Flood — Buffalo, Wisconsin

2023-05-01 to 2023-05-07 · near Fountain City, Buffalo, Wisconsin

Event narrative

Significant upstream runoff from the combination of heavy rainfall and rapidly melting snow resulted in flooding in Fountain City. Impacts included water rising over Wisconsin Highway 35 in downtown Fountain City, closing Main St towards the end of April. Dry conditions allowed the Mississippi River to slowly recede and drop below minor flood stage at the nearby downstream dam in neighboring Winona, Minnesota on May 7th.

Wider weather episode

The combination of heavy rain and anomalously warm temperatures melting a deeper than average snowpack during April resulted in moderate to major flooding stages being reached at sites along the Upper Mississippi River in Wisconsin. Initial minor flood stage was reached in mid April with near record crests near the end of April. The flooding impacts resulted in a state of emergency being issued by the Governor of Wisconsin. Drier conditions during the latter half of April and well below normal rainfall through May allowed the Upper Mississippi River to steadily recede, dropping below minor flood stage at sites in Wisconsin in early May.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.1449, -91.7446)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1100267. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.