Flash Flood — Richland, Wisconsin

2007-08-18 to 2007-08-19 · near Richland Center, Richland, Wisconsin

Event narrative

Numerous state highways and county roads were closed and impassable due to flood waters. An estimated 75 percent of the county roads were affected including Highway 80 that was impassable with bridges buckled. Highways 56 and 58 were also impacted. At least a dozen boat rescues were needed from homes and cars. The town of Rockbridge was basically underwater. A 51-year old was swept off a bridge on Highway 60 near the intersection of Highway 80 on his way to Muscoda from Mill Creek.

Wider weather episode

A warm front lifting northward into Iowa triggered round after round of thunderstorms leading to excessive rainfall across southwest Wisconsin during the evening and overnight hours of August 18-19. Total rainfall amounts of 10 to 15 inches were common. Specific reports from weather observers included 10.12 inches and 9.73 inches in Readstown and Viroqua (Vernon County) respectively. Rain had also fallen earlier in the day. Due to the excessive rainfall, widespread and significant flash flooding occurred. Numerous roads and bridges were washed out, houses collapsed due to mudslides and hundreds of homes had flooded basements. Amazingly, there were no fatalities reported. This was in spite of reports from law enforcement and fire department officials of rescuing people in stranded vehicles. Damage attributed to the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding was estimated to be in the millions of dollars. Crawford, La Crosse, Richland and Vernon counties were declared federal disaster areas.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (43.3300, -90.3800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 50601. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.