North Branch Potomac River near Cumberland
River flow & level · USGS gauge 01603000 · Maryland · drains 877 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 12:15 PM · streamflow
The North Branch Potomac River at Cumberland is running 507 cfs, 149% of the median flow for October 26 (341 cfs, 97 years). Gage height is 2.69 ft, 14.3 ft below flood stage (17.0 ft). Flow is down 2% from 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 (12.0 ft) is 9.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (17.0 ft) is 14.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (21.0 ft) is 18.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (23.0 ft) is 20.3 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
North Branch Potomac River near Cumberland fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 12:50 PM ETFlow 149% of normal, flow steady, calm wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 7:43 AM–8:43 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 72°F / low 40°FSunny
- WindCalm0–6 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 9
- Flow149% of normalFlow steady (-2% in 24 h)
Official Maryland fishing report: Maryland DNR — Maryland fishing report (weekly)
Best fishing times today
Today is a good fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
6/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:37 AM · Sunset 6:20 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:21 PM–2:21 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:43 AM–8:43 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:51 PM–6:51 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 6/10Good | Major 12:21 PM–2:21 PM Minor 7:43 AM–8:43 AM · 5:51 PM–6:51 PM Calm wind 0–6 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 12:50 AM–2:50 AM · 1:20 PM–3:20 PM Minor 9:01 AM–10:01 AM · 6:32 PM–7:32 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 1:50 AM–3:50 AM · 2:22 PM–4:22 PM Minor 10:17 AM–11:17 AM · 7:24 PM–8:24 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:54 AM–4:54 AM · 3:27 PM–5:27 PM Minor 11:28 AM–12:28 PM · 8:26 PM–9:26 PM Calm wind 0–1 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 3:59 AM–5:59 AM · 4:31 PM–6:31 PM Minor 12:27 PM–1:27 PM · 9:38 PM–10:38 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:01 AM–7:01 AM · 5:31 PM–7:31 PM Minor 1:16 PM–2:16 PM · 10:52 PM–11:52 PM Calm wind 0–1 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:59 AM–6:59 AM · 5:26 PM–7:26 PM Minor 12:54 PM–1:54 PM · 11:07 PM–12:07 AM Calm wind 0–2 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)
| 1 |
| 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. 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 39.62, -78.77 (moon times from astronomical equations, North Branch Potomac River near Cumberland local time).
Weather & wind at North Branch Potomac River near Cumberland
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon72° / 40°SunnyWind W 2 to 6 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday70° / 41°Mostly SunnyWind E 2 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday67° / 42°Mostly CloudyWind E 0 to 3 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 39.622, -78.773 (grid LWX), issued Oct 26, 10:54 AM 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 CBEM2- Action stage12 ft+9.3 ft from now
- Minor stage17 ft+14.3 ft from now
- Moderate stage21 ft+18.3 ft from now
- Major stage23 ft+20.3 ft from now
- Record crest29.2 ft1889
October 26 in history
97 years of flow records- Today507 cfs
- Same date last year297 cfs2025
- Median341 cfs
- Normal range213 cfs – 658 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 19303,770 cfs1972
- Lowest since 193029.0 cfs1931
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 507 | -2% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 515 | -1% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 518 | -1% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 523 | -2% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 531 | -2% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 540 | -1% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 546 | -4% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 570 | -3% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 590 | -4% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 617 | -5% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Potomac River at Paw Paw18 mi · River1,140 cfs154% of normal
- North Branch Potomac River at Luke18 mi · River450 cfs176% of normal
- Savage River Lake21 mi · Lake · Bloomington1,444.57 ft−6.28 ft vs full pool
- Jennings Randolph Lake23 mi · Lake · Elk Garden1,457.56 ft−8.44 ft vs full pool
- Deep Creek Lake29 mi · Lake · Thayerville2,458.09 ft24h +0.01 ft
- Casselman River at Markleton29 mi · River181 cfs155% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 01603000 — North Branch Potomac River Near Cumberland, Md
- Location
- 39.6218, -78.7734 · Maryland
- Drainage area
- 877 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1930–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 12:15 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 12:50 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge CBEM2 — 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.