Flash Flood — Wood, Wisconsin

2010-09-23 · near Kellner, Wood, Wisconsin

Event narrative

Heavy rain fell across Wood County, causing rivers and streams to overflow their banks, washing out roads and damaging homes and businesses. Much of the county received at least 4 inches of rain. The heaviest recorded total was 5.95 inches at Pittsville. Sandbagging was necessary along the Yellow River in southwest Wood County. The flooding caused minor damage to 79 homes and 10 businesses, major damage to 1 home and substantial damage to public infrastructure. As many as 35 roads across the county were closed at some point due to the flooding.

Wider weather episode

An excessive rainfall event, with amounts of 3 to 6 inches, occurred across parts of central and northeast Wisconsin starting on the evening of September 22 and lasting through the morning hours of September 23. The initial band of heavy rain formed along a warm front that extended across north-central Wisconsin. Additional rains were a result of a cold front that moved across the state on September 23.

The heaviest rain fell over the central part of the state where many locations received more than 5 inches. This led to flash flooding, as well as areal and moderate to major river flooding across parts of central Wisconsin.

A new record stage was established on the Yellow River at Babcock in Wood County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.2477, -89.7249)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 262131. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.