Potomac River at Point of Rocks, MD

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.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 40 ftWater reaches the lowest portion of the city of Brunswick, above the railroad tracks.
• 35 ftThe MARC station in Point of Rocks is flooded. At least two feet of water covers much of Maryland State Route 28 in the city. Water begins to enter homes and businesses in Point of Rocks along Route 28.
• 32 ftWater covers Maryland State Route 28 in Point of Rocks near the MARC station.
• 31 ftWater reaches the MARC parking lot at Brunswick.
• 30 ftWater reaches a home on the Loudoun County side of the river near Point of Rocks. Water also reaches the Brunswick train yard and covers portions of the MARC parking lot at Point of Rocks, and covers Old Commerce Street in Point of Rocks.
• 29 ftWater completely covers the comfort station at the Point of Rocks boat ramp.
• 27 ftWater covers a large section of the C&O Canal towpath in Frederick County, Maryland. Water also reaches the railroad tracks at Point of Rocks.
• 25 ftWater reaches outbuildings on the Loudoun County side of the river near Point of Rocks.
• 23 ftFloodwaters completely cover the comfort station at the Brunswick boat ramp, and reach the comfort station at the Point of Rocks boat ramp. The upper parking lot at the Point of Rocks boat ramp begins to flood.
• 22 ftWater begins to cover the C&O Canal towpath near Point of Rocks and Brunswick.
• 20 ftThe boat ramp and lower parking lot at Point of Rocks are flooded. Water approaches the water treatment plant in Brunswick. Farmland behind the Tarara Vineyard is flooded.
• 18 ftWater approaches structures at the Brunswick campground.
• 17 ftWater enters the comfort station at the Brunswick boat ramp parking area.
• 16 ftThe parking lots at both the McKimmey and Brunswick boat ramps begin to flood. Flooding of an agricultural field adjacent to the McKimmey boat ramp is occurring. About half the lower parking lot of the Point of Rocks boat ramp is also flooded.
• 15 ftSeveral lowland forested areas, mainly on islands, begin to flood.
• 14 ftWater completely covers the Nolands Ferry boat ramp and begins to flood the parking lot nearby.
• 13 ftWater begins to cover low lying areas within the Brunswick campground.
• 12.5 ftThe Point of Rocks boat ramp is completely covered by water, and water begins to affect the lower parking lot nearby.
• 11 ftWater covers the parking lot of the Lander boat ramp. Campers and other recreational interests should begin to move away from the river.
• 5.5 ftThe river reaches danger level for boaters, as defined by the State of Maryland. Conditions are extremely hazardous.
• 2 ftThe river reaches caution level for boaters, as defined by the State of Maryland. Fast moving water and changing currents can be expected.

Highest crests on record

1. 41.03 ft — March 19, 1936
2. 40.43 ft — October 16, 1942
3. 40.2 ft — June 2, 1889
4. 37.43 ft — June 23, 1972
5. 36.34 ft — January 21, 1996

Recent crests: 23.56 ft (May 15, 2025) · 23.56 ft (May 15, 2025) · 18.29 ft (May 9, 2022) · 16.39 ft (March 2, 2021) · 22.4 ft (December 17, 2018)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• DownstreamPotomac River at Edwards Ferry, MD
• Catoctin Creek at Taylorstown, VA
• North Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford, VA
• South Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford, VA
• Limestone Branch near Leesburg, VA
• Bennett Creek at Park Mills, MD
• Piney Run (VA) near Lovettsville, VA
• Catoctin Creek Near Middletown, MD