Potomac River at Shepherdstown, WV
River level and flood forecast · Jefferson County
Normal3.7 ftas of Mon 3:30 PM
The river is 11.3 ft below flood stage (15 ft).
Forecast to rise to 9.0 ft Tue 2 PM, below the 15 ft flood stage.
Flow: 5,530 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 3 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 25 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 22 ft |
| Flood stage | 15 ft |
| Action stage | 8 ft |
| Record crest (March 19, 1936) | 42.07 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 25 ftSignificant flooding is occurring throughout this stretch of the Potomac, with numerous buildings and roads inundated, and a few homes. Major impacts are occurring on C&O Canal property.
- 24 ftWater begins to cover the parking lot adjacent to the Shepherdstown boat ramp, and approaches the lowest point of an adjacent building. Water also reaches the upper parking area of the boat ramp adjacent to Dam Number Four on the West Virginia side of the river.
- 22 ftWater approaches homes on the West Virginia side of the river near Shepherdstown, and impacts are also observed on the Maryland side, not just to the C&O Canal towpath, but also to roads and structures.
- 19 ftWater covers the pedestrian bridge adjacent to the Shepherdstown boat ramp. Significant portions of the C&O Canal towpath are flooded.
- 16 ftWater goes over the banks of the Potomac near the mouth of the Opequon River.
- 15 ftRiver Road is completely flooded in low spots between Shepherdstown and Harpers Ferry. Significant portions of the C&O Canal towpath are flooded between McMahons Mill and Dam Number Four.
- 13 ftRiver Road near Shepherdstown begins to flood. Water completely covers the boat ramp at Shepherdstown.
- 12 ftWater reaches the lowest part of the parking areas at Big Slackwater and Taylors Landing on the Maryland side of the river.
- 10 ftWater begins to cover the C&O Canal towpath upstream and downstream of McMahons Mill.
- 8 ftWater covers the lower parking area of the boat ramp adjacent to Dam Number Four on the West Virginia side of the river.
Highest crests on record
- 42.07 ft — March 19, 1936
- 39.2 ft — June 1, 1889
- 33.2 ft — April 27, 1937
- 32.68 ft — October 16, 1942
- 32.5 ft — January 21, 1996
Recent crests: 23.27 ft (May 15, 2025) · 20 ft (May 8, 2022) · 17.54 ft (March 2, 2021) · 15.25 ft (May 2, 2020) · 22.12 ft (December 17, 2018)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SHEW2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.