Wills Creek near Cumberland, MD
River level and flood forecast · Allegany County
The river is 6.8 ft below flood stage (10 ft).
Forecast to fall to 2.1 ft by Thu, Oct 15, 8 PM.
Flow: 350 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 Wills Creek near Cumberland to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 14 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 12 ft |
| Flood stage | 10 ft |
| Action stage | 9 ft |
| Record crest (January 19, 1996) | 23.11 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 23 ftThe levee system on Wills Creek protects the city of Cumberland from flooding to approximately this level.
- 22 ftSignificant portions of Maryland Route 36 at Motor City and National Highway in The Narrows are flooded, along with many homes and businesses in Motor City and Locust Grove.
- 18 ftPortions of the Western Maryland Railroad in The Narrows are underwater. Numerous homes and businesses in Motor City and Locust Grove are flooded.
- 14 ftSeveral businesses at Motor City and outside the levee protection north of Cumberland are flooded, along with at least a couple homes in Locust Grove. Water approaches low spots on Route 36, possibly affecting one lane.
- 12 ftWater reaches businesses in Motor City along route 36, and begins to approach homes in Locust Grove. Water may be approaching the lowest sections of the railroad tracks on the left bank. The tracks on the right bank will not be affected.
- 11 ftWater approaches businesses at Motor City. Vehicles must be moved to higher ground.
- 10 ftWater reaches a private bridge near Corriganville, and a car wash at Motor City. Water also reaches the parking lots of businesses along route 36 at Motor City. Vehicles may need to be moved to higher ground.
- 9 ftThe creek floods over its banks but no property is affected.
Highest crests on record
- 23.11 ft — January 19, 1996
- 20.2 ft — March 17, 1936
- 15.14 ft — October 15, 1942
- 14.94 ft — August 13, 1984
- 14.12 ft — May 14, 2025
Recent crests: 14.12 ft (May 14, 2025) · 14.11 ft (September 2, 2021) · 11.57 ft (September 9, 2018) · 10.27 ft (October 30, 2012) · 8.66 ft (May 18, 2011)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (CWCM2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.