Torrential rains propel flood risks towards the American Midwest and the Atlantic Coast, while Wisconsin deals with the aftermath
Heavy Flooding Hits Milwaukee, Waukesha County Declares State of Emergency
Milwaukee and Waukesha County experienced severe flooding on August 10, 2025, after a storm system dumped between 8 and 14 inches of rain in just a few hours. The heavy rainfall, accompanied by gusts of over 80 mph, caused flooding, made roads impassable, and led to water rescues.
The Milwaukee Fire Department and neighboring fire departments received 614 separate emergency calls, including 65 that required water rescues. One such rescue involved a teenager who went missing after being swept into the Root River in Franklin, Wisconsin. Rescuers found the missing teenager holding onto a tree branch and standing on a submerged log in the rapidly moving water. They made voice contact with the teenager, reassuring him to stay calm and continue to hold onto the tree until rescuers arrived.
The rescued teenager was treated at the scene by paramedics, reunited with his family, and taken to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin for further medical evaluation.
Thousands of residents were affected by the flooding, with over 1,100 reports of water backing up into basements and emergency crews responding to more than 600 calls overnight due to flooding, gas leaks, electrical hazards, and structure fires. The Root River in the Milwaukee suburb of Franklin reached a record level of 11.7 feet, causing it to spill its banks and flood nearby neighborhoods.
The flooding was so severe that it forced the cancellation of the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair and led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Milwaukee County. A state of emergency was also declared in Waukesha County, which includes part of Milwaukee, to free up state and federal resources for the recovery effort from the flooding.
The storm that hit Milwaukee was fueled by high humidity and moisture inflow from the southwest, accompanied by a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) within a larger storm system. This led to intense and repeated heavy rainfall over a short period, overwhelming the area's drainage and sewer systems.
As a reminder of the dangers posed by flood waters, it is urged that people do not walk or drive through flooded roadways or around barricades. Severe thunderstorms in Kansas and northern Oklahoma on Monday are producing rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour and 60 mph winds. Flash flooding is expected on Monday across the Great Plains, southern Atlantic Coast, Carolinas, Florida panhandle, and Big Bend area of Florida. On Monday night and into Tuesday, thunderstorms are expected from northern Texas through Oklahoma and southwestern Missouri, possibly producing flash flooding in those areas.
Moving water as shallow as 6 inches can knock an adult off their feet, and 2 feet of moving water can sweep away most vehicles. Stay safe and heed all warnings and advisories during severe weather events.
In the aftermath of the storm that hit Milwaukee on August 10, 2025, the flooding extended beyond general news to environmental-science concerns as the Root River reached a record level, causing severe damage to nearby neighborhoods. Meanwhile, science reports suggest that the storm was fueled by high humidity and moisture inflow from the southwest, accompanied by a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) within a larger storm system, leading to intense and repeated heavy rainfall over a short period. In other weather-related news, severe thunderstorms in Kansas and northern Oklahoma are predicted to produce flash flooding on Monday across the Great Plains, southern Atlantic Coast, Carolinas, Florida panhandle, and Big Bend area of Florida. It's crucial for everyone to stay informed about weather conditions and adhere to safety guidelines, such as avoiding walking or driving through flooded roadways or around barricades, to stay safe during severe weather events.
