Potomac River Swells to Highest Level Since 2010

Water levels continued their rise on the Potomac River Tuesday morning as flooding caused some travel problems in the Washington D.C. area.

The Potomac River reached its highest level in eight years as it flowed violently past Great Falls Park just across the Maryland border, in Virginia. The river was turned into raging rapids Monday as a crowd watched on from the park, according to the Washington Post.

The flooding also led to road closures in Laurel, Maryland, where floodwaters damaged roads and downed trees early Monday morning, according to Fox 5 DC. Route 198 was closed after part of the road was washed away, and Stafford County Public Schools were closed Monday, the report added.

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"Many locations in the mid-Atlantic region had one of their wettest Mays on record, leading to saturated soil conditions and swollen creeks, streams and rivers," said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. "June began with another bout of rainfall, which, given the antecedent wet conditions, led to additional rising floodwaters."

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Near Washington D.C., the Potomac crested at 12.38 feet Tuesday morning, rising to moderate flood stage and cresting above 12 feet for the first time since March 15, 2010, according to the National Weather Service.

On the Maryland side of the river, businesses and roads were closed as floodwaters rose in the town of Poolesville, WJLA.com reported. In upper Montgomery County, Seneca Creek State Park was also closed due to flooding, the report added.

Flooding is expected to continue through Wednesday in the area, according to WTOP.com.