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South Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford

Highest listed crest 12.10 ftFlood stage 8.0 ft26 crests since 2003

The South Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford crested above flood stage 21 times among the 26 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2003 to 2024. The highest, 12.10 ft on September 23, 2003, was moderate flooding, 4.10 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
12.10 ft
September 23, 2003; 5,700 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
8.0 ft
Major flooding from 15.0 ft
Crests at major
0
21 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
January 10, 2024
8.53 ft, minor flooding
Location
Loudoun County
Near Leesburg (6.6 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, South Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford
Action stage7.05Feb 3, 2016The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)8.013Jan 10, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage10.08Sep 30, 2015Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage15.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

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

Listed crests at the South Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford, 2003 to 2024 6810121416ft Flood stage 8.0 ftMajor 15.0 ft Sep 23, 2003: 12.10 ft, moderate flooding; 5,700 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 2004: 11.24 ft, moderate flooding; 4,210 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2005: 10.49 ft, moderate flooding; 3,200 cubic feet per secondNov 30, 2005: 7.99 ft, action stage; 1,360 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2008: 10.49 ft, moderate flooding; 3,160 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 2008: 7.01 ft, action stage; 1,010 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 2010: 8.71 ft, minor flooding; 1,740 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2011: 7.81 ft, action stageApr 17, 2011: 8.32 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2011: 8.98 ft, minor flooding; 2,110 cubic feet per secondOct 20, 2011: 7.26 ft, action stage; 1,340 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 2012: 10.98 ft, moderate flooding; 3,725 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 2013: 10.44 ft, moderate flooding; 3,103 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2014: 8.41 ft, minor flooding; 1,834 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 2014: 11.05 ft, moderate flooding; 3,825 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 2015: 10.07 ft, moderate flooding; 2,739 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 2016: 7.55 ft, action stage; 1,250 cubic feet per secondJul 29, 2017: 8.44 ft, minor flooding; 1,505 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2018: 8.49 ft, minor flooding; 1,528 cubic feet per secondAug 22, 2018: 9.64 ft, minor flooding; 2,330 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 2018: 9.78 ft, minor flooding; 2,453 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 2018: 8.45 ft, minor flooding; 1,565 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2019: 9.08 ft, minor flooding; 1,908 cubic feet per secondSep 1, 2021: 8.04 ft, minor flooding; 1,320 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 2022: 8.75 ft, minor flooding; 1,688 cubic feet per secondJan 10, 2024: 8.53 ft, minor flooding; 1,557 cubic feet per second Highest, 12.10 ft, Sep 23, 2003 20052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, South Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford 2000s: 4 2010s: 14 14 2020s: 3 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, South Fork Catoctin Creek near Waterford
1Sep 23, 200312.10+4.10Moderate5,700
2Sep 28, 200411.24+3.24Moderate4,210
3May 16, 201411.05+3.05Moderate3,825
4Oct 30, 201210.98+2.98Moderate3,725
5Jul 8, 200510.49+2.49Moderate3,200
6May 12, 200810.49+2.49Moderate3,160
7Jan 31, 201310.44+2.44Moderate3,103
8Sep 30, 201510.07+2.07Moderate2,739
9Sep 28, 20189.78+1.78Minor2,453
10Aug 22, 20189.64+1.64Minor2,330
11Mar 22, 20199.08+1.08Minor1,908
12Apr 28, 20118.98+0.98Minor2,110
13Dec 23, 20228.75+0.75Minor1,688
14Jan 25, 20108.71+0.71Minor1,740
15Jan 10, 20248.53+0.53Minor1,557
16May 17, 20188.49+0.49Minor1,528
17Dec 16, 20188.45+0.45Minor1,565
18Jul 29, 20178.44+0.44Minor1,505
19Apr 30, 20148.41+0.41Minor1,834
20Apr 17, 20118.32+0.32Minor—
21Sep 1, 20218.04+0.04Minor1,320
22Nov 30, 20057.99−0.01Action1,360
23Mar 11, 20117.81−0.19Action—
24Feb 3, 20167.55−0.45Action1,250
25Oct 20, 20117.26−0.74Action1,340
26Dec 12, 20087.01−0.99Action1,010

Other gauges in Loudoun County

Flood gauges in Loudoun County
Mountville10.017.00 ft, Sep 23, 20030
Sterling12.013.29 ft, May 12, 20080
Taylorstown12.025.61 ft, Jun 22, 19721
Leesburg12.030.59 ft, Jun 22, 197218
Middleburg13.027.46 ft, Jun 22, 19725
Leesburg7.011.19 ft, Sep 23, 20031
Waterford10.010.97 ft, Sep 28, 20040
Lincoln10.013.45 ft, Sep 23, 20030

Loudoun County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Virginia

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WATV2, 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.