Potomac River at Harpers Ferry

1. 43.50 ftWater approaches the lowest point of Potomac Avenue in Brunswick Maryland.
2. 40.00 ftWater reaches the train depot of the MARC and Amtrak station at Harpers Ferry.
3. 33.50 ftWater reaches the railyard in Brunswick Maryland.
4. 33.00 ftWater reaches the second floor of buildings in historic Harpers Ferry along Shenandoah Street.
5. 32.00 ftSeveral private buildings on the lower edge of Harpers Ferry are flooded.
6. 29.50 ftFloodwaters enter the Storer College exhibit building.
7. 28.00 ftAll buildings facing Shenandoah Street in historic Harpers Ferry are flooded. Floodwater begins to move up High Street. Potomac Street is flooded beyond Hog Alley and water is approaching private businesses.
8. 25.50 ftFlood waters reach the general store, and the lowermost portion of the John Brown Story building.
9. 25.00 ftAlmost all of Shenandoah Street is covered by water. Water reaches the Provost Marshal Office, blacksmith shop, quarters building, and the restrooms on Shenandoah Street. Water also enters the Meriwether Lewis exhibit and White Hall Tavern on Potomac Street, which is covered by water up to Hog Alley.
10. 24.50 ftFloodwaters reach the Industry Museum in historic Harpers Ferry.
11. 24.00 ftFloodwaters reach John Brown Fort, the bookshop, and the A Place in Time Museum in historic Harpers Ferry. Most of Shenandoah Street is flooded and floodwaters cover around half of Arsenal Square. Potomac Street is flooded nearly to White Hall Tavern, but no buildings are impacted on Potomac Street.
12. 23.50 ftWater approaches John Browns Fort in historic Harpers Ferry. Water surrounds the bookshop and A Place in Time Museum. Water surrounds the blacksmiths shop. Potomac Street begins to flood at the intersection with Shenandoah Street.
13. 22.50 ftWater begins to approach buildings in historic Harpers Ferry. Most of Shenandoah Street, except between the bookshop and John Browns Fort, is flooded.
14. 21.50 ftVirtually all of the old federal armory site at historic Harpers Ferry is flooded. Water begins flowing out of the open tunnel between the Potomac and lower town Harpers Ferry, flooding the very end of Shenandoah Street. Backwaters from the Shenandoah River flood even more of Shenandoah Street, including the shuttle bus pavilion.
15. 20.50 ftMuch of the old federal armory site in historic Harpers Ferry is flooded. Backwaters on the Shenandoah flood virtually all areas below the retaining wall and elevated W&P Railroad, and are approaching Shenandoah Street. No buildings are impacted.
16. 19.50 ftFloodwaters begin to cover the old federal armory site at historic Harpers Ferry. Backwater from the Shenandoah covers most areas between the normal river channel and the elevated Winchester & Potomac Railroad tracks.
17. 18.50 ftThe employee parking lot at historic Harpers Ferry floods.
18. 18.00 ftDue to backwater effects on the Shenandoah River, floodwaters cover much of the Hamilton Street area of historic Harpers Ferry, and approach the employee parking lot.
19. 16.00 ftWater reaches the C&O Canal towpath on the Maryland side of the river across from Harpers Ferry. The pedestrian bridge crossing between historic Harpers Ferry and the canal will be closed.

Most recent crests

• May 15, 2025: 19.65 ft
• December 17, 2018: 18.81 ft
• September 29, 2018: 18.33 ft
• June 4, 2018: 21.74 ft
• May 17, 2014: 19.06 ft
• May 19, 2011: 19.14 ft
• April 18, 2011: 18.87 ft
• March 12, 2011: 17.33 ft
• March 15, 2010: 20.78 ft
• September 20, 2003: 19.84 ft

• UpstreamPotomac River at Shepherdstown
• DownstreamPotomac River at Point of Rocks
• Piney Run (VA) at Lovettsville
• Shenandoah River at Millville
• Potomac River
• Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg
• Catoctin Creek at Taylorstown
• Bullskin Run at Kabletown
• North Fork Catoctin Creek at Waterford

Forecasts by the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Stage may be affected by ice.

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.