Potomac River at Paw Paw
Allegany County, Maryland
The past week
Loading chart…
What floods at each level
- 62 ft
Water covers the bridge over the Potomac at the state line in Paw Paw.
- 50 ft
Homes in Paw Paw begin to flood.
- 46 ft
Water approaches the intersection of West Virginia Route 9 and Winchester Street in Paw Paw.
- 40 ft
The right bank of the river floods extensive sections of the town of Paw Paw, north of the B&O Railroad. The towpath of the C&O Canal also begins to flood.
- 37 ft
Floodwaters cover both West Virginia Route 9 and Maryland Route 51. Businesses in the town of Paw Paw begin to flood.
- 34 ft
Water reaches the settling pond next to Paw Paw Park.
- 30 ft
Paw Paw Tunnel Campground begins to flood.
- 26 ft
Water covers an access road on the West Virginia side.
- 25 ft
A parking area adjacent to the highway bridge begins to flood. The roadway to the C&O Canal parking area floods, as does the lowest end of the Purslane Run hiker/biker area.
- 22.5 ft
Water reaches the top of the boat ramp in Paw Paw Festival Park.
- 11 ft
The river reaches danger level for boaters as defined by the State of Maryland. At danger level, conditions are considered extremely hazardous.
- 5 ft
The river reaches caution level for boaters as defined by the State of Maryland. Fast moving water and current changes can be expected.
Highest crests on record
| Date | Level | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 1936 | 54 ft | 240,000 cfs |
| Nov 4, 1985 | 53.58 ft | 235,000 cfs |
| Nov 23, 1877 | 45 ft | — |
More on Potomac River
Get an alert when Potomac River rises
Save this gauge in the free StormCast app and pick the level that matters to you. Your phone goes off when the water gets there.

