Monitoring Reports

Potomac River flow at Point of Rocks has dropped below the low-flow threshold of 2,000 cfs. Today CO-OP is initiating daily monitoring and reporting of Potomac flows and withdrawals. Today's report appears below.

Conditions have been dry throughout the basin over the past couple of months. National Weather Service precipitation estimates indicate that the basin received no appreciable rain over the past 7 days, and forecasts call for little rain over the next seven days.

The National Weather Service (NWS) 24 hour observed precipitation shows that there was between 0.10 and 3.00 inches of precipitation in the Potomac basin above Little Falls. The NWS 3-day and 5-day forecasts both predict 0.00 to 0.25 inches of rain in this same area.

According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC), portions of the basin received no rain or trace amounts over the last 24 hours, and the northwestern edge of the basin received up to 2 inches. Over the next day, MARFC predicts 1 to 1 3/4 inches in the drainage area above Little Falls dam. Although flow at the US Geological Survey gage at Point of Rocks is currently above 2,000 cfs, our trigger for daily monitoring, we will continue daily monitoring efforts until we see that flows have significantly improved for several days.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that there was no precipitation in the Potomac basin over the last 24 hours. The NWS 3-day forecast predicts 1.25 to 2.0 inches of rain in the portion of the basin above Little Falls dam. Although flows at the US Geological Survey gage at Point of Rocks is currently above 2,000 cfs, our trigger for daily monitoring, we will continue daily monitoring efforts until we see that flows have significantly improved for several days.

The National Weather Service (NWS) 24 hour observed precipitation shows that there were scattered, trace amounts of rain in the Potomac basin above Little Falls. The NWS 3-day forecast predicts 0.75 to 1.5 inches of rain in this same area. The National Weather Service (NWS) 5-day forecast predicts accumulations of up to 2.5 inches of rain in the Potomac basin.

The National Weather Service (NWS) 24 hour observed precipitation shows that there were scattered, trace amounts of rain in the Potomac basin above Little Falls. The NWS 3-day forecast predicts 0 to 0.5 inches of rain in this same area with the largest amounts expected in the western portions of the basin. The National Weather Service (NWS) 5-day forecast predicts accumulations of up to 1.75 inches of rain in the Potomac basin.

The National Weather Service (NWS) 24 hour observed precipitation shows that there was 0.00 to 0.50 inches of rain in the Potomac basin above Little Falls. The NWS 3-day forecast predicts no rain over the majority of this same area. The US Geological Survey shows that Point of Rocks flow fell below and then rose above 2,000 cfs, our trigger for daily monitoring. We will continue daily monitoring efforts until we see that flows have significantly improved for several days.

The National Weather Service (NWS) 24 hour observed precipitation shows that there was 0.01 to 1.25 inches of rain in the Potomac basin above Little Falls. The NWS 3-day forecast predicts accumulations of 0.25 to 1.50 inches of rain over this same area. The US Geological Survey shows that Point of Rocks flow rose above 2,000 cfs, our trigger for daily monitoring. We will continue daily monitoring efforts until we see that flows have significantly improved for several days.

The National Weather Service (NWS) 24 hour observed precipitation shows that there was 0 inches of rain in the Potomac basin above Little Falls. The NWS 3-day forecast predicts accumulations of 0.50 to 1.25 inches of rain over this same area. The NWS Global Ensemble Forecast System simulations predict that flow at Point of Rocks may rise above 2000 cfs, our trigger for daily drought monitoring, sometime this week.

No rain fell in the basin over the past 24 hours. The National Weather Service (NWS) 3-day forecast predicts accumulations of 0.5 to 1 inch of rain across the basin. The NWS 5-day forecast predicts accumulations of up to 1.75 inches of rain in the Potomac basin.

Daily Flows:
Little Falls gage flow 2017-10-21: 1280 MGD (1980 cfs)
Little Falls gage flow 2017-10-22: 1170 MGD (est., based on recently available real time data) (1810 cfs)
Note: Gage flow at Little Falls is measured after water supply withdrawals.