Rivers in Washington
South Fork Palouse River at Pullman
Below flood stage
0.79ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 3:15 AM PDT
- Flood stage
- 7.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 0.95 ftFri, Sep 25, 11:00 PM PDT
- Record crest
- 11.80 ft1910
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 9.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 8.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 7.00 ft |
| Action | 5.50 ft |
- 10.00 ftSevere flooding of residential and business areas can be expected from Pullman downstream to Hooper.
- 9.00 ftWater will be several feet deep on Main Street and inches deep on Grand Ave and other neighboring streets. Major flooding of businesses, homes, and roads along the river can be expected. Missouri Flat Creek will likely be out of its banks and flowing over Grand Ave, Stadium Way, and beginning to flood homes and businesses on Park Street. Paradise Cr and the river will approach homes and businesses on Professional Mall and Bleasner Drives. Equivalent to the February 1996 flood.
- 7.00 ftMinor flooding in the residential and business areas along the river in and around Pullman can be expected. Ponding of water on portions of Grand Ave near Missouri Flat Creek. Flooding in portions of Spring Street Skate Park, the City Palyfields, and the Pullman RV Park.
- 6.50 ftWater will be up to the bottom of the pedestrian bridge at Main and Pine Street. The low spot on Morton Street near Reaney Park will be flooded. Water will be up along the foundations of the older commercial buildings along Poplar Street near its intersection with State Street as well as the older buildings on Main Street bewteen Kamiaken and Paradise Streets. Flooding of pasture land downstream of Pullman.
- 4.50 ftMinor flooding near the shoreline and bench at Riverfront Park in downtown Pullman.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 22, 2026.
Crest history
59 crests on NOAA’s list since 1910.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 1, 1910 | 11.80 ft |
| 2 | February 26, 1948 | 9.50 ft |
| 3 | January 21, 1972 | 9.46 ft |
| 4 | February 9, 1996 | 9.04 ft |
| 5 | January 1, 1997 | 8.83 ft |
| 6 | March 14, 2026 | 8.82 ft |
| 7 | February 13, 1979 | 8.25 ft |
| 8 | February 23, 2025 | 7.61 ft |
| 9 | December 23, 1964 | 7.11 ft |
| 10 | March 10, 2017 | 7.03 ft |
| 11 | March 26, 2012 | 6.96 ft |
| 12 | February 3, 1963 | 6.91 ft |
| 13 | April 9, 2019 | 6.90 ft |
| 14 | January 24, 1959 | 6.50 ft |
| 15 | January 15, 1974 | 6.34 ft |
| 16 | January 8, 2009 | 6.05 ft |
| 17 | December 22, 1933 | 6.00 ft |
| 18 | January 13, 1973 | 6.00 ft |
| 19 | December 28, 2023 | 5.83 ft |
| 20 | January 16, 2011 | 5.75 ft |
| 21 | January 7, 1969 | 5.25 ft |
| 22 | January 5, 2010 | 5.00 ft |
| 23 | January 15, 1976 | 4.92 ft |
| 24 | March 12, 2002 | 4.85 ft |
| 25 | January 18, 1975 | 4.84 ft |
Most recent crests
- March 14, 2026: 8.82 ft
- February 23, 2025: 7.61 ft
- December 28, 2023: 5.83 ft
- January 21, 2022: 4.51 ft
- January 13, 2021: 4.39 ft
- April 9, 2020: 4.70 ft
- April 9, 2019: 6.90 ft
- March 9, 2018: 3.81 ft
- March 10, 2017: 7.03 ft
- March 22, 2016: 4.46 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Northwest River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Gauge reading may be affected by ice. Forecast flows are unadjusted for ice.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.