Situational Awareness (Wednesday, 2026-02-04)
According to information from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, there were scattered areas of light precipitation in the Potomac watershed over the past 24 hours. Over the next 3 days, 0.01-0.10 inches is expected throughout the portion of the watershed above Little Falls, with higher amounts predicted in the far northwestern corner.
Special Conditions
Flow data at Point of Rocks is currently unavailable due to the presence of ice. For more information about ice effects on streams, see Water-Supply Paper 2175: Measurement and Computation of Streamflow: Volume 2. Computation of Discharge pages 360-376 (WSP 2175). 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 2026-02-03: 1254 MGD (1940 cfs)
Little Falls gage flow 2026-02-04: 1170 MGD (est., based on recently available real-time data) (1810 cfs)
Note: Gage flow at Little Falls is measured after water supply withdrawals.
Point of Rocks flow 2026-02-03: -646316 MGD (-999999 cfs)
Point of Rocks flow 2026-02-04: -646316 MGD (est., based on recently available real-time data) (-999999 cfs)
Yesterday's estimated daily flows:
Great Falls estimated flow 2026-02-03: 1254 MGD (1940 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 (2026-02-03):
Fairfax Water Corbalis withdrawal - Potomac: 92 MGD
WSSC Water Potomac withdrawal: 145 MGD
Washington Aqueduct withdrawal - Great Falls: 143 MGD
Washington Aqueduct withdrawal - Little Falls: 0 MGD
Loudoun Water withdrawal: 8 MGD
Loudoun Water Broad Run discharge: 9 MGD
Total Potomac withdrawal: 389 MGD
Total net Potomac withdrawal: 379 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.