Palouse River

Last Updated: May 3, 2026

Total streamflow across the Palouse River was last observed at 874 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 1,734 acre-ft of water today; about 76% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,157 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2012-04-01 when daily discharge volume was observed at 15,260 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Palouse River At Hooper reporting a streamflow rate of 677 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Palouse River Nr Potlatch Id with a gauge stage of 6.78 ft. This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Palouse River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,481 ft, the Palouse River Nr Potlatch Id.

The Palouse River is a tributary of the Snake River located in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-05-03
Discharge Volume 1,734 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 874.0 cfs
Past 24 Hours: -84.0 cfs (-8.77%)
Percent of Normal 75.56%
Maximum 15,260.0 cfs
2012-04-01
Seasonal Avg 1,157 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Palouse River Nr Potlatch Id
USGS 13345000
197 cfs 6.78 ft -10.86
Palouse River At Hooper
USGS 13351000
677 cfs 5.75 ft -8.14
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Palouse River is a tributary of the Snake River in Washington and Idaho, in the northwest United States. It flows for 167 miles (269 km) southwestwards, primarily through the Palouse region of southeastern Washington. It is part of the Columbia River Basin, as the Snake River is a tributary of the Columbia River.
Its canyon was carved out by a fork in the catastrophic Missoula Floods of the previous ice age, which spilled over the northern Columbia Plateau and flowed into the Snake River, eroding the river's present course in a few thousand years.