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Potomac River at Edwards Ferry

Highest listed crest 22.45 ftFlood stage 15.0 ft18 crests since 2012

The Potomac River at Edwards Ferry crested above flood stage 18 times among the 18 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2012 to 2025. The highest, 22.45 ft on June 5, 2018, was moderate flooding, 7.45 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
22.45 ft
June 5, 2018
Flood stage
15.0 ft
Major flooding from 24.0 ft
Crests at major
0
18 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
May 15, 2025
21.25 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Montgomery County
Near Leesburg (4.8 mi), Herndon (9.9 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 Edwards Ferry
Action stage12.30—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)15.08Jan 11, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage17.010May 15, 2025Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage24.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

18 crests from 2012 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Potomac River at Edwards Ferry, 2012 to 2025 141618202224ft Flood stage 15.0 ftMajor 24.0 ft Oct 31, 2012: 19.77 ft, moderate floodingFeb 1, 2013: 16.63 ft, minor floodingMay 10, 2013: 16.04 ft, minor floodingMay 17, 2014: 21.09 ft, moderate floodingFeb 5, 2016: 17.63 ft, moderate floodingApr 18, 2018: 15.13 ft, minor floodingMay 20, 2018: 17.87 ft, moderate floodingJun 5, 2018: 22.45 ft, moderate floodingJun 24, 2018: 15.20 ft, minor floodingSep 11, 2018: 20.31 ft, moderate floodingSep 29, 2018: 21.80 ft, moderate floodingDec 17, 2018: 20.98 ft, moderate floodingDec 23, 2018: 16.08 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 2020: 15.90 ft, minor floodingMar 2, 2021: 16.91 ft, minor floodingMay 8, 2022: 18.45 ft, moderate floodingJan 11, 2024: 15.17 ft, minor floodingMay 15, 2025: 21.25 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 22.45 ft, Jun 5, 2018 201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Potomac River at Edwards Ferry 2010s: 13 13 2020s: 5 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, Potomac River at Edwards Ferry
1Jun 5, 201822.45+7.45Moderate—
2Sep 29, 201821.80+6.80Moderate—
3May 15, 202521.25+6.25Moderate—
4May 17, 201421.09+6.09Moderate—
5Dec 17, 201820.98+5.98Moderate—
6Sep 11, 201820.31+5.31Moderate—
7Oct 31, 201219.77+4.77Moderate—
8May 8, 202218.45+3.45Moderate—
9May 20, 201817.87+2.87Moderate—
10Feb 5, 201617.63+2.63Moderate—
11Mar 2, 202116.91+1.91Minor—
12Feb 1, 201316.63+1.63Minor—
13Dec 23, 201816.08+1.08Minor—
14May 10, 201316.04+1.04Minor—
15May 2, 202015.90+0.90Minor—
16Jun 24, 201815.20+0.20Minor—
17Jan 11, 202415.17+0.17Minor—
18Apr 18, 201815.13+0.13Minor—

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.

June 5, 2018: 22.45 ft here, moderate flooding

September 29, 2018: 21.80 ft here, moderate flooding

May 15, 2025: 21.25 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
AlexandriaDC3.38.66 ft, Sep 19, 20032
Edwards Ferry this gaugeMD15.022.45 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 Montgomery County

Flood gauges in Montgomery County
Sandy Spring6.59.24 ft, Jan 19, 19960
Kemp Mill9.015.89 ft, Jun 22, 19720
Brighton Dam9.011.88 ft, Jan 31, 20130
Unity8.018.60 ft, Sep 11, 19711
Washington DC (Little Falls)10.022.03 ft, Jun 24, 19724
Dawsonville7.516.40 ft, Jun 22, 19722
Takoma Park5.57.52 ft, Jul 19, 20250
Boyds7.09.68 ft, Sep 8, 20110
Clarksburg7.08.27 ft, Jul 30, 20160
Aspen Hill10.012.78 ft, Aug 12, 20100

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge EDFM2, 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.