Potomac River at Shepherdstown
River flow & level · USGS gauge 01618000 · West Virginia · drains 5,955 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 3:30 PM · streamflow
The Potomac River at Shepherdstown is running 2,420 cfs, 191% of the median flow for October 26 (1,270 cfs, 80 years). Gage height is 2.61 ft, 12.4 ft below flood stage (15.0 ft). Flow is up 14% 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 (8.0 ft) is 5.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (15.0 ft) is 12.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (22.0 ft) is 19.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (25.0 ft) is 22.4 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Reading
Potomac River at Shepherdstown fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETFlow 191% of normal, flow steady, calm wind — good fall fishing day (6/10), best window 7:39 AM–8:39 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 70°F / low 43°FSunny
- WindCalm0–5 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 8
- Flow191% of normalFlow steady (+14% in 24 h)
Official West Virginia fishing report: West Virginia DNR — Lake & stream fishing conditions
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 7:33 AM · Sunset 6:16 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon underfoot12:17 PM–2:17 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:39 AM–8:39 AMSunrise
- Moonrise5:47 PM–6:47 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 6/10Good | Major 12:17 PM–2:17 PM Minor 7:39 AM–8:39 AM · 5:47 PM–6:47 PM Calm wind 0–5 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 12:46 AM–2:46 AM · 1:16 PM–3:16 PM Minor 8:56 AM–9:56 AM · 6:29 PM–7:29 PM Calm wind 1–2 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 1:46 AM–3:46 AM · 2:18 PM–4:18 PM Minor 10:13 AM–11:13 AM · 7:21 PM–8:21 PM Light wind 1–7 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 2:50 AM–4:50 AM · 3:23 PM–5:23 PM Minor 11:23 AM–12:23 PM · 8:23 PM–9:23 PM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 3:55 AM–5:55 AM · 4:27 PM–6:27 PM Minor 12:23 PM–1:23 PM · 9:34 PM–10:34 PM Calm wind 0–4 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:57 AM–6:57 AM · 5:27 PM–7:27 PM Minor 1:11 PM–2:11 PM · 10:49 PM–11:49 PM Calm wind 1–4 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 4:55 AM–6:55 AM · 5:22 PM–7:22 PM Minor 12:49 PM–1:49 PM · 11:03 PM–12:03 AM Light 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)
| 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 39.43, -77.80 (moon times from astronomical equations, Potomac River at Shepherdstown local time).
Weather & wind at Potomac River at Shepherdstown
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- This Afternoon70° / 43°SunnyWind NW 5 mphRain 1%
- Tuesday69° / 44°Mostly SunnyWind N 2 mphRain 3%
- Wednesday67° / 46°Mostly CloudyWind SE 1 to 7 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 39.435, -77.801 (grid LWX), issued Oct 26, 2:22 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 SHEW2- Action stage8 ft+5.4 ft from now
- Minor stage15 ft+12.4 ft from now
- Moderate stage22 ft+19.4 ft from now
- Major stage25 ft+22.4 ft from now
- Record crest42.07 ft1936
October 26 in history
80 years of flow records- Today2,420 cfs
- Same date last year880 cfs2025
- Median1,270 cfs
- Normal range888 cfs – 2,350 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 192924,000 cfs1972
- Lowest since 1929316 cfs1931
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 2,045 | -0% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 2,050 | -6% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 2,180 | -11% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 2,440 | -8% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 2,640 | -11% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 2,960 | -11% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 3,340 | -12% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 3,810 | -9% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 4,170 | -3% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 4,320 | -17% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Potomac River at Harpers Ferry9 mi · River1.09 ftstage 1.09 ft
- Potomac River at Burkittsville Rd at Brunswick13 mi · River2.68 ftstage 2.68 ft
- Potomac River at Point of Rocks18 mi · River2,300 cfs100% of normal
- Conococheague Creek at Fairview20 mi · River149 cfs95% of normal
- Monocacy River at Monocacy Blvd at Frederick22 mi · River109 cfs48% of normal
- Monocacy River near Dickerson23 mi · River214 cfsstage 1.37 ft
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 01618000 — Potomac River At Shepherdstown, Wv
- Location
- 39.4347, -77.8014 · West Virginia
- Drainage area
- 5,955 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1929–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 3:30 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge SHEW2 — 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.