Monitoring Reports

Situational Awareness (Wednesday, 2026-09-23)
Yesterday’s average daily flow at the USGS gage at Point of Rocks was 1,640 cfs, below the 2,000 cfs threshold for CO-OP daily drought monitoring. Flows are increasing, however, due to recent rainfall, with instantaneous flows at Point of Rocks reaching 2,450 cfs this morning. The decision to discontinue daily drought monitoring will be considered if the average daily flow rises above the 2,000 cfs threshold.

Situational Awareness (Tuesday, 2026-09-22)
Between 0.1 and 2 inches of rain fell over the past 24 hours, with the greatest accumulations occurring in the northern portions of the basin.  The next 3 days can expect to see an additional 0.5 to 2 inches of rainfall according to the Middle Atlantic Forecast Center predictions, with the Virginia and West Virginia portions of the basin expecting accumulations exceeding 1 inch. 

Situational Awareness (Sunday, 2026-09-20):
According to current precipitation forecasts, accumulated rainfall in the Potomac watershed will be approximately 1.5 to 2 inches over the next 3 days and 2 to 3 inches over the next 5 to 7 days, with higher amounts possible in portions of the watershed.

Situational Awareness (Saturday, 2026-09-19)
According to forecasts provided by the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, accumulated rainfall in the Potomac watershed will be approximately 0.5 inches over the next 3 days and 1 to 2 inches over the next 5 days.

Special Conditions

Situational Awareness (Friday, 2026-09-18)

According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC), the basin saw between 0.01 and 0.5 inches of rain during the previous 24 hours. They predict the next three days may see an additional 0.1 to 0.75 inches of rain, with a projected seven-day total of up to 3 to 4 inches. 

Situational Awareness (Thursday, 2026-09-17)
No appreciable rain has fallen in the basin over the past 24 hours. According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, the next 24 hours may see between 0.1 to 0.5 inches of rain. The week-long outlook expects a total of approximately 1 to 2 inches of rain in the basin.

Special Conditions
Intra-daily flow fluctuations at Potomac River gages, including Point of Rocks, are occurring due to upstream dam operations associated with eel passage.

Situational Awareness (Sunday, 2026-08-09)
Flows at the Point of Rocks gage has stayed above 2,000 cfs and are predicted to remain so through at least the beginning of this week. Additionally, according to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, the next 3 days are forecasted to see between 0.1 and 0.5 inches of rain.  As such, CO-OP is suspending its daily drought monitoring and reporting. This phase of CO-OP's drought response is triggered when daily flows at USGS's Point of Rocks gage fall below 2,000 cfs. 

Situational Awareness (Saturday, 2026-08-08)
Flows continue to hover around 2,000 cfs, the CO-OP threshold for daily drought monitoring. Over the past 24 hours, most portions of the basin have received trace amounts to 0.5 inches of rain. According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, little rain is expected over the next 3 days. The 10-day outlook expects a total of about one inch of rain in the basin.

Situational Awareness (Friday, 2026-08-07)

Situational Awareness (Thursday, 2026-08-06)
Rainfall over the past few days has not raised Potomac River flows significantly. The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predicts 0.1 to1.0 inches of rain over the next 3 days.

Special Conditions