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Potomac River at Alexandria

Highest listed crest 8.66 ftFlood stage 3.3 ft67 crests since 1936

The Potomac River at Alexandria crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 67 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1936 to 2023. The highest, 8.66 ft on September 19, 2003, was major flooding, 5.36 feet above flood stage. 8 other gauges on the Potomac River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
8.66 ft
September 19, 2003
Flood stage
3.3 ft
Major flooding from 6.6 ft
Crests at major
2
4th of 6 gauges in District of Columbia
Most recent flood crest
September 24, 2023
4.44 ft, moderate flooding
Location
District of Columbia
Near Alexandria (2.6 mi), Washington (6.9 mi), Falls Church (9.2 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Potomac River at Alexandria
Action stage2.54May 7, 2009The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)3.344Apr 30, 2020Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage4.217Sep 24, 2023Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage6.62Sep 19, 2003Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

67 crests from 1936 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Potomac River at Alexandria, 1936 to 2023 246810ft Flood stage 3.3 ftMajor 6.6 ft Mar 19, 1936: 7.40 ft, major floodingSep 19, 2003: 8.66 ft, major floodingOct 26, 2007: 3.48 ft, minor floodingDec 23, 2007: 3.39 ft, minor floodingApr 8, 2008: 3.20 ft, action stageApr 21, 2008: 3.47 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 2008: 3.26 ft, action stageMay 14, 2008: 4.03 ft, minor floodingAug 29, 2008: 3.32 ft, minor floodingSep 27, 2008: 3.67 ft, minor floodingOct 21, 2008: 3.57 ft, minor floodingOct 25, 2008: 3.53 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 2009: 3.19 ft, action stageMay 7, 2009: 3.22 ft, action stageJun 18, 2009: 3.80 ft, minor floodingSep 18, 2009: 3.72 ft, minor floodingOct 30, 2009: 3.54 ft, minor floodingDec 26, 2009: 3.73 ft, minor floodingJan 20, 2010: 3.62 ft, minor floodingJan 25, 2010: 4.16 ft, minor floodingMar 14, 2010: 4.88 ft, moderate floodingMar 29, 2010: 3.63 ft, minor floodingAug 13, 2010: 3.62 ft, minor floodingOct 1, 2010: 3.75 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 2011: 3.96 ft, minor floodingApr 16, 2011: 5.06 ft, moderate floodingMay 12, 2011: 4.22 ft, moderate floodingMay 19, 2011: 4.37 ft, moderate floodingSep 8, 2011: 3.78 ft, minor floodingSep 28, 2011: 3.67 ft, minor floodingOct 13, 2011: 3.87 ft, minor floodingJun 6, 2012: 3.94 ft, minor floodingOct 30, 2012: 4.65 ft, moderate floodingDec 21, 2012: 3.55 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 2013: 3.93 ft, minor floodingOct 13, 2013: 3.46 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 2014: 4.92 ft, moderate floodingMay 16, 2014: 4.43 ft, moderate floodingMay 30, 2014: 3.63 ft, minor floodingJun 13, 2014: 3.79 ft, minor floodingAug 12, 2014: 3.82 ft, minor floodingSep 11, 2014: 3.56 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 2014: 4.40 ft, moderate floodingApr 20, 2015: 3.61 ft, minor floodingJun 27, 2015: 3.90 ft, minor floodingSep 27, 2015: 3.61 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 2015: 4.21 ft, moderate floodingOct 28, 2015: 3.92 ft, minor floodingFeb 9, 2016: 4.11 ft, minor floodingFeb 25, 2016: 4.46 ft, moderate floodingMay 6, 2016: 3.82 ft, minor floodingJan 23, 2017: 3.63 ft, minor floodingMar 7, 2018: 4.15 ft, minor floodingApr 16, 2018: 3.94 ft, minor floodingMay 19, 2018: 3.80 ft, minor floodingSep 10, 2018: 5.04 ft, moderate floodingOct 27, 2018: 4.09 ft, minor floodingNov 27, 2018: 4.06 ft, minor floodingDec 21, 2018: 4.16 ft, minor floodingOct 12, 2019: 4.46 ft, moderate floodingNov 1, 2019: 4.27 ft, moderate floodingApr 5, 2020: 3.79 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 2020: 3.89 ft, minor floodingOct 29, 2021: 5.99 ft, moderate floodingJan 17, 2022: 4.27 ft, moderate floodingApr 7, 2023: 4.53 ft, moderate floodingSep 24, 2023: 4.44 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 8.66 ft, Sep 19, 2003 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Potomac River at Alexandria 1930s: 1 1940s: 0 1950s: 0 1960s: 0 1970s: 0 1980s: 0 1990s: 0 2000s: 13 2010s: 43 43 2020s: 6 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 67 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Potomac River at Alexandria
1Sep 19, 20038.66+5.36Major—
2Mar 19, 19367.40+4.10Major—
3Oct 29, 20215.99+2.69Moderate—
4Apr 16, 20115.06+1.76Moderate—
5Sep 10, 20185.04+1.74Moderate—
6Apr 30, 20144.92+1.62Moderate—
7Mar 14, 20104.88+1.58Moderate—
8Oct 30, 20124.65+1.35Moderate—
9Apr 7, 20234.53+1.23Moderate—
10Feb 25, 20164.46+1.16Moderate—
11Oct 12, 20194.46+1.16Moderate—
12Sep 24, 20234.44+1.14Moderate—
13May 16, 20144.43+1.13Moderate—
14Oct 4, 20144.40+1.10Moderate—
15May 19, 20114.37+1.07Moderate—
16Nov 1, 20194.27+0.97Moderate—
17Jan 17, 20224.27+0.97Moderate—
18May 12, 20114.22+0.92Moderate—
19Oct 4, 20154.21+0.91Moderate—
20Jan 25, 20104.16+0.86Minor—
21Dec 21, 20184.16+0.86Minor—
22Mar 7, 20184.15+0.85Minor—
23Feb 9, 20164.11+0.81Minor—
24Oct 27, 20184.09+0.79Minor—
25Nov 27, 20184.06+0.76Minor—
26May 14, 20084.03+0.73Minor—
27Mar 11, 20113.96+0.66Minor—
28Jun 6, 20123.94+0.64Minor—
29Apr 16, 20183.94+0.64Minor—
30Mar 10, 20133.93+0.63Minor—
31Oct 28, 20153.92+0.62Minor—
32Jun 27, 20153.90+0.60Minor—
33Apr 30, 20203.89+0.59Minor—
34Oct 13, 20113.87+0.57Minor—
35Aug 12, 20143.82+0.52Minor—
36May 6, 20163.82+0.52Minor—
37Jun 18, 20093.80+0.50Minor—
38May 19, 20183.80+0.50Minor—
39Jun 13, 20143.79+0.49Minor—
40Apr 5, 20203.79+0.49Minor—
41Sep 8, 20113.78+0.48Minor—
42Oct 1, 20103.75+0.45Minor—
43Dec 26, 20093.73+0.43Minor—
44Sep 18, 20093.72+0.42Minor—
45Sep 27, 20083.67+0.37Minor—
46Sep 28, 20113.67+0.37Minor—
47Mar 29, 20103.63+0.33Minor—
48May 30, 20143.63+0.33Minor—
49Jan 23, 20173.63+0.33Minor—
50Jan 20, 20103.62+0.32Minor—

