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Watts Branch at Washington

Highest listed crest 11.19 ftFlood stage 10.0 ft17 crests since 1992

The Watts Branch at Washington crested above flood stage 4 times among the 17 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1992 to 2020. The highest, 11.19 ft on September 10, 2020, was minor flooding, 1.19 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
11.19 ft
September 10, 2020; 1,960 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
10.0 ft
No major stage set
Crests at major
0
4 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
September 10, 2020
11.19 ft, minor flooding
Location
District of Columbia
Near Washington (4.0 mi), Hyattsville (4.2 mi), New Carrollton (5.7 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Watts Branch at Washington
Action stage9.013Aug 2, 2018The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)10.04Sep 10, 2020Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage12.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream

Every listed crest

17 crests from 1992 to 2020. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Watts Branch at Washington, 1992 to 2020 99.51010.51111.5ft Flood stage 10.0 ft Jul 1, 1992: 9.03 ft, action stage; 930 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 1993: 9.30 ft, action stage; 1,030 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 1994: 10.36 ft, minor flooding; 1,510 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 1996: 9.58 ft, action stage; 1,150 cubic feet per secondNov 8, 1996: 9.07 ft, action stage; 944 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1998: 9.65 ft, action stage; 1,180 cubic feet per secondJul 14, 2000: 9.25 ft, action stage; 1,010 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2001: 10.26 ft, minor flooding; 1,470 cubic feet per secondAug 25, 2007: 9.45 ft, action stage; 1,100 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2008: 9.24 ft, action stage; 1,080 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 2011: 9.38 ft, action stage; 1,120 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2012: 9.95 ft, action stage; 1,300 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2015: 9.53 ft, action stage; 1,160 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 2016: 9.71 ft, action stage; 1,220 cubic feet per secondAug 2, 2018: 9.72 ft, action stage; 1,220 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2019: 10.42 ft, minor flooding; 1,470 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 2020: 11.19 ft, minor flooding; 1,960 cubic feet per second Highest, 11.19 ft, Sep 10, 2020 199520002005201020152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Watts Branch at Washington 1990s: 1 1 2000s: 1 2010s: 1 2020s: 1 1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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

Highest listed crests, Watts Branch at Washington
1Sep 10, 202011.19+1.19Minor1,960
2Jul 8, 201910.42+0.42Minor1,470
3Sep 26, 199410.36+0.36Minor1,510
4May 22, 200110.26+0.26Minor1,470
5Jun 1, 20129.95−0.05Action1,300
6Aug 2, 20189.72−0.28Action1,220
7Feb 24, 20169.71−0.29Action1,220
8Mar 9, 19989.65−0.35Action1,180
9Jan 19, 19969.58−0.42Action1,150
10Jul 1, 20159.53−0.47Action1,160
11Aug 25, 20079.45−0.55Action1,100
12Sep 7, 20119.38−0.62Action1,120
13Jul 2, 19939.30−0.70Action1,030
14Jul 14, 20009.25−0.75Action1,010
15May 9, 20089.24−0.76Action1,080
16Nov 8, 19969.07−0.93Action944
17Jul 1, 19929.03−0.97Action930

Other gauges in District of Columbia

Flood gauges in District of Columbia
Alexandria3.38.66 ft, Sep 19, 20032
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

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WATD2, 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.