Published on August 11, 2025 |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, arsenic of now, August 11, 2025, is still recovering from terrible flash floods owed to torrential rains. These storms, which kicked disconnected connected August 9, person continued to torrentially rain, flooding acorss not conscionable Milwaake but nan full area. Recovery efforts person started, but galore forms of nationalist carrier and emergency services person not yet resumed functions. Only aft nan harm is assessed, Milwaukee will person nan services moving astatine optimum levels.
Record-Breaking Rainfall and Flash Flooding
On Saturday, August 9, Milwaukee had its second-wettest time successful its history pinch astir 5.74 inches (146 mm) of rainfall. By early Sunday, full rainfall had peaked astatine astir 7 inches (178 mm), pinch immoderate regions estimating up to 10-11 inches (250-279 mm). Milwaukee’s section drainage systems and rivers could not grip this overwhelming rainfall, resulting successful flash floods crossed nan city.
Milwaukee River astatine Estabrook Park accrued to 11.19 feet (3.41 meters) Which is astir 10.5 feet (3.2 meters) higher than nan erstwhile recorded tallness successful 2010. In summation to nan grounds height, flooded roads besides caused immense postulation problems arsenic vehicles were getting submerged successful nan intruding waters which besides flooded homes. This prompted complete 600 emergency calls which included h2o rescues, state leaks, and electrical outages which nan Milwaukee Fire Department responded to. In total, astir 47,000 residents faced powerfulness outages successful Southwestern Wisconsin owed to nan floods and were advised to beryllium observant astir opinionated h2o owed to nan consequence of drowning.
Widespread Disruptions and Emergency Response
Transportation Impact
The floods caused terrible congestion and brought postulation connected awesome roads to a standstill. Most affected were interstates 43, 41, and 94 wherever ample sections of these roads were underwater. For akin reasons, barriers for vehicles and pedestrians were placed connected Barstow Bridge successful Waukesha which is located connected nan outskirts of Milwaukee. In a parallel situation, flash flooding connected Miller Park Way caused respective vehicles to get stuck and later abandoned.
Milwaukee’s different awesome airport, General Mitchell International, besides faced flooding issues. Reported flooding connected almost each of nan runways on pinch respective taxiways and an underpass passageway led to galore formation cancellations and delays for countless passengers. Waterlogged infrastructure assessments and different repairs were required to reconstruct afloat operational capability.
Milwaukee’s different nationalist transit systems faced akin issues, pinch buses nary longer connected schedule and stuck connected rerouted routes owed to impassable roads. Ride-sharing services besides faced delays and cancellations. Therefore, on pinch flooded zones, little postulation congestion and roadworthy hazards were highly urged over.
Wisconsin State Fair and Other Events
Wisconsin State Fair is an important arena successful westbound allis. This arena was canceled this twelvemonth because of flooding. The fairgrounds besides filled up pinch h2o which led to cancellations of definite events for illustration a marked concert. All those who were issued tickets sewage their money back. Also, immoderate sporting events for illustration nan USA Triathlon Sprint and Paratriathlon Championship were besides canceled because of flooding.
Current Flood Warning and Weather Outlook
The Flood Warning continues to beryllium successful unit for Milwaukee and adjacent counties including Dodge, Jefferson, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha counties, and will beryllium successful effect until 10 AM CDT of 11 August, 2025. According to emergency management, nan storms from Saturday person brought successful nan area 8 to 14 inches of rain, pinch much group to autumn by evening. The National Weather Service recommends overmuch of nan organization to beryllium much vigilant and refrain from moving successful vehicles aliases connected ft successful stagnant water. Rivers and streams are still accumulating further runoff which causes them to beryllium unstable. Authorities stress nan further hazard of unstable riverbanks and culverts.
7-Day Weather Forecast for Milwaukee (August 11–17, 2025)
Mon, Aug 11 | 82°F (28°C) | 68°F (20°C) | Cloudy pinch showers and thunderstorms | 88% | Flood informing successful effect until 10 AM CDT |
Tue, Aug 12 | 83°F (28°C) | 67°F (19°C) | Humid pinch thunderstorms | 80% | Continued consequence of flash flooding owed to saturated ground |
Wed, Aug 13 | 81°F (27°C) | 65°F (18°C) | Mostly sunny pinch a chance of showers | 55% | Drier conditions expected, but localized flooding possible |
Thu, Aug 14 | 79°F (26°C) | 66°F (19°C) | Mostly sunny and pleasant | 3% | No important upwind expected |
Fri, Aug 15 | 85°F (29°C) | 68°F (20°C) | Partly sunny and humid | 2% | Warm and barren conditions |
Sat, Aug 16 | 90°F (32°C) | 71°F (22°C) | Hot and humid pinch intervals of clouds and sunshine | 3% | High temperatures whitethorn summation evaporation rates |
Sun, Aug 17 | 91°F (33°C) | 72°F (22°C) | Hot and humid pinch intervals of clouds and sunshine | 7% | Continued basking and humid conditions |
Upcoming Storm Threats
At this moment, location are nary further terrible large wind alerts progressive for Milwaukee, but nan National Weather Service has put into effect a Flood Watch for regions successful nan Midwest and Southeastern Wisconsin connected relationship of imaginable dense showers. Although terrible thunderstorms are predicted to subside mid-week, travelers and locals are advised to way updates from charismatic upwind stations owed to nan quickly changing conditions.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
Continue pinch operations to retrieve and reconstruct Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin stay active. For nary charge, electrical companies are engaged moving to reconstruct powerfulness to nan 18000 homes without power. In nan meantime, shelters person been group up to assistance nan displaced residents. Affected homes are still being assessed for nan afloat harm while debris is being cleared and powerfulness is being restored.
City officials are still urging nan residents to debar unecessary travel, until nan emergency crews person vanished their work. For nan clip being, nan floodwaters are continually receding, but afloat betterment is expected to return time.
Conclusion
Flash floods successful Milwaukee person caused wide demolition and disruption, importantly affecting transportation, nationalist services, and scheduled events successful nan region. While betterment operations person commenced, some locals and travelers person to beryllium other cautious arsenic immoderate areas are still highly dangerous. Thankfully, drier upwind is expected successful nan coming days which would beryllium an wide improvement. That said, nan aftermath of nan large wind will still person a detrimental effect connected nan region arsenic betterment operations continue.