed 2 AM, below the 15 ft flood stage.
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 Potomac River at Edwards Ferry to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 24 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 17 ft |
| Flood stage | 15 ft |
| Action stage | 12.25 ft |
| Record crest (June 5, 2018) | 22.45 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 28 ftTchiffely Mill Road begins to flood due to backwater effects. Most of the C&O Canal towpath is flooded.
- 26 ftWater covers the lock at Edwards Ferry. The access road to Violettes Lock is flooded.
- 24 ftWater reaches the first floor ceiling at Whites Ferry store. Significant portions of the C&O Canal towpath are flooded. Backwater flooding is affecting homes on the Loudoun County side of the river near Broad Run in Sterling.
- 20 ftThe basements of the Edwards Ferry Lockhouse and Rileys Lockhouse are flooded. Backwater flooding may affect homes on the Loudoun County side of the river near Broad Run in Sterling.
- 18.5 ftThe parking lot at Edwards Ferry is completely covered by water. The parking lot at Seneca is partially flooded.
- 17 ftFloodwaters begin to enter the store at Whites Ferry.
- 15 ftWater reaches the boat ramp and lower parking area at Edwards Ferry, and begins to inundate areas near Whites Ferry.
- 14.7 ftThe Chisel Branch Hiker/Biker Campsite near the C&O Canal trail starts flooding.
- 12.25 ftWater reaches the Whites Ferry area. Ferry service may be suspended.
Highest crests on record
- 22.45 ft — June 5, 2018
- 21.8 ft — September 29, 2018
- 21.57 ft — September 29, 2018
- 21.25 ft — May 15, 2025
- 21.09 ft — May 17, 2014
Recent crests: 21.25 ft (May 15, 2025) · 15.17 ft (January 11, 2024) · 18.45 ft (May 8, 2022) · 16.91 ft (March 2, 2021) · 15.9 ft (May 2, 2020)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamPotomac River at Point of Rocks, MD
- DownstreamPotomac River near Washington DC (Little Falls), MD
- Broad Run near Sterling, VA
- Limestone Branch near Leesburg, VA
- Seneca Creek at Dawsonville, MD
- Goose Creek near Leesburg, VA
- South Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford, VA
- North Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford, VA
- North Fork Goose Creek near Lincoln, VA
- Ten Mile Creek near Boyds, MD
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (EDFM2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.