Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick water level

Name: Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Monocacy River, Maryland, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

1.97ft Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 06:30 AM EDT (34 min ago)

Flow: 245 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.90 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 08:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 10:19 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick, where the gauge shows 1.97 ft.

It is 13.03 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft.

It is still going down, by 0.07 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.90 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 08:00 AM. The 30-day range is 1.97 ft – 2.41 ft.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 35.90 ftJune 23, 1972
Forecast peak: 2.00 ftTuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 15.00 ft.

What happens at each level

30.00 ft: Water reaches the second floor of Gambrill Mill on the Monocacy National Battlefield.
24.00 ft: Water approaches Urbana Pike near Monocacy National Battlefield.
21.00 ft: Maryland Route 26 is flooded near the Monocacy River bridge.
20.00 ft: Water reaches Gambrill Mill on the Monocacy National Battlefield.
17.00 ft: Significant lowland flooding is occurring along the river, with backwater flooding also occurring. Numerous roads are closed. Water is approaching the parking lot at Gambrill Mill on the Monocacy National Battlefield. Backwater flooding from Carroll Creek is likely approaching the underside of the bridge leading to the Frederick city wastewater treatment plant.
16.00 ft: Much of Pinecliff Park and Rivermist Park in Frederick are flooded. Buckeystown Community Park is also flooded with water approaching the parking lot. Waters are also approaching the Frederick city wastewater treatment plant and the Ballenger Creek wastewater treatment plant. Significant backwater flooding is occurring. Several roads will be closed along the river and adjoining creeks.
15.00 ft: Both banks of the river are flooded. Water begins to flood low-lying fields at Monocacy National Battlefield. Water reaches the access road of the Frederick city wastewater treatment plant. Backwater flooding is occurring on several area creeks, particularly Carroll Creek in Frederick.
14.00 ft: Two low-water crossings, one on Michaels Mill Road /State Route 880/ in Buckeystown, and one on Retreat Road north of Frederick, begin to flood.
13.00 ft: Water covers portions of Pinecliff Park in southeast Frederick. Water also approaches Rivermist Park in northeast Frederick.
10.00 ft: The east side of the Monocacy River, or left bank, begins to flood east of Frederick. Although no structures are affected, water approaches an access road at Pinecliff Park.
5.00 ft: After rain events, the river may become hazardous for recreational purposes when stages are over 5 feet.
1.97 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 25 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	35.90 ft	June 23, 1972
2	30.80 ft	September 26, 1975
3	28.10 ft	August 24, 1933
4	25.38 ft	October 10, 1976
5	23.67 ft	January 20, 1996
6	22.54 ft	June 20, 1996
7	22.10 ft	September 2, 2021
8	22.03 ft	September 6, 1979
9	21.77 ft	October 31, 2012
10	21.70 ft	April 27, 1937

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 67° 38° – Wind 11 mph

21 Wed 63° 40° – Wind 10 mph

22 Thu 67° 42° – Wind 11 mph

23 Fri 61° 42° – Wind 11 mph

24 Sat 61° 39° – Wind 7 mph

25 Sun 65° 40° – Wind 7 mph

26 Mon 69° 44° – Wind 6 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:25 AM Sunset 06:25 PM Daylight 11 hr First quarter 67%

Map

Other gauges on the Monocacy River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Monocacy River at BridgeportRiver gauge, Monocacy River	2.51 ft	Below flood stage	−0.07 ft	20 mi
Monocacy River at Monocacy Blvd at FrederickRiver gauge, Monocacy River	1.76 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	2.9 mi
Monocacy River near DickersonRiver gauge, Monocacy River	1.68 ft	No reference yet	−0.11 ft	10 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Bennett Creek at Park MillsRiver gauge, Bennett Creek	1.65 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	8 mi
Soper Branch at HyattstownRiver gauge, Soper Branch	0.5 cfs	Normal	±0	9 mi
Catoctin Creek near MiddletownRiver gauge, Catoctin Creek	1.60 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	10 mi
Tenmile Creek near ClarksburgRiver gauge, Tenmile Creek	2.91 ft	Below flood stage	±0	13 mi
Potomac River at Point of RocksRiver gauge, Potomac River	2.37 ft	Below flood stage	−0.15 ft	13 mi
Tenmile Creek near BoydsRiver gauge, Tenmile Creek	2.18 ft	Below flood stage	±0	13 mi
Little Seneca Creek Tributary near ClarksburgRiver gauge, Little Seneca Creek Tributary	0.1 cfs	Very low	±0	13 mi
Little Seneca Creek Tributary at BrinkRiver gauge, Little Seneca Creek Tributary	0.3 cfs	Normal	±0	14 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick?

The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 13.03 ft below it.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 06:30 AM EDT, the water level was 1.97 ft. Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick rising or falling?

Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick?

The highest level on record is 35.90 ft on June 23, 1972.

Is Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick expected to rise?

The forecast expects the river to fall to 1.90 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 08:00 AM.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:01643000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 39.40283, -77.36608 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NAVD88
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	1.97 ft	2026-10-20 10:30	Provisional
Flow	245 cfs	2026-10-20 10:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick (usgs:01643000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/maryland/monocacy-river-at-jug-bridge-near-frederick

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer