Rivers in Idaho

Palouse River near Potlatch

Latah County, IdahoNWS PLOI1USGS 13345000Spokane office

Below flood stage
5.00ftStage

Observed Mon, Sep 21, 9:30 PM PDT

Flood stage
15.00 ft
Forecast crest
5.04 ftThu, Oct 1, 5:00 AM PDT
Record crest
22.15 ft1996

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood17.00 ft
Moderate flood16.00 ft
Minor flood15.00 ft
Action14.00 ft
  1. 22.00 ftEquivalent to the February 1996 flood. Flooding of homes and businesses on Main Street in Palouse, WA can be expected, several feet deep in some areas. Flood waters will be about 5 feet deep in Hayton Green Park in Palouse, WA. Riverfront homes on Almota Road and Shady Lane near downtown in Palouse, WA may also be flooded. Low-lying homes near the river in Potlatch, ID are likely to be flooded.
  2. 19.00 ftMajor widespread flooding between Potlatch Idaho and Palouse Washington can be expected.
  3. 18.00 ftFlooding on the properties near the river along Main Street in the city of Palouse, including several residences near the Lions Club Park.
  4. 17.50 ftWater will be over Flannigan Creek Road and in Potlatch Tree Farm in Potlatch Idaho.
  5. 17.20 ftBasement flooding in buildings along the river in downtown Palouse. Water increasing around homes near Hayton Green Park in Palouse. Extensive field flooding between Palouse and Potlatch with inundation on Glenwood Road, Wellesley Road, and S River Road. Flooding similar to February 2025.
  6. 17.00 ftWidespread extensive lowland and field flooding between Potlatch Junction Idaho and Palouse Washington, including near portions of Highway 272 near Palouse, and west to Tidwell Road and Highway 27.
  7. 16.50 ftWater will be up to the back door at the city shop in Palouse. Water will approach the home on Main Street near Hayton Greene Park. Lions Club Park in Palouse will be submerged and water will be around the playground at the Hayton Greene Park.
  8. 15.00 ftMinor flooding of the low lying areas between Potlatch Idaho and Palouse Washington will occur. Flooding will begin at the Lions Club Community Park and Hayton Greene Park in Palouse. South River Road will likely be flooded where it crosses the Palouse River at Wellesley Rd. The Potlatch softball and baseball fields will see ponding of water.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.

Crest history

59 crests on NOAA’s list since 1968.

#DateStage
1February 9, 199622.15 ft
2January 16, 197421.08 ft
3June 14, 202218.74 ft
4January 1, 199718.32 ft
5February 19, 198218.32 ft
6January 21, 197218.29 ft
7February 20, 196818.08 ft
8March 31, 201217.74 ft
9March 16, 201717.53 ft
10February 17, 198117.31 ft
11February 24, 202517.25 ft
12June 2, 199017.20 ft
13April 10, 201916.93 ft
14March 27, 201216.64 ft
15January 17, 201116.50 ft
16February 17, 197016.40 ft
17February 20, 199516.36 ft
18February 24, 200216.31 ft
19February 1, 200316.10 ft
20February 5, 201815.92 ft
21February 24, 199915.90 ft
22January 9, 200915.87 ft
23February 19, 198315.80 ft
24March 14, 202615.45 ft
25April 5, 201115.28 ft

Most recent crests

  • March 14, 2026: 15.45 ft
  • February 24, 2025: 17.25 ft
  • February 24, 2024: 9.94 ft
  • December 28, 2022: 12.96 ft
  • June 14, 2022: 18.74 ft
  • January 13, 2021: 14.07 ft
  • February 8, 2020: 11.74 ft
  • April 10, 2019: 16.93 ft
  • February 5, 2018: 15.92 ft
  • March 16, 2017: 17.53 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.