Flood Warning Issued for Palouse River Affecting Latah and Whitman Counties

Alert Details

A Flood Warning (FLW) has been issued by the National Weather Service in Spokane, WA. The alert is currently in effect and remains active until March 15 at 5:52 AM PDT.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically affects the Palouse River near Potlatch, impacting the following regions:

• Latah County, Idaho
• Whitman County, Washington
• Specific Cities: Palouse and Potlatch

What You Should Do

Residents and motorists are advised to take the following precautions:

• Turn around, don’t drown: Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas. Most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles.
• Avoid Riverbanks: Exercise extreme caution when walking near riverbanks as conditions can be unstable.
• Respect Barricades: Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or through standing water.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is currently occurring, and moderate flooding is in the forecast.

• Current Stage: As of 7:30 AM PDT Saturday, the river stage was 15.3 feet. Flood stage is 15.0 feet, and bankfull stage is 14.0 feet.
• Forecast Crest: The river is expected to rise to a crest of 16.0 feet late this morning.
• Impacts: At 16.5 feet, water will reach the back door of the city shop in Palouse and approach homes on Main Street near Hayton Greene Park. Lions Club Park in Palouse will be submerged, and water will surround the playground at Hayton Greene Park.

Timeline

The Flood Warning is effective immediately. The river is expected to crest late this morning and fall below flood stage late this afternoon. The official warning window expires at 5:52 AM PDT on Sunday, March 15.