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This probabilistic forecast is issued by the North Central River Forecast Center.
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Mapping
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About this graph
Forecasts for the Wisconsin River at Portage are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
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Upstream Gauge - at Wisconsin Dells Upstream Gauge Downstream Gauge Downstream Gauge - at Muscoda
Zoom Level:16
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 19
Moderate Flood Stage: 18
Flood Stage: 17
Action Stage: 12.7
Low Stage (in feet): -9999

Historic Crests
(1) 20.66 ft on 09/28/2010
(2) 20.50 ft on 09/14/1938
(3) 20.20 ft on 03/17/1973
(4) 20.08 ft on 04/22/2019
(5) 19.62 ft on 03/20/2016
Show More Historic Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 18.91 ft on 04/18/2023
(2) 15.72 ft on 03/25/2022
(3) 18.18 ft on 04/01/2020
(4) 20.08 ft on 04/22/2019
(5) 17.73 ft on 03/28/2019
Show More Recent Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Low Water Records
(1) 6.50 ft on 08/14/1936
(2) 7.95 ft on 09/21/2012
(3) 8.69 ft on 09/09/2003
(4) 8.92 ft on 09/22/2005
(5) 9.09 ft on 08/22/2013
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Gauge LocationGauge Map Marker
Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.
Flood Impacts & Photos Collapse
If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
21.5 Homes and roads are affected by floodwaters in the Blackhawk Park area as well as River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra and Highway 51 in the Portage area. This level is about a 1 percent chance flood meaning that there is a 1 percent chance in any given year of the river reaching this level.
21 Local officials start sandbagging parts of Highway 51 south of Portage. Indian Trail in Lake Delton is flooded. Other roads that are flooded are River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, Levee Road, Summit St, Conant St, Wood Street and Thunderbird Road in the Portage area.
20.5 Indian trail in Lake Delton area is flooded. Other roads that are flooded are River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, Levee Road, Wood Street, Summit St, Conant St and parts of Thunderbird Road in the Portage area.
20 Sunset Point-Conant St underwater. Floodwaters affect homes in the Blackhawk Park area as well as River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, and Levee Road in the Portage area. Water is over Thunderbird Road.
19.5 Floodwaters are over Wood Street in Portage and a low spot on Thunderbird Road. Water comes up through ground at Sunset and Franklin. Floodwaters affect River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, and Levee Road in the Portage area, and numerous roads in the Blackhawk Park area about 3 miles south of Portage. Some water on Summit St near boat landing. Water over Conant St.
19 There is 1 foot of water over a low section of County Highway V in Dekorra. Floodwaters affect River Oaks Road and River Shores Road (Lewiston Township) as well as numerous roads in the Blackhawk Park area about 3 miles south of Portage.
18.5 Floodwaters affect River Shores Road about 3 miles upstream of Portage in the Town of Lewiston and River Oaks Road about 7 miles downstream of Portage in the Town of Dekorra in Columbia County. Water over Levee Rd and Tritz Rd. There is widespread flooding of roads in the Blackhawk Park Area including West Lake Road...Blackhawk Road and Wood Street. The Blackhawk Park area is on the south side of the river about 3 miles south of Portage.
18 Water surrounds seasonal homes along Old River Rd in the Blackhawk Park and 12 homes flooded on Hwy V. Old River Rd, W Lake Rd, Sec K Rd, Blackhawk R covered with water. West Lane Rd has 4 feet of water over it in places. Water over River Oaks Rd near Hwy V and Oak Knoll Rd in Town of Dekorra 7 miles downstream. Water at base of Caledonia/Lewiston Levee on Old River Rd. This level is about a 20 percent chance flood meaning that there is a 20 percent chance in any given year of the river reaching this level.
17.5 In the Blackhawk Park area in the Town of Caledonia, Old River Road is closed with water over it. West Lane Road in the Long Lake area is closed with about 4 feet of water over it in places. County Highway V and Oak Knoll Road in the Town of Dekorra have water up to the edge of the pavement. A few homes in the Town of Dekorra area near the river have water in the first floor and there is also flooding of outbuildings and yards.
17 There is general overflow of the river. Water is near homes in the Blackhawk Park area of Portage on the south side of the river along Old River Road. Floodwaters are over West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road in the Blackhawk Park area.
16 There is lowland flooding mainly in the Blackhawk Park area on the south side of the river. In the Blackhawk Park area...floodwaters about 40 inches deep flow over parts of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road.
15 There is minor lowland flooding mainly in the Blackhawk Park area on the south side of the river. In the Blackhawk Park area...floodwaters are about 28 inches deep over parts of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road. West Lane Road and Old River Road are underwater.
14 There are about 15 inches of water running over parts of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road in the Blackhawk Park area. The boat landing on West Lake Road is flooded.
13.5 There about 11 inches of water over parts of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road in the Blackhawk Park area on the south side of the river about 3 miles south of Portage. The boat landing on West Lake Raod is flooded.
12.7 There are about 3 inches of water running over 2 spots of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road in the Blackhawk Park area on the south side of the river about 3 miles south of Portage. The boat landing on West Lake Road is starting to get some water on it.
Photos
(1) Aerial photo showing Portage, WI levee.
(2) Aerial photo looking downstream-Wis. River-Portage, WI June 2011
(3) Aerial photo of Wis. River-Portage, WI looking upstream-June 2011.
(4) Street flooding from Wis. R. in Portage area 3/20/2016
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How low could the river get?
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The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.
NWS Information
National Weather Service
Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office
N3533 Hardscrabble Road
Dousman, WI 53118
(262) 965-2074
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Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:29 PM
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