Historic Flash Flooding Shuts Down Wisconsin State Fair, Sets Daily Rainfall Record in Milwaukee
Wisconsin Experiences Torrential Rains, Leading to Severe Flooding Over the Weekend
Torrential downpours in Wisconsin on Saturday resulted in flash flooding, causing extensive damage to roads, basements, and creeks. The region’s cherished state fair was also forced to prematurely close.
Milwaukee received an astonishing 5.74 inches of rain within hours, surpassing a month and a half’s worth of typical rainfall for the area, breaking the daily precipitation record.
Reports of flash flooding were widespread, affecting basements, creeks, and streets. In some instances, vehicles became stranded due to the floodwaters, according to the National Weather Service.
The Milwaukee River reached an unprecedented high crest of 11.19 feet, surpassing the previous record of 10.48 feet set in July 2010.
This extreme weather event is linked to the same storm system that brought violent winds with gusts exceeding 80 mph to Nebraska, resulting in one fatality and a serious injury after a large cottonwood tree fell onto a vehicle.
Due to the flooding conditions, the Wisconsin State Fair was compelled to shut down early on its penultimate day, leading to the cancellation of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s performance. Fair officials urged visitors to exercise caution as they safely navigated their way out of the park.
Footage from CNN affiliate WDJT showed fairgoers wading through water up to their waists as they made their way from the fairgrounds to the parking lot.
The flooding also affected Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, with runways, taxiways, and an underpass tunnel all experiencing floodwater.
Continued storms on Sunday pose a threat of flash flooding and street flooding, according to the National Weather Service office in Milwaukee. They have urged extreme caution when traveling.
Milwaukee currently faces a level 2 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall on Sunday and is under a flood watch. Forecasts predict an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain, with some isolated locations potentially receiving up to 5 inches before early Monday.