Rivers in Maryland
North Branch Potomac River at Cumberland
Below flood stage
2.61ftStage
Observed Thu, Oct 1, 3:15 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 17.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 2.60 ftThu, Oct 1, 8:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 29.20 ft1889
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 23.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 21.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 17.00 ft |
| Action | 12.00 ft |
- 35.00 ftLevees protect the city of Ridgeley, West Virginia to approximately this level.
- 31.00 ftLevees protect the city of Cumberland to at least this level. Some areas are protected even higher.
- 30.00 ftLevees protect the Cumberland water treatment plant to approximately this level.
- 27.00 ftWater covers the C&O Canal towpath south of Cumberland.
- 25.00 ftWater begins to flood homes in Wiley Ford, West Virginia.
- 23.00 ftWater approaches homes on Canal Road in North Branch.
- 22.00 ftWater reaches a substation in Wiley Ford, West Virginia. Water also approaches an outbuilding in Wiley Ford, and portions of Kelly Road in Cumberland and Canal Road in North Branch.
- 21.00 ftMuch of the Mexico Farms, West Virginia airstrip is flooded, and water approaches nearby structures.
- 20.00 ftWater floods several areas of farmland east and southeast of Cumberland Regional Airport. Water also begins to flow into low lying areas south of Ridgeley, West Virginia that are not protected by the levee. However, no personal property is affected in this area.
- 19.00 ftWater reaches the Gene Mason Sports Complex in Cumberland.
- 17.00 ftA low spot on Airport Road in Wiley Ford, West Virginia is flooded. A livestock field southeast of the Cumberland Regional Airport floods.
- 15.00 ftWater approaches the airstrip at the Mexico Farms, West Virginia airport.
- 12.00 ftLow-lying farmland west of Mexico Farms, West Virginia begins to flood.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, October to December
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 28, 2026.
Crest history
68 crests on NOAA’s list since 1889.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 1, 1889 | 29.20 ft |
| 2 | March 17, 1936 | 29.10 ft |
| 3 | March 29, 1924 | 28.40 ft |
| 4 | January 19, 1996 | 25.56 ft |
| 5 | October 28, 1937 | 25.10 ft |
| 6 | April 26, 1937 | 24.20 ft |
| 7 | October 15, 1942 | 24.04 ft |
| 8 | October 16, 1954 | 23.85 ft |
| 9 | May 14, 2025 | 23.58 ft |
| 10 | August 18, 1955 | 22.60 ft |
| 11 | September 7, 1996 | 22.55 ft |
| 12 | April 29, 1964 | 19.48 ft |
| 13 | May 13, 1932 | 19.20 ft |
| 14 | April 16, 1993 | 19.05 ft |
| 15 | March 7, 1967 | 18.91 ft |
| 16 | November 5, 1985 | 18.85 ft |
| 17 | February 26, 1961 | 18.84 ft |
| 18 | September 10, 2018 | 18.51 ft |
| 19 | September 2, 2021 | 18.34 ft |
| 20 | March 5, 1963 | 17.96 ft |
| 21 | March 29, 2005 | 17.88 ft |
| 22 | July 4, 1978 | 17.85 ft |
| 23 | March 14, 1933 | 17.80 ft |
| 24 | June 13, 1951 | 17.65 ft |
| 25 | April 5, 1984 | 17.60 ft |
Most recent crests
- May 14, 2025: 23.58 ft
- September 2, 2021: 18.34 ft
- September 10, 2018: 18.51 ft
- May 18, 2011: 16.53 ft
- March 11, 2011: 16.27 ft
- March 13, 2010: 17.46 ft
- May 4, 2009: 17.43 ft
- March 29, 2005: 17.88 ft
- September 9, 2004: 15.54 ft
- September 19, 2003: 13.81 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Gauge reading affected by reservoir operations. Stage may be affected by ice.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.