River flows continue to slowly decline. National Weather Service forecasts indicate that there will be significant rainfall in the northern half of the basin – 0.5 to 1.5 inches - over the next three days.
The basin received negligible precipitation yesterday. According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, precipitation totals up to 0.1 inches are expected in the next three days. River Flows have been gradually decreasing over the past week.
Yesterday, there was no recorded rainfall. In the next 72 hours, 0.1 to 0.5 inches of rain are expected in the basin.
Recent basin-wide average precipitation (above Little Falls):
(based on CO-OP's Low Flow Forecast System analysis of Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) gridded multisensor precipitation estimates)
Yesterday's area-weighted average basin precipitation: 0 (inches)
Past 3-day cumulative area-weighted average basin precipitation: 0.14 (inches)
Past 7-day cumulative area-weighted average basin precipitation: 0.63 (inches)
Yesterday, there was no recorded rainfall, and the current Point of Rocks flow is estimated to be 1600 cubic feet per second (cfs). The cumulative forecast for the basin over the next 7-10 days indicates less than an inch of rain.
Potomac River flows continue to hold relatively steady. Less than an inch of precipitation is in the cumulative forecast for the basin over the next ten days.
Recent basin-wide average precipitation (above Little Falls):
(based on CO-OP's Low Flow Forecast System analysis of Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) gridded multisensor precipitation estimates)
Yesterday's area-weighted average basin precipitation: 0.14 (inches)
Past 3-day cumulative area-weighted average basin precipitation: 0.23 (inches)
In the past 24 hours, up to 0.5 inches of rain fell in localized areas of the Potomac Basin, mainly in the northwestern portions and around the Washington D.C area. According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center’s cumulative forecast, no substantial rain is expected in the next 72 hours. River flow at Point of Rocks increased slightly but is still close to the 2000 cfs daily monitoring threshold.
About 0.1 inches of rain fell in the Potomac Basin yesterday, mostly in the portion of the basin below Little Falls. The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center’s cumulative forecast calls for 0.01 to 0.10 inches over the next 72 hours. River flow at Point of Rocks continues to remain below the 2000 cfs daily monitoring threshold.
Flow in the Potomac River at Point of Rocks continues to be close to the 2000 cfs threshold for CO-OP daily monitoring. Average precipitation yesterday in the watershed above Little Falls was 0.28 inches. The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center’s cumulative forecast for the watershed over the next 3 days is just 0.01 to 0.10 inches.
Recent basin-wide average precipitation (above Little Falls):
Reinitiating CO-OP daily drought monitoring and reporting (Friday, 2023-07-28)
In the last 24 hours, MARFC reports precipitation ranging from 0.01 to 0.25 inches in portions of the Potomac watershed above Little Falls. The forecast for the next three days indicates a potential accumulation of up to 0.25-inch precipitation. (Note this is a correction to the emailed version.)
Despite the river flows at Point of Rocks being above the daily monitoring threshold of 2000 cfs, they remain relatively low for this time of year. Until a significant increase occurs, the CO-OP will continue daily monitoring to closely observe the situation.