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South Fork South Branch Potomac River at Brandywine

Highest listed crest 18.42 ftFlood stage 10.0 ft27 crests since 1949

The South Fork South Branch Potomac River at Brandywine crested above flood stage 5 times among the 27 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1949 to 2011. The highest, 18.42 ft on November 4, 1985, was moderate flooding, 8.42 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the South Fork South Branch Potomac River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
18.42 ft
November 4, 1985
Flood stage
10.0 ft
Major flooding from 20.0 ft
Crests at major
0
5 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
September 6, 1996
11.61 ft, minor flooding
Location
Pendleton County
West Virginia

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, South Fork South Branch Potomac River at Brandywine
Action stage5.522Apr 28, 2011The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)10.02Sep 6, 1996Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage12.03Nov 4, 1985Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage20.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

27 crests from 1949 to 2011. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the South Fork South Branch Potomac River at Brandywine, 1949 to 2011 5101520ft Flood stage 10.0 ftMajor 20.0 ft Jun 17, 1949: 14.60 ft, moderate flooding; 41,200 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1954: 9.46 ft, action stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 1954: 10.75 ft, minor flooding; 13,900 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1963: 8.01 ft, action stage; 4,470 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1967: 9.60 ft, action stage; 7,500 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 1970: 7.91 ft, action stage; 4,860 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 1971: 9.24 ft, action stage; 6,960 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1972: 8.55 ft, action stage; 5,930 cubic feet per secondOct 5, 1972: 12.45 ft, moderate flooding; 13,700 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1974: 9.61 ft, action stage; 7,520 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1975: 8.53 ft, action stage; 5,900 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1976: 6.91 ft, action stage; 3,270 cubic feet per secondOct 9, 1976: 8.91 ft, action stage; 6,460 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 1978: 8.54 ft, action stage; 5,910 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1979: 7.86 ft, action stage; 4,770 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1980: 6.33 ft, action stage; 2,200 cubic feet per secondAug 12, 1984: 6.15 ft, action stage; 3,980 cubic feet per secondNov 4, 1985: 18.42 ft, moderate floodingSep 6, 1996: 11.61 ft, minor flooding; 11,600 cubic feet per secondSep 19, 2003: 9.07 ft, action stage; 6,430 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 2004: 6.68 ft, action stage; 3,170 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2006: 6.38 ft, action stage; 2,880 cubic feet per secondNov 16, 2006: 6.71 ft, action stage; 3,210 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 2010: 6.15 ft, action stageApr 13, 2011: 5.88 ft, action stage; 2,454 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 2011: 6.79 ft, action stage; 3,289 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2011: 8.33 ft, action stage Highest, 18.42 ft, Nov 4, 1985 1950196019701980199020002010

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, South Fork South Branch Potomac River at Brandywine 1940s: 1 1 1950s: 1 1960s: 0 1970s: 1 1980s: 1 1990s: 1 2000s: 0 2010s: 0 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  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 South Branch Potomac River at Brandywine
1Nov 4, 198518.42+8.42Moderate—
2Jun 17, 194914.60+4.60Moderate41,200
3Oct 5, 197212.45+2.45Moderate13,700
4Sep 6, 199611.61+1.61Minor11,600
5Oct 15, 195410.75+0.75Minor13,900
6Jun 2, 19749.61−0.39Action7,520
7Mar 7, 19679.60−0.40Action7,500
8Mar 1, 19549.46−0.54Action10,200
9May 30, 19719.24−0.76Action6,960
10Sep 19, 20039.07−0.93Action6,430
11Oct 9, 19768.91−1.09Action6,460
12Jun 21, 19728.55−1.45Action5,930
13Jan 26, 19788.54−1.46Action5,910
14Mar 19, 19758.53−1.47Action5,900
15Apr 28, 20118.33−1.67Action—
16Mar 19, 19638.01−1.99Action4,470
17Jul 9, 19707.91−2.09Action4,860
18Feb 26, 19797.86−2.14Action4,770
19Jan 1, 19766.91−3.09Action3,270
20Apr 17, 20116.79−3.21Action3,289
21Nov 16, 20066.71−3.29Action3,210
22Sep 28, 20046.68−3.32Action3,170
23Jun 27, 20066.38−3.62Action2,880
24Apr 9, 19806.33−3.67Action2,200
25Aug 12, 19846.15−3.85Action3,980
26Mar 13, 20106.15−3.85Action—
27Apr 13, 20115.88−4.12Action2,454

The worst floods along the South Fork South Branch Potomac River

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

November 4, 1985: 18.42 ft here, moderate flooding

  • SF MoorefieldWV · Nov 5, 1985 · 19.99 ft · Major · its highest

June 17, 1949: 14.60 ft here, moderate flooding

October 5, 1972: 12.45 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the South Fork South Branch Potomac River

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

Flood gauges on the South Fork South Branch Potomac River
Brandywine this gaugeWV10.018.42 ft, Nov 4, 19850
SF MoorefieldWV10.019.99 ft, Nov 5, 19853

Other gauges in Pendleton County

Flood gauges in Pendleton County
Franklin7.022.58 ft, Nov 4, 19856

Pendleton County: every hazard · River floods across the country · West Virginia

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BRYW2, 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.