Flash Flood — Waukesha, Wisconsin

2008-06-12 to 2008-06-13 · near Wales, Waukesha, Wisconsin

Event narrative

Heavy rains led to flash flooding that generated water levels of 2 to 4 feet deep on many low-lying roads, especially near existing lakes. Several vehicles stalled in the deep water and were damaged. A 68-year-old man left a tavern around 2245 CST and drove into a flooded area. He attempted to walk/swim away from his vehicle and drowned.

Wider weather episode

A series of clusters of strong to severe storms ahead of a cold front moved east/northeast across south-central and sourtheast Wisconsin. Copious amounts of moisture were available that allowed repeated heavy rains. Additionally, there was sufficient vertical wind shear to allow for the generation of supercell thunderstorms with rotating updrafts that led to seven tornadoes in this part of the state of Wisconsin. The flooding rains constituted the 2nd round/punch of heavy rains that led to more widespread and severe flash flooding and record-setting river flooding (1st punch was Jun 7-9, 2008).

The axis of heavy rains on June 12th extended from Lafayette County northeast through Dane County to eastern Green Lake County and western Fond du Lac County. Generally 4 to 6 inches fell in this area, with 1 to 4 inches elsewhere. The generous rains in June at Milwuakee led to a montly total of 12.27 inches. This easily broke the record for highest June rainfall total. The previous record was 10.13 inches, set in 1917, and also makes June, 2008, the wettest month ever at Milwaukee.

The Rock River crested at all-time record high levels at the following gauage sites: Waupun (10.07' on 6/13), Horicon (10.29' on 6/17), Watertown (7.81' on 6/13), Jefferson (15.64' on 6/18), Ft. Atkinson (10.85' on 6/21), Newville (15.12' on 6/21), Indianford (18.33' on 6/21), and Afton (13.51' on 6/21). Likewise, the Crawfish River set a new all-time high crest of 13.59' on 6/16 at Milford, and Beaver Dam Creek set a new record of 843.53' on 6/16 at Beaver Dam. Other, new, all-time record high crests include 4.47' on 6/9 on the Bark River at Rome, 4.95' on 6/13 on the Mukwonago River at Mukwonago, 11.41' on 6/8 on Oak Creek in South Milwaukee, 13.93' on 6/13 on the Milwaukee River near Cedarburg, 13.54' on 6/15 on the Fox River at Burlington, and 15.18' on 6/15 on the Fox River at New Munster.

High water levels generaged major road blocks, for various periods, on Interstate 94 in Jefferson and Waukesha Counties, on Interstate 894 in Milwaukee, and on Interstate 39/90/94 in Columbia County near Portage. Most inland lakes rose to high levels that resulted in minor shoreline damage to piers, etc.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (43.0000, -88.3700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 121121. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.