Potomac River at Hancock
River flow & level · USGS gauge 01613000 · Maryland · drains 4,064 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 6:15 PM · streamflow
The Potomac River at Hancock is running 1,240 cfs, 153% of the median flow for October 26 (809 cfs, 94 years). Gage height is 3.52 ft, 21.5 ft below flood stage (25.0 ft). Flow is down 7% 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 (21.0 ft) is 17.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (25.0 ft) is 21.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (33.0 ft) is 29.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (35.0 ft) is 31.5 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
Potomac River at Hancock fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 6:49 PM ETFlow 153% of normal, flow steady, calm wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 7:41 AM–8:41 AM (moonset near sunrise).
Flow 153% of normal, flow steady, calm wind — fair fall fishing day (5/10), best window 6:29 PM–7:29 PM (moonrise near sunset).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 69°F / low 44°FMostly Sunny
- WindCalm0–5 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 8
- Flow153% of normalFlow steady (-7% 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 7:34 AM · Sunset 6:17 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:19 PM–2:19 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:41 AM–8:41 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:48 PM–6:48 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 6/10Good | Major 12:19 PM–2:19 PM Minor 7:41 AM–8:41 AM · 5:48 PM–6:48 PM Calm wind 0–5 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 12:47 AM–2:47 AM · 1:17 PM–3:17 PM Minor 8:59 AM–9:59 AM · 6:29 PM–7:29 PM Calm wind 1–2 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 1:48 AM–3:48 AM · 2:20 PM–4:20 PM Minor 10:15 AM–11:15 AM · 7:21 PM–8:21 PM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:52 AM–4:52 AM · 3:24 PM–5:24 PM Minor 11:26 AM–12:26 PM · 8:24 PM–9:24 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 3:57 AM–5:57 AM · 4:28 PM–6:28 PM Minor 12:25 PM–1:25 PM · 9:35 PM–10:35 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:59 AM–6:59 AM · 5:28 PM–7:28 PM Minor 1:13 PM–2:13 PM · 10:50 PM–11:50 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:57 AM–6:57 AM · 5:24 PM–7:24 PM Minor 12:51 PM–1:51 PM · 11:04 PM–12:04 AM Calm wind 0–4 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 39.70, -78.18 (moon times from astronomical equations, Potomac River at Hancock local time).
Best fishing times today
Today is a fair fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
5/10
Waning gibbous · 97% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:36 AM · Sunset 6:16 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:47 AM–2:47 AM
- Moon underfoot1:17 PM–3:17 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset8:59 AM–9:59 AM
- Moonrise6:29 PM–7:29 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:47 AM–2:47 AM · 1:17 PM–3:17 PM Minor 8:59 AM–9:59 AM · 6:29 PM–7:29 PM Calm wind 1–2 mph |
|---|---|---|
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 1:48 AM–3:48 AM · 2:20 PM–4:20 PM Minor 10:15 AM–11:15 AM · 7:21 PM–8:21 PM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:52 AM–4:52 AM · 3:24 PM–5:24 PM Minor 11:26 AM–12:26 PM · 8:24 PM–9:24 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 3:57 AM–5:57 AM · 4:28 PM–6:28 PM Minor 12:25 PM–1:25 PM · 9:35 PM–10:35 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:59 AM–6:59 AM · 5:28 PM–7:28 PM Minor 1:13 PM–2:13 PM · 10:50 PM–11:50 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:57 AM–6:57 AM · 5:24 PM–7:24 PM Minor 12:51 PM–1:51 PM · 11:04 PM–12:04 AM Calm wind 0–4 mph |
| MonNov 2 | 3/10Poor | Major 5:49 AM–7:49 AM · 6:14 PM–8:14 PM Minor 1:22 PM–2:22 PM Calm wind 0–4 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)
| 1 |
| Today | 5, rounded | 5/10 |
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 39.70, -78.18 (moon times from astronomical equations, Potomac River at Hancock local time).
Weather & wind at Potomac River at Hancock
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Tonight44°Mostly ClearWind W 1 to 5 mphRain 1%
- Tuesday69° / 43°Mostly SunnyWind E 2 mphRain 3%
- Wednesday67° / 44°Mostly CloudyWind SE 1 to 5 mphRain 1%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 39.698, -78.178 (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 HNKM2- Action stage21 ft+17.5 ft from now
- Minor stage25 ft+21.5 ft from now
- Moderate stage33 ft+29.5 ft from now
- Major stage35 ft+31.5 ft from now
- Record crest47.6 ft1936
October 26 in history
94 years of flow records- Today1,240 cfs
- Same date last year500 cfs2025
- Median809 cfs
- Normal range554 cfs – 1,770 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 193314,800 cfs1972
- Lowest since 1933303 cfs1948
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 1,278 | -5% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 1,350 | -8% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 1,470 | -8% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 1,590 | -9% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 1,750 | -11% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 1,960 | -14% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 2,270 | -14% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 2,650 | -14% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 3,090 | -10% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 3,430 | -1% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Potomac River at Paw Paw18 mi · River1,110 cfs150% of normal
- Conococheague Creek at Fairview19 mi · River149 cfs95% of normal
- Potomac River at Shepherdstown27 mi · River2,380 cfs187% of normal
- North Branch Potomac River near Cumberland32 mi · River507 cfs149% of normal
- Potomac River at Harpers Ferry35 mi · River1.19 ftstage 1.19 ft
- Raystown Branch Juniata River at Saxton36 mi · River235 cfs135% of normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 01613000 — Potomac River At Hancock, Md
- Location
- 39.6976, -78.1779 · Maryland
- Drainage area
- 4,064 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1933–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 6:15 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 6:49 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge HNKM2 — 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.