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SwedenSouth Branch Potomac River near Springfield water level
River gauge, South Branch Potomac River, West Virginia, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 1,140 cfs
- Water temperature
- 55 °F
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 2.80 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 10:19 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The South Branch Potomac River near Springfield is at 2.69 ft, in the normal range.
It is 12.31 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft.
It has dropped 0.27 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 2.80 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 2.69 ft and 3.69 ft.
The water temperature at the gauge is 55 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 44.22 ftNovember 5, 1985
- Forecast peak
- 2.80 ftTuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM
Floating and fishing near South Branch Potomac River near Springfield
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 15.00 ft, 12.31 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 25.00 ft
- Most camphouses and a large portion of fields in the area are flooded.
- 19.00 ft
- Houses on the right downstream side of the river are flooded.
- 17.00 ft
- Water approaches camphouses downstream from the gage.
- 15.00 ft
- Milleson Mill Road (County Route 28/5) and Clarence Taylor Road (Route 3/7) begin to flood. Water covers a significant portion of meadowlands near the river. The boat launch ramp on the upstream right abutment of the bridge also floods.
- 11.00 ft
- The river begins to overflow the banks in a few low lying areas. Campers should move away from the river.
- 5.00 ft
- Hazardous conditions for recreation may exist.
- 2.69 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: 12 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44.22 ft | November 5, 1985 |
| 2 | 34.98 ft | September 7, 1996 |
| 3 | 34.20 ft | March 18, 1936 |
| 4 | 29.85 ft | June 18, 1949 |
| 5 | 28.41 ft | January 20, 1996 |
| 6 | 25.55 ft | August 19, 1955 |
| 7 | 24.70 ft | September 20, 2003 |
| 8 | 23.42 ft | October 10, 1976 |
| 9 | 23.00 ft | April 27, 1937 |
| 10 | 22.15 ft | March 20, 1963 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the South Branch Potomac River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Branch Potomac River at FranklinRiver gauge, South Branch Potomac River | 2.15 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 67 mi |
| South Branch Potomac River near PetersburgRiver gauge, South Branch Potomac River | 5.35 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 42 mi |
| South Branch Potomac River near MoorefieldRiver gauge, South Branch Potomac River | 8.13 ft | No reference yet | −0.17 ft | 29 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patterson Creek near HeadsvilleRiver gauge, Patterson Creek | 3.50 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 9 mi |
| Town Creek near OldtownRiver gauge, Town Creek | 2.02 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 9 mi |
| Potomac River at Paw PawRiver gauge, Potomac River | 5.49 ft | Below flood stage | −0.30 ft | 12 mi |
| North Branch Potomac River near CumberlandRiver gauge, North Branch Potomac River | 2.74 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 14 mi |
| Wills Creek near CumberlandRiver gauge, Wills Creek | 2.22 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 17 mi |
| Cacapon River near Great CacaponRiver gauge, Cacapon River | 1.94 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 21 mi |
| Georges Creek at FranklinRiver gauge, Georges Creek | 2.04 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 21 mi |
| Sideling Hill Creek near BellegroveRiver gauge, Sideling Hill Creek | 0.55 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 22 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the South Branch Potomac River near Springfield?
The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 12.31 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 South Branch Potomac River near Springfield today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 04:30 AM EDT, the water level was 2.69 ft. Down 0.27 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is South Branch Potomac River near Springfield rising or falling?
Down 0.27 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of South Branch Potomac River near Springfield normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at South Branch Potomac River near Springfield?
The highest level on record is 44.22 ft on November 5, 1985.
Is South Branch Potomac River near Springfield expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 2.80 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 02:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:01608500(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.44704, -78.65418(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 | 2.69 ft | 2026-10-20 08:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 1,140 cfs | 2026-10-20 08:30 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 55 °F | 2026-10-20 08:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: South Branch Potomac River near Springfield (usgs:01608500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/west-virginia/south-branch-potomac-river-near-springfield
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