River Observations & Forecasts Planned to be Discontinued for the Potomac River Gauge at Dam Number Five above Williamsport.

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A Destructive Severe Thunderstorm created substantial wind damage across northernmost Maryland Saturday night April 19, 2025.

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1133 AM EDT Thu Oct 26 2023

RIVER OBSERVATIONS AND FORECASTS ARE PLANNED TO BE DISCONTINUED 
FOR THE POTOMAC RIVER GAUGE AT DAM NUMBER FIVE ABOVE WILLIAMSPORT MD 
EFFECTIVE 30 NOVEMBER 2023

The Potomac River gauge at Dam Number Five above Williamsport, MD 
has been offline since March 2023, due to an equipment
malfunction. Therefore, river level forecast services are no
longer sustainable without real-time streamflow data. The National
Weather Service (NWS) requires streamflow data to determine and
verify accurate river level forecasts at the gauge location.

River level forecasts will continue to be issued upstream at the 
Potomac River at Hancock, MD and downstream on the 
Potomac River at Shepherdstown, WV. Although specific river level 
forecasts will cease at Dam Number Five, the NWS will continue to 
issue River Flood Watches and Warnings as needed, based on upstream 
and downstream observations and forecasts.

Discontinuation of river forecasts for the Potomac River at Dam 
Number Five above Williamsport, MD is effective 30 November 2023. 

Questions regarding the discontinuance of river observations and 
forecasts at Dam Number Five on the Potomac River can be directed
to Susan Buchanan - NOAA Public Affairs: susan.buchanan@noaa.gov.

$$

JEREMY GEIGER
SENIOR SERVICE HYDROLOGIST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE 
BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON