GREAT FALLS, Va. — Nature unleashed its fury at Great Falls this week, as floodwaters surged through the rugged landscape with relentless force.
As heavy rain pounded the Mid-Atlantic and state officials scrambled to respond to rising rivers and flooded communities, local photographer Julie Sawitzky captured breathtaking images of the Potomac River raging through Great Falls Park. The usually tranquil cascades had transformed into a thundering, chocolate-brown torrent, swallowing boulders in its path.
Sawitzky shared the dramatic images on Reddit, sparking stunned reactions from across the region.
“Never thought it could get that high,” one commenter wrote, capturing the general sentiment.
Another added, “Wow, that is actually crazy compared to how it usually looks. Thanks for the pics!!”
A Dangerous Beauty
On the Virginia side of the park, longtime visitors are familiar with the historic river crest markers (silent reminders of past floods.) But even with that perspective, the images are shocking.
“Where this person was taking pictures would have been underwater in the worst floods,” one Redditor noted. “And it’s not far off now.”
According to the National Park Service, the Potomac River surged to over 23 feet at Point of Rocks, a height not seen in years. The flooding followed a storm that dumped more than three inches of rain across the region, from Western Maryland to Northern Virginia.
Park rangers and first responders have been working around the clock. In just 24 hours, five people had to be rescued from the C&O Canal National Historical Park, including a hiker stranded on the pedestrian bridge to Harpers Ferry and a kayaker who remains missing in Frederick County.
Sky9’s aerial footage on Thursday revealed the extent of the damage: entire trees, torn from riverbanks, were floating downstream and slamming into everything in their path. At the historic Monocacy Aqueduct, the floodwaters turned the stone structure into a makeshift dam clogged with logs.
“That’s a Lot of Water!”
As images of the river’s fury spread online, residents across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia reacted with awe and concern.
“Holy cow,” wrote one person planning a visit. “Hopefully it’s still crazy when I head over there later today.”
In Petworth, another joked, “Quick, someone tell RFK Jr.”
Others took a more serious tone, pointing to the broader impact of the storm system that devastated parts of Maryland, forcing school evacuations, displacing families, and prompting emergency declarations.
“You don’t fully grasp the scale of it until you’re standing here, witnessing it for yourself,” said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney, who toured hard-hit Allegany County on Thursday. “We’ve met families who had to evacuate their homes and small business owners now facing tough choices.”
More Rain in the Forecast
Governor Wes Moore’s state of emergency declaration comes amid growing concern that the region isn’t in the clear just yet. While no further flooding is currently expected, parts of the panhandle could see more rain heading into the weekend.
Meanwhile, rescue crews continue searching for a 34-year-old kayaker who disappeared in Frederick County. His empty kayak was found Wednesday near Devilbiss Bridge Road.
Park rangers are urging caution, reminding visitors that the Potomac can rise quickly and without warning.
“If you are seeing water rising, you need to leave the area and get to higher ground,” said NPS spokesperson Christiana Hanson.
A Reminder of Nature’s Strength
At Great Falls, the message is clear: this is no ordinary river view.
“You can’t mess with Mother Nature,” said local fisherman Jim Guzauskas. “There’s all kinds of debris coming down, and it’s all headed toward D.C., Alexandria, National Harbor. This is a big flood and they’re going to have a mess downstream.”
Until the waters recede, officials urge locals to steer clear of flooded areas and follow safety guidance.
As one commenter put it simply: “That’s a lot of water."