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Potomac River at Georgetown / Wisconsin Ave, DC (GTND2)

Data Type




Inundation Levels
NAVD88 Stage

28.931.2
27.730.0
25.928.2
23.926.2
21.924.2
20.022.3
18.721.0
17.820.1
16.118.4
Record Crest: 17.72 ft
15.317.6
14.416.7
13.415.7
12.414.7
11.413.7
10.512.8
9.611.9
9.011.3
8.010.3
Major Flooding Begins

7.39.6
6.68.9
5.57.8
Moderate Flooding Begins

4.46.7
Minor Flooding Begins

3.45.7
Near Flooding Begins

2.54.8
1.74.0
Below Flooding Begins

* = Extended rating
Weather Forecast Office (Baltimore/Washington) Sterling, VA Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center
Hydrograph River at a Glance Download Inundation
Mapping
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Click on mapped inundation to see water depth values for that location, or hold shift and drag to zoom to area.

Current Stage:
5.1 ft at 09/18/2020 13:54:00 UTC
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Inundation Legend
Depth in feet
USGS Gauge Location Gauge Location
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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.

Gauge Information Collapse

Map Overlays
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 10
Moderate Flood Stage: 7
Flood Stage: 6
Action Stage: 5.5
Low Stage (in feet): -9999

Historic Crests
(1) 17.72 ft on 10/17/1942
(2) 17.30 ft on 03/19/1936
(3) 15.45 ft on 06/24/1972
(4) 14.30 ft on 04/28/1937
(5) 14.05 ft on 11/26/1877
Show More Historic Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 6.42 ft on 05/01/2020 (P)
(2) 6.30 ft on 04/30/2020 (P)
(3) 6.11 ft on 04/05/2020 (P)
(4) 6.04 ft on 04/05/2020 (P)
(5) 6.54 ft on 11/01/2019 (P)
Show More Recent Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Low Water Records
(1) -4.80 ft on 03/13/1889
(2) -2.90 ft on 02/15/1940
(3) -2.70 ft on 11/11/1936
(4) -2.26 ft on 12/06/1992
(5) -2.00 ft on 09/19/1936

Graphical representation of flood inundation for NWS flood categories are based on steady state hydraulic modeling of water surface elevations for incremented discharges. Map shows approximate inundation areas for given water surface elevations and should not be used for navigation or permitting or other legal purposes, but strictly as a planning reference tool.

Site-specific information:
These maps are for "riverine" floods when heavy rain occurs in the watershed and the Potomac River rises. Tidal/storm surge maps (layers below) are for when hurricanes/tropical storms occur and water is pushed up the Potomac River.  Cursor readout of inundation depth is not available for the tidal maps.  Both sets of maps DO NOT depict stormwater/interior drainage flooding that can occur when smaller tributaries and storm drains flood from heavy localized rain.

  • Map layers at this location, while based on riverine flows, were developed assuming a high tide scenario.
  • Map layers represent the inundation of the lowest elevation of intersecting road surfaces. Elevated roadways in metro Washington DC may remain free of inundation – please refer to “Flood Impacts and Photo” section below for more details.
  • Map layers use the assumption that the Potomac Park levee system, including the 17th Street closure will protect the area behind the levee system until they are overtopped by water. Privately-owned flood control structures, DC Water's flood control structures, and the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling's levee were not considered in the making of these maps.
  • Map layers for non-riverine flooding (tidal/storm surge) are available by turning off/on map layers above this text. Click here for alternate viewer for the tidal/storm surge inundation maps.

Extended rating:
The flow/stage relationship above the flood of record is extrapolated based on hydraulic computations by the USACE.

Flood Impacts Collapse
If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
24 The Potomac River and C&O Canal form a single body of water upstream of Dalecarlia Reservoir. A portion of Canal Road begins to flood near Chain Bridge. Flooding and backwater cover much of lower Georgetown south of the Canal, and the Rock Creek Parkway south of M Street NW. The George Washington Parkway is flooded south of Spout Run in Arlington. Floodwaters reach Constitution Avenue near the Lincoln Memorial at the low spot on Henry Bacon Drive.
20 Significant flooding is occurring in lower Georgetown, with all of Water Street NW and K Street NW flooded west of Rock Creek. Floodwaters reach about halfway up Thomas Jefferson Street NW in Georgetown. Numerous buildings are flooded. Rock Creek Parkway is flooded south of Virginia Avenue NW, and portions of the Kennedy Center are flooded. Ohio Drive is flooded in the vicinity of the Lincoln Memorial.
18 Floodwaters reach the top of the protection of the floodgates at Washington Harbour.
17.5 All of Water Street NW and K Street NW are flooded between the Key Bridge and Rock Creek, with numerous roads and buildings in lower Georgetown affected. Multiple portions of the George Washington Parkway are flooded south of Spout Run. Rock Creek Parkway is flooded south of the Watergate Complex. Ohio Drive is flooded in the vicinity of Memorial Bridge.
16.5 A portion of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway is flooded near the Kennedy Center. Much of lower Georgetown is flooded, including Water Street and K Street between 33rd and 30th, and all adjacent unprotected structures. Portions of the George Washington Parkway are also flooded between Spout Run Parkway and the Memorial Bridge.
15.5 A portion of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway near the Kennedy Center begins to flood. A significant portion of lower Georgetown is flooded, including K Street between Wisconsin Avenue and 30th Street NW. Portions of Ohio Drive near the Lincoln Memorial also are flooded. On the Virginia side of the river, portions of the George Washington Memorial Parkway are flooded between Key Bridge and Memorial Bridge.
14.5 Portions of the George Washington Parkway begin to flood between the Roosevelt Island access point and the Memorial Bridge.
13.5 K Street is flooded between Wisconsin Avenue and 30th Street. Backwater flooding along Rock Creek is affecting buildings between the C&O Canal and the Potomac.
12 Floodwaters reach Georgetown Waterfront Park at the foot of Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown. Low spots on Ohio Drive SW near the Memorial Bridge begin to flood.
11 The river reaches a height in which usual high and low tides are no longer observed. From this point the river will rise until crest and then fall. Overflow of the C&O Canal may cause water to flow down the walkways near the Georgetown Visitors Center. Access roads in the vicinity of the Fletchers Boathouse are flooded. Floodwaters approach portions of the Capital Crescent Trail.
10 Backwater flooding threatens structures along Rock Creek south of K Street. Water reaches the parking area at Fletcher's Boathouse. The Washington Canoe Club and Potomac Boat Club buildings are flooded. Water also reaches the parking lot and access road for Roosevelt Island.
8 Backwater flooding of Rock Creek in Georgetown begins at this level.
7.5 Washington Harbour will begin to flood if floodgates are not in place. More than a third of Roosevelt Island is covered by water.
7 Water begins to cover the boardwalk at Washington Harbour. Downstream, water is out of the banks in a few low spots between Fletcher's Boathouse and Interstate 66.
6.5 During some events, water may begin to bubble up through storm drains near Washington Harbour.
6 Low lying areas near Fletcher's Boathouse begin to flood. Water also begins to overflow the banks near the mouth of Rock Creek. Portions of the Swamp Trail on Roosevelt Island are flooded.
Photos
(1) 1) An Icy Potomac 1 Mile Below Gage in Early 1961. Memorial Bridge and Lincoln Memorial.
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Graphical representation of flood inundation for NWS flood categories are based on steady state hydraulic modeling of water surface elevations for incremented discharges. Map shows approximate inundation areas for given water surface elevations and should not be used for navigation or permitting or other legal purposes, but strictly as a planning reference tool.