The worst floods along the Potomac River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Potomac River that crested above flood stage within a week.

September 19, 2003: 8.66 ft here, major flooding

March 19, 1936: 7.40 ft here, major flooding

October 29, 2021: 5.99 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Potomac River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Potomac River
Alexandria this gaugeDC3.38.66 ft, Sep 19, 20032
Edwards FerryMD15.022.45 ft, Jun 5, 20180
Georgetown / Wisconsin AveDC6.017.72 ft, Oct 17, 19429
HancockMD25.047.60 ft, Mar 18, 19368
Harpers FerryMD18.036.50 ft, Mar 19, 193614
Lewisetta (IN MLLW)VA3.05.76 ft, Sep 1, 200611
Paw PawMD25.054.00 ft, Mar 18, 19368
Point of RocksMD16.041.03 ft, Mar 19, 193614
ShepherdstownWV15.042.07 ft, Mar 19, 193614
Washington DC (Little Falls)MD10.022.03 ft, Jun 24, 19724

Other gauges in District of Columbia

Flood gauges in District of Columbia
Georgetown / Wisconsin Ave6.017.72 ft, Oct 17, 19429
Joyce Road in Washington7.012.33 ft, Jun 22, 19720
Sherrill Drive/DC7.016.20 ft, Jun 22, 19727
SW Waterfront (IN MLLW)5.311.05 ft, Oct 17, 194213
Washington10.011.19 ft, Sep 10, 20200

District of Columbia: every hazard · River floods across the country · District of Columbia

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge AXTV2, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.