Weekend Rain Sends Flood Waters Down The Potomac River

John Matthews
WMAL.com

POINT OF ROCKS, MD — After several days of heavy rain, bright sunshine is expected to greet us Monday, but when it comes to river flooding issues, the damage has already been done.

Flood warnings are posted along the length of the Potomac River basin, with minor to moderate flooding already underway as of early Monday morning in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where the water was measured in excess of 20 feet, at a point where the flood stage is 15 feet. The National Weather Service forecasts that the river will continue to rise, peaking at 22.9 feet by mid-afternoon Monday, and falling back below flood stage by Tuesday evening.

Similar scenarios are expected to play out at the wall of water moves further south.

At Little Falls in the District, the Potomac was at 8.4 feet at 5 am Monday morning , short of the 10-foot flood stage. Water levels are expected to reach flood levels by mid-afternoon, and crest near 13 feet overnight into Tuesday before receding below flood stage on Wednesday.

The high water levels on the Potomac has closed White’s Ferry until further notice.

Here are the latest Flood Warnings from the National Weather Service:

Flood Statement
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
526 AM EDT Mon Jun 4 2018

…The flood warning continues for the following rivers in
Maryland…Virginia…
Potomac River at Point of Rocks affecting Frederick and Loudoun
Counties

The Flood Warning continues for
The Potomac River at Point of Rocks.
* Until late Tuesday night.
* At 5 AM Monday the stage was 19.5 feet.
* Flood stage is 16.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and Major flooding is forecast.
* Recent activity…The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at
5 AM Monday was 19.5 feet.
* Forecast…The river will continue rising to near 26.1 feet by
mid-afternoon today. The river will fall below flood stage late
tomorrow evening.
* Impact…At 27.0 feet…Water covers a large section of the C&O
Canal towpath in Frederick County, Maryland. Water also reaches the
railroad tracks at Point of Rocks.
* Flood history…This crest compares to a previous crest of 25.5 feet
on Mar 15 2010.

&&
526 AM EDT Mon Jun 4 2018

The Flood Warning continues for
The Potomac River at Harpers Ferry.
* Until Tuesday afternoon.
* At 5 AM Monday the stage was 19.7 feet.
* Flood stage is 18.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and Moderate flooding is forecast.
* Recent activity…The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at
5 AM Monday was 19.7 feet.
* Forecast…The river will continue rising to near 21.9 feet by
mid-afternoon today. The river will fall below flood stage late
tomorrow morning .
* Impact…At 21.5 feet…Virtually all of the old federal armory
site at historic Harpers Ferry is flooded. Water begins flowing out
of the open tunnel between the Potomac and lower town Harpers
Ferry, flooding the very end of Shenandoah Street. Backwaters from
the Shenandoah River flood even more of Shenandoah Street,
including the shuttle bus pavilion.

524 AM EDT Mon Jun 4 2018

The Flood Warning continues for
The Potomac River at Little Falls.
* From early this afternoon until Wednesday morning.
* At 5 AM Monday the stage was 8.4 feet.
* Flood stage is 10.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is forecast.
* Forecast…Rise above flood stage by early this afternoon and crest
near 13.0 feet by overnight tonight. The river will fall below
flood stage by early Wednesday morning.
* Impact…At 14.0 feet…Significant portions of the C&O Canal
towpath are flooded. The Blockhouse Point Park is flooded. Water
reaches the retaining wall at Overlook 1 at Great Falls National
Park but does not overtop it.
* Flood history…This crest compares to a previous crest of 12.8 feet
on Mar 15 2010.

524 AM EDT Mon Jun 4 2018

The Flood Warning continues for
The Potomac River at Edwards Ferry.
* Until Wednesday afternoon.
* At 5 AM Monday the stage was 17.1 feet.
* Flood stage is 15.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring and Moderate flooding is forecast.
* Recent activity…The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at
5 AM Monday was 17.1 feet.
* Forecast…The river will continue rising to near 22.4 feet by
early this evening. The river will fall below flood stage Wednesday
morning.
* Impact…At 24.0 feet…Water reaches the first floor ceiling at
Whites Ferry store. Significant portions of the C&O Canal towpath
are flooded. Backwater flooding is affecting homes on the Loudoun
County side of the river near Broad Run in Sterling.