Flash Flood — Walworth, Wisconsin

2017-07-12 · near La Grange, Walworth, Wisconsin

Event narrative

Various road closures over the eastern half of Walworth County due to the flash flooding of creeks or the pooling of water in low spots after 3.50-8.00 inches of rain. Walworth County declared an emergency. Road closures near Springfield, Abells Corners, south and east of East Troy. Also, widespread flooding and road closures in and around Elkhorn after 3.26 inches of rain in an hour. The water flowed into some businesses and the Huber Dorm. Some cars were stranded in deep water. Residents of the Bud Motors Trailer Park in the Town of Lyons evacuated due to flooding from the White River. Also in Lyons, the Ore Creek flooded and destroyed a portion of the foundation of a home. Ten additional homes were flooded and there were extensive roadway washouts in the area.

Wider weather episode

Rounds of thunderstorms with torrential rainfall affected southern WI from late evening on July 11th through the morning of July 12th due to a strong surge of warm, moist, and unstable air over a stationary front. Severe flash flooding and river flooding occurred in the Fox River basin over far southeast WI including urban flooding. Up to 8 inches of rain was observed in the basin causing record flooding on portions of the Fox River. This included Burlington and surrounding communities which experienced flash flooding but also long term flooding that had significant impact to some structures and travel.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (42.8277, -88.5855)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 711659. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.