PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (MD) Flooding in Western Maryland

Date: Wed, 14 May 2025 08:22:56 EDT

Summary: Heavy rainfall—exceeding 3 inches in places—caused major flooding at multiple streamgages in Western Maryland, prompting a multi-crew USGS response to measure high flows and document flood impacts

Heavy rainfall in excess of 3 inches—with possibly higher localized totals—has fallen on already saturated ground, triggering significant flooding across the Appalachian region of Western Maryland. Several streamgages in the area have reached Major Flood Stage, as defined by the National Weather Service.

Notably, Georges Creek at Franklin, MD (01599000)—located near Westernport, MD—Wills Creek near Cumberland, MD (01601500), and the North Branch Potomac River near Cumberland, MD (01603000) all crested at major flood levels.

In response, the Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center (MD-DE-DC WSC) has deployed three field crews (six staff) from the Frostburg Field Office to measure high flows at more than a dozen sites. Field operations are ongoing and will continue into tomorrow, with plans to measure larger drainage sites along the Potomac River and to flag high water marks for indirect peak discharge computations.

No USGS streamgages were damaged during the flood event, and all instrumentation remains operational.