Strong Storm System Brings Heavy Mountain Snow to the Sierra Nevada and Critical Fire Weather Conditions to the Plains

A Pacific storm system will continue to bring low elevation rain and mountain snow to much of the West through Wednesday, with heavy mountain snow expected in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. This system will also bring strong winds to the Intermountain West, Rockies, and Plains, which will create Critical fire weather conditions for the High Plains. Read More >

Service Change Notice

National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington

1230 PM EDT 17 September 2025

To: Subscribers:

Family of Services
NOAA Weather Wire Service
Emergency Managers Weather Information Network
Other NWS Partners, Users, and Employees

From: Jeremy Geiger

Senior Service Hydrologist

Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office

Subject: Modification to Flood Categories for the Georges Creek near Franklin/Westernport Stream Gauge (WSTM2)

Effective at 1200 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) (8:00 AM EDT) on 18 September 2025, the National Weather Service will modify all flood stages for the WSTM2 Stream Gauge.

The new flood categories will be as follows:

The new major flood stage is 13.1 feet. The previous moderate flood stage was 12 feet.
The new moderate flood stage is 11.1 feet.. The previous moderate flood stage was 10 feet.
The new minor flood stage is 9.1 feet. The previous minor flood stage was 8 feet.

Therefore, starting at 1200 UTC (8:00 AM EDT) on 18 September 2025, all flood and flash flood hazard products will utilize the new flood stages. The changes in flood stages were due to the USGS moving the stream gauge upstream a few hundred feet due to the May 2025 flooding that caused changes to the streambed around the old gauge location.

If you have any questions or comments on this change, please contact:

Jeremy Geiger

Senior Service Hydrologist

National Weather Service

43858 Weather Service Rd

Sterling, VA 20166

Phone: (571) 888-3500

Email: Jeremy.Geiger@noaa.gov

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