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Hydrograph
Weather Forecast Office (Baltimore/Washington) Sterling, VA
Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center
Hydrograph
River at a Glance
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About this graph
Tabular Data (UTC)
Tabular Data (EDT)
Datum: Not Available
Metadata
NOTE:
Please refer to
Coastal Flood Advisories and Warnings
for official water level forecasts during periods of coastal flooding. During tropical cyclones, please refer
here
for additional storm surge information.
NOTE: During a Tropical Storm or Hurricane Watch or Warning, inundation mapping provided by the
National Hurricane Center
reflects a reasonable worst case scenario. The experimental forecast above is the total water forecast that is expected to occur.
NOTE:
Forecasts for the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal at Chesapeake City (IN MLLW) are issued routinely year-round.
Vertical Datum references a tidal datum (MLLW)...for more information see
Tides and Currents
.
Default Hydrograph
Scale to Flood Categories
Return to Area Map
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage:
7.5
Moderate Flood Stage:
6.5
Flood Stage:
5.5
Action Stage:
5
Low Stage (in feet):
-2
Historic Crests
(1) 8.67 ft on 09/19/2003
(2) 6.86 ft on 04/17/2011
(3) 6.53 ft on 12/21/2012
(4) 5.63 ft on 10/29/2021
(5) -3.63 ft on 04/05/1975
(P)
: Preliminary values subject to further review.
Recent Crests
(1) 5.63 ft on 10/29/2021
(2) 6.53 ft on 12/21/2012
(3) 6.86 ft on 04/17/2011
(4) 8.67 ft on 09/19/2003
(5) -3.63 ft on 04/05/1975
(P)
: Preliminary values subject to further review.
Low Water Records
(1) -3.72 ft on 04/05/1975
(2) -3.24 ft on 03/02/2018
Zoom Level:16
Legend
FEMA Layer
Gauge Location
Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.
Flood Impacts & Photos
If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our
Webmaster
8.67
(Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW)) The level reached on September 19, 2003 during Hurricane Isabel.
7.5
(MLLW) MAJOR FLOODING. At this level, widespread roadway flooding begins near the tidal sections of the Elk River, the Bohemia River, Back Creek and their tidal tributaries in Cecil County. Vulnerable homes and businesses may be damaged as water levels rise further above this threshold. Numerous roads become impassable and some neighborhoods may be isolated. The flood waters become a danger to anyone who attempts to cross on foot or in a vehicle.
6.5
(MLLW) MODERATE FLOODING. At this level, additional roadways near the tidal sections of the Elk River, the Bohemia River, Back Creek and their tidal tributaries begin to flood. Lives may be at risk when people put themselves in harm's way. Some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur. COASTAL FLOOD WARNING LEVEL.
6.1
(MLLW) Flooding begins along Back Creek in Chesapeake City. Flooding begins along Elk Creek near Courthouse Point. Flooding begins along Elk Creek near Hollywood Beach and Port Herman. Flooding begins along the Bohemia River near Town Point.
5.8
(MLLW) COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY LEVEL.
5.5
(MLLW) MINOR FLOODING.
About This Location
Latitude: 39.526667° N, Longitude: 75.810000° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84
River Stage
Reference Frame
Gauge Height
Flood Stage
Uses
NWS stage
0 ft
5.5 ft
Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum
Elevation
(gauge height = 0)
Elevation
(gauge height = flood stage)
Elevation information source
NAVD88
-1.58
3.92
Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29
Not Available
Not Available
Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL
Not Available
Not Available
Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other
-1.73
2.19
NAVD88 to MHHW conversion from NOAA Vertical Datum Transformation (VDatum)
Additional Information
All gage data is referenced in MLLW. During winter months, cold and ice may result in inaccurate real-time stages. Adjustments or deletions of this data can only be done after detailed analysis.
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The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details,
please click here
.
NWS Information
National Weather Service
(Baltimore/Washington) Sterling Weather Forecast Office
43858 Weather Service Rd.
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 996-2200
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Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:30 PM
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