Flood Warnings Issued for Potomac & Shenandoah Rivers

Flooding is occurring on both rivers in Maryland and West Virginia.

The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a flood warning for areas along the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.

Point of Rocks, MD
The Flood Warning continues for the Potomac River at Point of Rocks until late Tuesday night. At 2 AM Monday the stage was 16.6 feet. Flood stage is 16.0 feet. Minor flooding is occurring and major flooding is forecast. Forecasters say the river will continue rise to near 26.1 feet by this afternoon. The river will fall below flood stage late Tuesday evening. At 27.0 feet water covers a large section of the C&O Canal towpath in Frederick County. Water also reaches the railroad tracks at Point of Rocks. This flood compares to a previous crest of 25.5 feet on March 15, 2010.

Harpers Ferry, WV
The flood warning continues for the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia until Tuesday afternoon. At 2 AM Monday the stage was 18.4 feet. Flood stage is 18.0 feet. Minor flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is 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. 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 of 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.

Shepherdstown, WV
Potomac River at Shepherdstown. A flood warning is in effect until Wednesday morning. At 2 PM Sunday, the stage was 9.5 feet and rising. Flood stage is 15 feet. It is forecast to rise above flood stage by late Sunday and crest near 23.8 feet by early Monday evening. The river will fall below flood stage by early Wednesday morning.

Williamsport, MD
Potomac River at Williamsport. A flood warning is in effect until further notice. At 2 PM Sunday, the stage was 9.9 feet and rising. Flood stage is 23 feet.. Moderate flooding is forecast for Monday afternoon.

Hancock, MD
Potomac River at Hancock. A flood warning is in effect Monday morning to evening. At 3 PM Sunday, the stage was 21.8 feet and rising. Flood stage is 30 feet. Minor flooding is forecast. It is forecast to rise above flood stage by Monday morning and crest near 30.5 feet by mid-afternoon. The river will fall below flood stage later Monday.

Millville, WV
A flood warning extended until Wednesday morning for the Shenandoah River at Millville, West Virginia. At 2 AM Monday the stage was 15.7 feet. Flood stage is 10.0 feet. Moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast. The river will continue rising to near 16.9 feet by this morning. The river will fall below flood stage early Wednesday morning. At 17.0 feet water reaches the railroad tracks along the river in Millville. Many roads and fields are flooded. This flood compares to a previous crest of 16.0 feet on Apr 18 2011.

 

–Dianah Gibson