North Branch Potomac River at Luke
River flow & level · USGS gauge 01598500 · Maryland · drains 406 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 6:00 PM · streamflow
The North Branch Potomac River at Luke is running 450 cfs, 176% of the median flow for October 26 (256 cfs, 84 years). Gage height is 2.02 ft, 8.5 ft below flood stage (10.5 ft). Flow is about the same as 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (9.0 ft) is 7.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (10.5 ft) is 8.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (12.5 ft) is 10.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (15.0 ft) is 13.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
North Branch Potomac River at Luke fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 6:49 PM ETWater 56°F, flow 176% of normal, flow steady, light WNW wind — excellent fall fishing day (8/10), best window 7:44 AM–8:44 AM (moonset near sunrise).
Water 56°F, flow 176% of normal, flow steady, calm wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 6:34 PM–7:34 PM (moonrise near sunset).
- Water temp56°Fmeasured Oct 26, 6:25 PM · North Branch Potomac River At Barnum, Wv, 3 mi away
- Air temphigh 69°F / low 43°FPatchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
- WindLight WNW2–7 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 13
- Flow176% of normalFlow steady (+0% in 24 h)
Official Maryland fishing report: Maryland DNR — Maryland fishing report (weekly)
Best fishing times today
Today is an excellent fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
8/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:38 AM · Sunset 6:21 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:23 PM–2:23 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:44 AM–8:44 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:53 PM–6:53 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 8/10Excellent | Major 12:23 PM–2:23 PM Minor 7:44 AM–8:44 AM · 5:53 PM–6:53 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 12:51 AM–2:51 AM · 1:21 PM–3:21 PM Minor 9:02 AM–10:02 AM · 6:34 PM–7:34 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 1:52 AM–3:52 AM · 2:23 PM–4:23 PM Minor 10:18 AM–11:18 AM · 7:26 PM–8:26 PM Calm wind 1–6 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:56 AM–4:56 AM · 3:28 PM–5:28 PM Minor 11:28 AM–12:28 PM · 8:28 PM–9:28 PM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:00 AM–6:00 AM · 4:32 PM–6:32 PM Minor 12:28 PM–1:28 PM · 9:39 PM–10:39 PM Light wind 5–8 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:02 AM–7:02 AM · 5:32 PM–7:32 PM Minor 1:16 PM–2:16 PM · 10:54 PM–11:54 PM Calm wind 1–6 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:00 AM–7:00 AM · 5:27 PM–7:27 PM Minor 12:54 PM–1:54 PM · 11:08 PM–12:08 AM Calm wind 1–6 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 3 |
| Today | 8, rounded | 8/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page; water temperature measured by USGS at North Branch Potomac River At Barnum, Wv, 3 mi away. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 39.48, -79.06 (moon times from astronomical equations, North Branch Potomac River at Luke local time).
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
6/10
Waning gibbous · 97% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:39 AM · Sunset 6:20 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:51 AM–2:51 AM
- Moon underfoot1:21 PM–3:21 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset9:02 AM–10:02 AM
- Moonrise6:34 PM–7:34 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 27 | 6/10Good | Major 12:51 AM–2:51 AM · 1:21 PM–3:21 PM Minor 9:02 AM–10:02 AM · 6:34 PM–7:34 PM Calm wind 2–5 mph |
|---|---|---|
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 1:52 AM–3:52 AM · 2:23 PM–4:23 PM Minor 10:18 AM–11:18 AM · 7:26 PM–8:26 PM Calm wind 1–6 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:56 AM–4:56 AM · 3:28 PM–5:28 PM Minor 11:28 AM–12:28 PM · 8:28 PM–9:28 PM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:00 AM–6:00 AM · 4:32 PM–6:32 PM Minor 12:28 PM–1:28 PM · 9:39 PM–10:39 PM Light wind 5–8 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:02 AM–7:02 AM · 5:32 PM–7:32 PM Minor 1:16 PM–2:16 PM · 10:54 PM–11:54 PM Calm wind 1–6 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:00 AM–7:00 AM · 5:27 PM–7:27 PM Minor 12:54 PM–1:54 PM · 11:08 PM–12:08 AM Calm wind 1–6 mph |
| MonNov 2 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:53 AM–7:53 AM · 6:18 PM–8:18 PM Minor 1:26 PM–2:26 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonrise × sunset +1) | 1 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 1.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 2 |
| Today | 6, rounded | 6/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page; water temperature measured by USGS at North Branch Potomac River At Barnum, Wv, 3 mi away. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 39.48, -79.06 (moon times from astronomical equations, North Branch Potomac River at Luke local time).
Weather & wind at North Branch Potomac River at Luke
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Tonight43°Partly Cloudy then Patchy FogWind W 6 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday69° / 44°Patchy Fog then Mostly SunnyWind NE 5 mphRain 2%
- Wednesday68° / 44°Partly SunnyWind SE 1 to 6 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 39.479, -79.064 (grid LWX), issued Oct 26, 4:52 PM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge LUKM2- Action stage9 ft+7.0 ft from now
- Minor stage10.5 ft+8.5 ft from now
- Moderate stage12.5 ft+10.5 ft from now
- Major stage15 ft+13.0 ft from now
- Record crest17.15 ft1954
October 26 in history
84 years of flow records- Today450 cfs
- Same date last year262 cfs2025
- Median256 cfs
- Normal range148 cfs – 350 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 19002,140 cfs1972
- Lowest since 190036.0 cfs1905
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 450 | -0% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 450 | +0% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 450 | -0% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 452 | -0% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 453 | -0% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 455 | +0% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 455 | -0% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 456 | -1% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 462 | -1% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 465 | +0% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Savage River Lake4 mi · Lake · Bloomington1,444.48 ft−6.29 ft vs full pool
- Jennings Randolph Lake5 mi · Lake · Elk Garden1,457.38 ft−8.62 ft vs full pool
- Deep Creek Lake13 mi · Lake · Thayerville2,458.09 ft24h +0.01 ft
- North Branch Potomac River near Cumberland18 mi · River507 cfs149% of normal
- Youghiogheny River Lake27 mi · Lake · Dam near Confluence1,437.70 ft−0.65 ft vs full pool
- Youghiogheny River at Youghiogheny River Dam28 mi · River528 cfs96% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 01598500 — North Branch Potomac River At Luke, Md
- Location
- 39.4790, -79.0638 · Maryland
- Drainage area
- 406 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1900–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 6:00 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 6:49 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge LUKM2 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.