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Patapsco River near Elkridge at Patapsco Valley State Park

Highest listed crest 24.76 ftFlood stage 15.0 ft26 crests since 2011

The Patapsco River near Elkridge at Patapsco Valley State Park crested at major flood stage 4 times among the 26 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2011 to 2020. The highest, 24.76 ft on May 27, 2018, was major flooding, 9.76 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Patapsco River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
24.76 ft
May 27, 2018; 29,428 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
15.0 ft
Major flooding from 21.0 ft
Crests at major
4
17th of 108 gauges in Maryland
Most recent flood crest
August 12, 2020
16.21 ft, minor flooding
Location
Howard County
Near Baltimore (7.8 mi), Laurel (11.8 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Patapsco River near Elkridge at Patapsco Valley State Park
Action stage10.012Jul 29, 2017The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)15.010Aug 12, 2020Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage19.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage21.04May 27, 2018Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

26 crests from 2011 to 2020. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Patapsco River near Elkridge at Patapsco Valley State Park, 2011 to 2020 10152025ft Flood stage 15.0 ftMajor 21.0 ft Mar 10, 2011: 11.37 ft, action stageApr 17, 2011: 10.35 ft, action stage; 2,250 cubic feet per secondJul 25, 2011: 10.20 ft, action stage; 2,140 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 2011: 11.97 ft, action stageSep 7, 2011: 21.66 ft, major flooding; 23,500 cubic feet per secondNov 23, 2011: 12.81 ft, action stage; 6,900 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 2011: 12.19 ft, action stage; 3,750 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 2011: 10.25 ft, action stage; 2,170 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2012: 10.25 ft, action stage; 2,170 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 2012: 10.43 ft, action stage; 2,310 cubic feet per secondOct 29, 2012: 17.67 ft, minor flooding; 12,100 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 2013: 18.47 ft, minor flooding; 14,600 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 2013: 10.40 ft, action stage; 2,250 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2013: 13.99 ft, action stage; 5,420 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2014: 21.15 ft, major flooding; 22,087 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2015: 15.30 ft, minor flooding; 7,440 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 2016: 23.78 ft, major flooding; 25,900 cubic feet per secondJul 29, 2017: 12.63 ft, action stage; 4,520 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2018: 24.76 ft, major flooding; 29,428 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 2018: 18.01 ft, minor flooding; 13,035 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 2018: 16.31 ft, minor flooding; 9,158 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 2018: 17.24 ft, minor flooding; 11,176 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 2018: 15.22 ft, minor flooding; 7,356 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 2018: 16.80 ft, minor flooding; 10,182 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2019: 16.04 ft, minor flooding; 8,594 cubic feet per secondAug 12, 2020: 16.21 ft, minor flooding; 8,360 cubic feet per second Highest, 24.76 ft, May 27, 2018 20152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Patapsco River near Elkridge at Patapsco Valley State Park 2010s: 13 13 2020s: 1 2010s2020s
  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, Patapsco River near Elkridge at Patapsco Valley State Park
1May 27, 201824.76+9.76Major29,428
2Jul 31, 201623.78+8.78Major25,900
3Sep 7, 201121.66+6.66Major23,500
4Apr 30, 201421.15+6.15Major22,087
5Jan 31, 201318.47+3.47Minor14,600
6Jun 4, 201818.01+3.01Minor13,035
7Oct 29, 201217.67+2.67Minor12,100
8Aug 4, 201817.24+2.24Minor11,176
9Dec 16, 201816.80+1.80Minor10,182
10Jul 24, 201816.31+1.31Minor9,158
11Aug 12, 202016.21+1.21Minor8,360
12Mar 22, 201916.04+1.04Minor8,594
13Jun 28, 201515.30+0.30Minor7,440
14Sep 10, 201815.22+0.22Minor7,356
15Jun 10, 201313.99−1.01Action5,420
16Nov 23, 201112.81−2.19Action6,900
17Jul 29, 201712.63−2.37Action4,520
18Dec 7, 201112.19−2.81Action3,750
19Aug 28, 201111.97−3.03Action—
20Mar 10, 201111.37−3.63Action—
21Oct 2, 201210.43−4.57Action2,310
22Mar 12, 201310.40−4.60Action2,250
23Apr 17, 201110.35−4.65Action2,250
24Dec 23, 201110.25−4.75Action2,170
25Jun 1, 201210.25−4.75Action2,170
26Jul 25, 201110.20−4.80Action2,140

The worst floods along the Patapsco River

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

May 27, 2018: 24.76 ft here, major flooding

  • CatonsvilleMD · May 27, 2018 · 27.15 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • Ellicott CityMD · May 27, 2018 · 124.78 ft · Minor · its highest

July 31, 2016: 23.78 ft here, major flooding

September 7, 2011: 21.66 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the Patapsco River

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

Flood gauges on the Patapsco River
Ellicott CityMD122.5124.78 ft, May 27, 20180
HollofieldMD11.031.30 ft, Jun 22, 19721
CatonsvilleMD20.027.15 ft, May 27, 20180
Elkridge at Patapsco Valley State Park this gaugeMD15.024.76 ft, May 27, 20184
Elkridge below Patapsco Valley State ParkMD16.021.38 ft, Aug 4, 20180

Other gauges in Howard County

Flood gauges in Howard County
Rogers Avenue at Ellicott City258.0261.06 ft, May 27, 20181
Allview280.0284.53 ft, May 28, 20181
Lake Kittamaqundi298.5303.76 ft, May 28, 20180
Guilford12.018.38 ft, Jun 22, 19720
Savage10.025.40 ft, Jun 22, 19721
Elkridge below Patapsco Valley State Park16.021.38 ft, Aug 4, 20180
Duckett Dam near Laurel9.525.00 ft, Jun 22, 19720

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ERDM2, 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.