Situational Awareness (Tuesday, 2026-01-27)
According to information from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, no precipitation fell in the Potomac watershed above Little Falls during the past 24 hours and no appreciable precipitation is expected over the next 3 days.
Special Conditions
Because of the presence of ice, Potomac River flow data are unavailable at the USGS’s gages at Point of Rocks, MD, and also at the nearest upstream gage at Shepherdstown, WV. Potomac River flow values for Loudoun Water’s drought operations protocol were estimated based on information from the MARFC’s River Observations and Forecasts webpages.
Daily flows:
Little Falls gage flow 2026-01-26: 465 MGD (720 cfs)
Little Falls gage flow 2026-01-27: 368 MGD (est., based on recently available real-time data) (570 cfs)
Note: Gage flow at Little Falls is measured after water supply withdrawals.
Point of Rocks flow 2026-01-26: Not available due to ice
Point of Rocks flow 2026-01-27: Not available due to ice
Yesterday's estimated daily flows:
Great Falls estimated flow 2026-01-26: 465 MGD (719 cfs)
Note: Estimated flow below Great Falls intake is flow at Little Falls plus Little Falls water supply withdrawal.
Yesterday's Washington metropolitan area Potomac River withdrawals and discharges (2026-01-26):
Fairfax Water Corbalis withdrawal - Potomac: 79 MGD
WSSC Water Potomac withdrawal: 126 MGD
Washington Aqueduct withdrawal - Great Falls: 124 MGD
Washington Aqueduct withdrawal - Little Falls: 0 MGD
Loudoun Water withdrawal: 8 MGD
Loudoun Water Broad Run discharge: 10 MGD
Total Potomac withdrawal: 336 MGD
Total net Potomac withdrawal: 327 MGD
Loudoun Water Potomac River (PR) flow values for drought operations protocol (based on yesterday's flows):
QPR: > 1400 cfs*
QPR, obs: > 1400 cfs*
QPR, WS: 0 cfs
* Estimated from the MARFC’s River Observations and Forecasts webpages.