Potomac River at Alexandria
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 12:24 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 3.30 ft
- Forecast crest
- 4.30 ftThu, Sep 24, 7:00 PM EDT
- Record crest
- 8.66 ft2003
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 6.60 ft |
| Moderate flood | 4.20 ft |
| Minor flood | 3.30 ft |
| Action | 2.50 ft |
- 9.00 ftFlooding is occurring nearshore at Joint Base Anacostia Bolling near the marina and at the Naval Research Lab. Daingerfield Island is completely flooded. Union Street is flooded for almost its entire length in Alexandria. Dozens of structures are impacted. Widespread backwater flooding is affecting Huntington and Belle View.
- 7.50 ftOn Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, floodwaters cross Giovanni Way with structures affected. Daingerfield Island is almost totally underwater. In Alexandria, flooding reaches the east end of Madison Street with structures flooded. Union Street is flooded between Queen Street and Duke Street with numerous structures impacted. A large section of the George Washington Parkway is flooded and closed both north and south of Old Town Alexandria.
- 6.50 ftWater approaches the George Washington Parkway near Daingerfield Island and Belle Haven. Flooding is occurring near the Joint Base Anacostia Bolling marina. Significant flooding is occurring along Union Street in Old Town Alexandria, along with nearby streets. Flooding is also occurring further south at Jones Point.
- 5.50 ftFloodwaters reach about a block and a half inland at King Street and cover several blocks of Union Street in Alexandria.
- 5.00 ftFlooding begins in the vicinity of the Joint Base Anacostia Bolling marina. Access to the Daingerfield Island area is cut off due to flooding. Several parks along the Alexandria waterfront are flooded. Union Street is flooded between Wales Alley and Thompson Alley. Lower portions of King Street, Prince Street, and Strand Street are flooded. Water approaches the southern tip of Lee Street.
- 4.50 ftFlooding is ongoing at several businesses near the intersection of King Street and Union Street.
- 4.00 ftWater approaches buildings near the intersection of King Street and Union Street. This flooding will be slightly more widespread in a tidal flood than a freshwater flood.
- 3.80 ftWater covers part of Mt. Vernon Trail along the George Washington Memorial Parkway between Belle View Blvd and Tulane Drive.
- 3.75 ftUnion Street is covered by water near King Street. Water starts to cover the driveway leading to Belle Haven Marina.
- 3.25 ftWater covers the easternmost end of King Street.
- 3.10 ftWater reaches the curb near the intersection of King Street and Strand Street.
- 2.70 ftWater begins to pool near the corner of Strand Street and Wales Alley in Alexandria.
Crest history
85 crests on NOAA’s list since 1936.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 19, 2003 | 8.66 ft |
| 2 | March 19, 1936 | 7.40 ft |
| 3 | October 29, 2021 | 5.99 ft |
| 4 | April 16, 2011 | 5.06 ft |
| 5 | September 10, 2018 | 5.04 ft |
| 6 | April 30, 2014 | 4.92 ft |
| 7 | March 14, 2010 | 4.88 ft |
| 8 | September 11, 2018 | 4.83 ft |
| 9 | April 17, 2011 | 4.76 ft |
| 10 | September 9, 2018 | 4.67 ft |
| 11 | October 30, 2012 | 4.65 ft |
| 12 | September 11, 2018 | 4.63 ft |
| 13 | March 14, 2010 | 4.56 ft |
| 14 | April 7, 2023 | 4.53 ft |
| 15 | February 25, 2016 | 4.46 ft |
| 16 | May 1, 2014 | 4.46 ft |
| 17 | October 12, 2019 | 4.46 ft |
| 18 | September 24, 2023 | 4.44 ft |
| 19 | October 12, 2019 | 4.43 ft |
| 20 | May 16, 2014 | 4.43 ft |
| 21 | April 18, 2011 | 4.42 ft |
| 22 | October 4, 2014 | 4.40 ft |
| 23 | May 19, 2011 | 4.37 ft |
| 24 | September 12, 2018 | 4.37 ft |
| 25 | May 18, 2011 | 4.35 ft |
Most recent crests
- September 24, 2023: 4.44 ft
- April 7, 2023: 4.53 ft
- January 17, 2022: 4.27 ft
- October 29, 2021: 5.99 ft
- May 1, 2020: 3.87 ft
- April 30, 2020: 3.89 ft
- April 5, 2020: 3.79 ft
- April 5, 2020: 3.70 ft
- November 1, 2019: 4.27 ft
- October 12, 2019: 4.46 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamPotomac River at Georgetown / Wisconsin Ave
- DownstreamPotomac River at Lewisetta (IN MLLW)
- Unnamed Tributary at Huntington Ponding Area
- Cameron Run at Huntington - Metro Bridge
- Unnamed Tributary at New Alexandria Tide Gate
- Unnamed Tributary at New Alexandria Tide Gate
- Unnamed Tributary at New Alexandria Pump Station - Upstream
- Unnamed Tributary at New Alexandria Storm Water Pumping Station - Downstream
- Four Mile Run at Highway 1 at Alexandria
- Cameron Run at Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria
What this means
Forecasts by the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <style type="text/css"> .style1 { background-color: #FFFF00; } </style> </head> Please refer to <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=LWX&product=CFW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1"><font color="#0000ff"><span class="style1">Coastal Flood Advisories and Warnings</span></font></a> for official water level forecasts during periods of coastal flooding. During tropical cyclones, please refer<span class="style1"> </span> <span class="style1"> <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=lwx&product=TCV&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1">here</a></span> for additional storm surge information. 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.