Palouse River near Potlatch, ID
River level and flood forecast · Latah County
The river is 9.9 ft below flood stage (15 ft).
Forecast to hold near 5.1 ft through Mon, Oct 19, 5 PM.
Flow: 5 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 8:12 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Palouse River near Potlatch to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 17 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 16 ft |
| Flood stage | 15 ft |
| Action stage | 14 ft |
| Record crest (February 9, 1996) | 22.15 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 22 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.
- 19 ftMajor widespread flooding between Potlatch Idaho and Palouse Washington can be expected.
- 18 ftFlooding on the properties near the river along Main Street in the city of Palouse, including several residences near the Lions Club Park.
- 17.5 ftWater will be over Flannigan Creek Road and in Potlatch Tree Farm in Potlatch Idaho.
- 17.2 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.
- 17 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.
- 16.5 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.
- 15 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.
Highest crests on record
- 22.15 ft — February 9, 1996
- 21.08 ft — January 16, 1974
- 18.74 ft — June 14, 2022
- 18.32 ft — January 1, 1997
- 18.32 ft — February 19, 1982
Recent crests: 15.45 ft (March 14, 2026) · 17.25 ft (February 24, 2025) · 9.94 ft (February 24, 2024) · 12.96 ft (December 28, 2022) · 18.74 ft (June 14, 2022)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- DownstreamPalouse River at Hooper, WA
- Paradise Creek at HWY8 Near Moscow, ID
- South Fork Palouse River at Pullman, WA
- Hangman/Latah Creek near Tekoa, WA
- St Maries River near Santa, ID
- Potlatch River near Spalding, ID
- Clearwater River at Spalding, ID
- St Joe River at Ramsdell near St Maries, ID
- Lapwai Creek near Lapwai, ID
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (PLOI1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.