2025-12-20T00:00:00-07:00
...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR IN AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE FOOTHILLS, BETWEEN 5500 AND 9000 FEET, FOR BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES ON FRIDAY... Strong west winds, sustained 45-55 mph with gusts upwards of 85- 105 mph, are expected in the foothills of Larimer, Boulder and Jefferson Counties beginning early Friday morning. Relative humidity values are expected to drop into the low teens, possibly upper single digits. While Red Flag conditions, critical fire weather, are expected across a larger area in northern Colorado, the most extreme conditions are expected to be along Highway 93 from Jefferson County into Boulder County and along US-36 north of Boulder to the Larimer County line and westward. There will be a high potential for fast moving wildfires, should any new starts occur. Winds toward I-25 and eastward will be slower to develop, and also speeds will be considerably lighter. That said, gusts of 25- 40 mph are still expected to combine with very low humidity and cured grasses to support critical fire weather conditions. Such conditions may be a longer duration than usual, with potential for low humidity to extend well into the evening hours. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 238, 240, 241, 242 and 243. * TIMING...From 10 AM this morning to midnight MST tonight. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible west of I-25, and gusts to 40 mph possible along and east of I- 25. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.
Summary
Total streamflow across the
Palouse River
was last observed at
979
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
1,942
acre-ft of water today; about 274%
of normal.
River levels are high.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
357 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 559 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Palouse River Nr Potlatch Id
with a gauge stage of 7.73 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.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-19 |
| Discharge Volume | 1,942 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
979.0 cfs
+437.0 cfs (+80.63%) |
| Percent of Normal | 274.36% |
| Maximum |
15,260.0 cfs
2012-04-01 |
| Seasonal Avg | 357 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 |
420 cfs | 7.73 ft | -22.51 | |||||
|
Palouse River At Hooper
USGS 13351000 |
559 cfs | 5.45 ft | 81.49 |
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.