Flooding hits multiple rivers in the Milwaukee area following intense weekend rainfall, breaking record levels.
Record-Breaking Floods in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Milwaukee area experienced unprecedented flooding over the weekend of August 9-10, 2025, causing significant damage and disruption. Here are the key details of this historic event.
The flooding led to an estimated infrastructure cost of $23 million for Milwaukee County alone. The floodwaters overwhelmed Milwaukee's combined sewer system, resulting in the release of 5.14 billion gallons of untreated wastewater into rivers and Lake Michigan over 78 hours.
Despite previous investments totaling $580 million in green infrastructure and flood control projects, the floods caused widespread damage. Emergency services were heavily engaged, with the Milwaukee Fire Department responding to 65 water rescues and over 600 emergency calls, including gas leaks and downed wires.
The rainfall totals from August 9 to 10 reached 5 to 10 inches in parts of Milwaukee and nearby counties, making this the worst flash flooding in the region since 2008. The Milwaukee River went over 4-feet over flood level, while the Kinnickinnic, Milwaukee, Menominee, and Root rivers all hit record-high levels.
The floodwaters forced the cancellation of several events, including the last day of the Wisconsin State Fair and parts of a 2025 USA Triathlon in Milwaukee. However, a Brewers baseball game went ahead on August 10, with about 33,700 attendees despite blockages on roads and parking.
Multiple emergencies were declared, with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley declaring a county-wide emergency on August 10, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declaring a state emergency on August 11. Evers also requested FEMA disaster aid on August 13.
Tom Groppi, a local resident, shared that his basement, which had never flooded in more than 50 years, had 3 feet (about 91 centimeters) of water in it during the flood. The National Weather Service predicted more rain for the area on Monday night, but not to the extent of the prolonged deluge over the weekend.
As of Monday morning, about 3,000 homes in the area remained without power, and no fatalities had been reported. Officials continue addressing sewer overflows, cleanup, and support for displaced residents, while federal assistance is sought.
The National Weather Service, aware of the recent flood incident, is now focused on providing accurate weather-forecasting to help prevent similar situations in the future. To minimize the impact of any potential flooding, it is crucial for residents to stay updated on the latest weather-forecasting.
