High water at Palouse

A National Weather Service flood watch continued at Palouse Thursday with the level of the North Fork of the Palouse River again predicted to top flood stage. The predictions for early Thursday pegged the river level advancing to 17.98 inches which is in the flood zone.

Thursday’s prediction followed an earlier prediction that the water level on the North Fork of the Palouse would exceed 19 feet. That was lowered, but the river height was expected to climb again Thursday.

A 19-foot level level compares with the record 22.1 feet which hit the town in the 1996 flood.

The river, which climbed to 14.5 feet for a high water mark last Friday and then dropped down over the weekend to below 11.5 feet, began to climb again starting Tuesday. It went over the 15-foot mark early Wednesday and continued to climb.

At 7:45 a.m. Wednesday the river went over the 16 foot level for a high mark for the year, and water was beginning to edge into Hayton Green Park.

At 16.5 feet the river would reach the back door of the city shop, which is the lowest elevation structure on the opposite end of Main Street.

Palouse received a shipment of sand, and volunteers were ready to go into action if needed.