Flood — Whitman, Washington

2017-03-14 to 2017-03-19 · near Cove, Whitman, Washington

Event narrative

The Palouse River Gage at Potlach, ID recorded a rise above the Flood Stage of 15.0 feet at 10:00 PM PST March 14th, cresting at 17.5 feet at 10:30 AM March 16th. The river dropped below Flood Stage during the evening of the 17th but then rose again above Flood Stage during the afternoon of the 19th cresting 15.6 feet before receding below Flood Stage for the end of the event during the evening of March 19th.

Wider weather episode

Low elevation snow melt combined with periods of heavy rain during the second week of March forced the Palouse River to Major Flood Stage. Extensive flooding of fields, parks and roads in the river bottom occurred with some houses and businesses in the town of Palouse experiencing basement flooding and minor first floor flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (46.8847, -117.0442)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 686469. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.