Potomac River at Shepherdstown water level

Name: Potomac River at Shepherdstown 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, Potomac River, West Virginia, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

3.23ft Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 01:30 AM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 3,830 cfs

History

7 days

Water level Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.80 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 08:00 AM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 10:56 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Potomac River at Shepherdstown, where the gauge shows 3.23 ft.

It is 11.77 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft.

It is still going down, by 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.80 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 08:00 AM. The 30-day range is 3.23 ft – 3.89 ft.

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

Key numbers

Highest on record: 42.07 ftMarch 19, 1936
Forecast peak: 3.20 ftMonday, October 19 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

25.00 ft: Significant 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.
24.00 ft: Water 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.
22.00 ft: Water 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.
19.00 ft: Water covers the pedestrian bridge adjacent to the Shepherdstown boat ramp. Significant portions of the C&O Canal towpath are flooded.
16.00 ft: Water goes over the banks of the Potomac near the mouth of the Opequon River.
15.00 ft: River 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.
13.00 ft: River Road near Shepherdstown begins to flood. Water completely covers the boat ramp at Shepherdstown.
12.00 ft: Water reaches the lowest part of the parking areas at Big Slackwater and Taylors Landing on the Maryland side of the river.
10.00 ft: Water begins to cover the C&O Canal towpath upstream and downstream of McMahons Mill.
8.00 ft: Water covers the lower parking area of the boat ramp adjacent to Dam Number Four on the West Virginia side of the river.
3.23 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: 17 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	42.07 ft	March 19, 1936
2	39.20 ft	June 1, 1889
3	33.20 ft	April 27, 1937
4	32.68 ft	October 16, 1942
5	32.50 ft	January 21, 1996
6	31.58 ft	June 23, 1972
7	31.44 ft	November 7, 1985
8	29.80 ft	May 13, 1924
9	29.00 ft	September 8, 1996
10	26.78 ft	October 29, 1937

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:26 AM Sunset 06:28 PM Daylight 11 hr, 2 min First quarter 56%

Map

Other gauges on the Potomac River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Potomac River at Paw PawRiver gauge, Potomac River	5.85 ft	Below flood stage	−0.39 ft	36 mi
Potomac River at HancockRiver gauge, Potomac River	4.75 ft	Below flood stage	−0.28 ft	27 mi
Potomac River at Harpers FerryRiver gauge, Potomac River	2.39 ft	No reference yet	−0.21 ft	9 mi
Potomac River at Burkittsville Road at BrunswickRiver gauge, Potomac River	3.44 ft	No reference yet	−0.08 ft	13 mi
Potomac River at Point of RocksRiver gauge, Potomac River	2.56 ft	Below flood stage	−0.09 ft	18 mi
Potomac River at Edwards Ferry near PoolesvilleRiver gauge, Potomac River	4.87 ft	Below flood stage	−0.17 ft	29 mi
Potomac River near Wash, Dc Little Falls Pump StationRiver gauge, Potomac River	3.54 ft	Below flood stage	−0.13 ft	49 mi
Potomac River at Wisconsin Ave, WashingtonEstuary gauge, Potomac River	2.73 ft	Below flood stage	+1.56 ft	54 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Rockymarsh Run at ScrabbleRiver gauge, Rockymarsh Run	1.05 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	3.7 mi
Antietam Creek near SharpsburgRiver gauge, Antietam Creek	2.40 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	3.9 mi
Marsh Run at GrimesRiver gauge, Marsh Run	1.08 ft	Below flood stage	±0	5.7 mi
Opequon Creek near MartinsburgRiver gauge, Opequon Creek	2.08 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	7 mi
Hopewell Run at LeetownRiver gauge, Hopewell Run	1.5 cfs	Very low	±0	9 mi
Tuscarora Creek above MartinsburgRiver gauge, Tuscarora Creek	2.38 ft	Below flood stage	±0	9 mi
Piney Run near LovettsvilleRiver gauge, Piney Run	1.51 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	10 mi
Shenandoah River at MillvilleRiver gauge, Shenandoah River	2.45 ft	Below flood stage	−0.36 ft	11 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Potomac River at Shepherdstown?

The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 11.77 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 Potomac River at Shepherdstown today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 01:30 AM EDT, the water level was 3.23 ft. Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Potomac River at Shepherdstown rising or falling?

Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Potomac River at Shepherdstown normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Potomac River at Shepherdstown?

The highest level on record is 42.07 ft on March 19, 1936.

Is Potomac River at Shepherdstown expected to rise?

The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.80 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:01618000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 39.43472, -77.80139 (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	3.23 ft	2026-10-19 05:30	Provisional
Flow	3,830 cfs	2026-10-19 05:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Potomac River at Shepherdstown (usgs:01618000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/west-virginia/potomac-river-at-shepherdstown

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