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Monocacy River at Monocacy Blvd. in Frederick

Highest listed crest 25.86 ftFlood stage 17.8 ft32 crests since 2003

The Monocacy River at Monocacy Blvd. in Frederick crested at major flood stage 6 times among the 32 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2003 to 2024. The highest, 25.86 ft on September 2, 2021, was major flooding, 8.06 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Monocacy River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
25.86 ft
September 2, 2021; 29,239 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
17.8 ft
Major flooding from 23.5 ft
Crests at major
6
14th of 108 gauges in Maryland
Most recent flood crest
January 10, 2024
20.93 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Frederick County
Near Frederick (1.6 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Monocacy River at Monocacy Blvd. in Frederick
Action stage15.50—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)17.816May 1, 2020Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage20.210Jan 10, 2024Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage23.56Sep 2, 2021Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

32 crests from 2003 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Monocacy River at Monocacy Blvd. in Frederick, 2003 to 2024 161820222426ft Flood stage 17.8 ftMajor 23.5 ft Dec 12, 2003: 24.68 ft, major flooding; 26,500 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 2005: 20.71 ft, moderate flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2006: 18.33 ft, minor flooding; 16,500 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 2007: 20.18 ft, minor flooding; 18,900 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2008: 19.74 ft, minor flooding; 18,300 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 2008: 19.50 ft, minor flooding; 17,900 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 2009: 21.66 ft, moderate flooding; 21,300 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2011: 19.03 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 2011: 20.19 ft, minor floodingApr 17, 2011: 24.57 ft, major floodingSep 9, 2011: 20.35 ft, moderate floodingNov 23, 2011: 23.87 ft, major flooding; 25,000 cubic feet per secondOct 31, 2012: 25.56 ft, major flooding; 27,819 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 2013: 21.08 ft, moderate flooding; 20,360 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2014: 18.24 ft, minor flooding; 15,280 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2014: 22.47 ft, moderate flooding; 21,539 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2014: 22.16 ft, moderate flooding; 21,020 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2015: 18.64 ft, minor flooding; 15,839 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 2016: 19.66 ft, minor flooding; 17,260 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2016: 19.74 ft, minor flooding; 17,340 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 2018: 21.00 ft, moderate flooding; 19,810 cubic feet per secondAug 5, 2018: 18.28 ft, minor flooding; 15,538 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 2018: 24.55 ft, major flooding; 26,509 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 2018: 18.92 ft, minor flooding; 16,486 cubic feet per secondNov 25, 2018: 18.39 ft, minor flooding; 15,689 cubic feet per secondDec 17, 2018: 19.27 ft, minor flooding; 17,028 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2019: 19.49 ft, minor flooding; 17,400 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2020: 18.51 ft, minor flooding; 15,860 cubic feet per secondSep 2, 2021: 25.86 ft, major flooding; 29,239 cubic feet per secondSep 24, 2021: 22.59 ft, moderate flooding; 22,700 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2022: 20.73 ft, moderate flooding; 19,365 cubic feet per secondJan 10, 2024: 20.93 ft, moderate flooding; 19,695 cubic feet per second Highest, 25.86 ft, Sep 2, 2021 20052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Monocacy River at Monocacy Blvd. in Frederick 2000s: 7 2010s: 20 20 2020s: 5 2000s2010s2020s
  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, Monocacy River at Monocacy Blvd. in Frederick
1Sep 2, 202125.86+8.06Major29,239
2Oct 31, 201225.56+7.76Major27,819
3Dec 12, 200324.68+6.88Major26,500
4Apr 17, 201124.57+6.77Major—
5Sep 10, 201824.55+6.75Major26,509
6Nov 23, 201123.87+6.07Major25,000
7Sep 24, 202122.59+4.79Moderate22,700
8May 1, 201422.47+4.67Moderate21,539
9May 17, 201422.16+4.36Moderate21,020
10Dec 27, 200921.66+3.86Moderate21,300
11Feb 1, 201321.08+3.28Moderate20,360
12Jul 23, 201821.00+3.20Moderate19,810
13Jan 10, 202420.93+3.13Moderate19,695
14May 8, 202220.73+2.93Moderate19,365
15Apr 3, 200520.71+2.91Moderate20,000
16Sep 9, 201120.35+2.55Moderate—
17Mar 11, 201120.19+2.39Minor—
18Mar 2, 200720.18+2.38Minor18,900
19May 12, 200819.74+1.94Minor18,300
20Feb 25, 201619.74+1.94Minor17,340
21Feb 4, 201619.66+1.86Minor17,260
22Dec 12, 200819.50+1.70Minor17,900
23Mar 22, 201919.49+1.69Minor17,400
24Dec 17, 201819.27+1.47Minor17,028
25Mar 7, 201119.03+1.23Minor—
26Sep 28, 201818.92+1.12Minor16,486
27Jun 28, 201518.64+0.84Minor15,839
28May 1, 202018.51+0.71Minor15,860
29Nov 25, 201818.39+0.59Minor15,689
30Jun 28, 200618.33+0.53Minor16,500
31Aug 5, 201818.28+0.48Minor15,538
32Mar 31, 201418.24+0.44Minor15,280

The worst floods along the Monocacy River

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

September 2, 2021: 25.86 ft here, major flooding

October 31, 2012: 25.56 ft here, major flooding

December 12, 2003: 24.68 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the Monocacy River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Monocacy River
BridgeportMD13.025.42 ft, Jun 19, 19961
Monocacy Blvd. in Frederick this gaugeMD17.825.86 ft, Sep 2, 20216
Frederick at Interstate 70MD15.035.90 ft, Jun 23, 197221

Other gauges in Frederick County

Flood gauges in Frederick County
Park Mills11.022.10 ft, Jun 21, 19721
Bridgeport13.025.42 ft, Jun 19, 19961
Frederick at Interstate 7015.035.90 ft, Jun 23, 197221
Point of Rocks16.041.03 ft, Mar 19, 193614

Frederick County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Maryland

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge FRMM2, 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.