Weekend Rainfall Accumulations in Southern Wisconsin
The past weekend of August 9-10, 2025, brought a 100-to-1000-year flood event to Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin, causing severe damage and displacement. The region has been experiencing a state of emergency ever since.
Record-Breaking Rainfall
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport recorded an astounding 5.74 inches of rain in a single day, surpassing the city's average total for the entire month of August [2]. This overwhelming rainfall overwhelmed Milwaukee's combined sewer system, resulting in 5.14 billion gallons of untreated wastewater spilling into rivers and Lake Michigan over 78 hours [1][5].
Hardest Hit Areas
The suburbs of Wauwatosa were particularly affected, with widespread infrastructure damage estimated at $23 million in Milwaukee County alone [1]. Despite previous investments totaling $580 million in green infrastructure and flood management, the catastrophic rainfall and flooding displaced families, damaged homes, businesses, and community centers, and impaired key transportation routes [1][3].
Emergency Responses and Recovery
Emergency crews conducted numerous water rescues, and significant impacts included power outages, downed wires, and hazardous road conditions [3]. Multiple levels of government declared states of emergency to marshal resources for recovery. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley declared a county-wide emergency on August 10, followed by Governor Tony Evers' state emergency declaration on August 11 [1][3]. Governor Evers emphasized the extensive damage and the length of time and resources needed for recovery and formally requested federal disaster aid from FEMA [1][3].
Atmospheric Conditions
The flooding was driven by a combination of atmospheric conditions including high humidity, inflow of moisture from the southwest, and a localized low-pressure center (Mesoscale Convective Vortex) that intensified downpours into the early August 10 morning [2]. This was the worst flash flooding in southeastern Wisconsin since 2008 [2].
Ongoing Concerns and Updates
Storms on Tuesday and beyond could exacerbate the flooding situation [4]. It is crucial to exercise caution when encountering high water during this weather event [4]. The current weather situation in southern Wisconsin is still conducive to flooding [4]. The risk of driving through high water remains, as it is difficult to assess the depth and hidden dangers [4].
For updates on the flood situation, you can refer to our website15 News and our website15 First Alert weather apps.
References
- Milwaukee County declares state of emergency due to flooding
- Milwaukee County flooding: 10 things to know
- Governor Evers declares state of emergency due to flooding in southeastern Wisconsin
- Flooding concerns continue as storms persist in southern Wisconsin
- Milwaukee's combined sewer system overflowed, spilling billions of gallons of untreated wastewater
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