Root River at Franklin

Last updated: Apr 1, 2025, 3:44 PM UTC

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US Geological Survey
Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

Scale to Flood Categories

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Observed (OBS) 04/01/2025 8:00 AM CDT

Record: 11 ft

CATEGORY STAGE

Major Flooding 12 ft

Moderate Flooding 10 ft

Minor Flooding 8 ft

Action 7 ft

Reliability of the Forecast: Based on current and forecast river, weather and reservoir conditions

NOTE: Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.

River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
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	CATEGORY	STAGE
	Major Flooding	12 ft
	Moderate Flooding	10 ft
	Minor Flooding	8 ft
	Action	7 ft

Flood Impacts 🅘

12 - The Root River Parkway is flooded. Floodwaters start to affect Ryan Road in southern Milwaukee County. 8 Mile Rd and 27th St flooded, Nicholson Rd flooded, a portion of Oakwood Rd flooded. Yards along the river are flooded.
11 - The Root River Parkway is flooded. 8 Mile Rd and 27th St Flooded. Nicholson Rd flooded. A portion of Oakwood Road is flooded. Yards along the river are flooded. There is widespread flooding of lowland and agricultural land near the river. A stage of 11.09 feet is the 1 percent chance flood meaning that there is a 1 percent chance in any given year of the river reaching this level.
10.5 - Portions of Root River Parkway flooded. Water approaches 8 Mile Rd and 27th St. Nicholson Rd and a portion of Oakwood Rd flooded. Yards along the river are flooded. A stage of 10.63 feet is the 2 percent chance flood meaning that there is a 2 percent chance in any given year of the river reaching this level. A portion of Oakwood Road is flooded and closed. There is widespread flooding of lowland and agriucultural land.

Gauge Info

Coordinates	42.8736, -87.9958
RFC	NCRFC
State	WI
WFO	MKX
County	Milwaukee
Data Provider(s)
US Geological Survey	USGS--Water Resources of the United States
USGS	04087220

Gauge Location

Recent Crests

1.	8.27 ft	on 04-03-2024	(P)
2.	8.44 ft	on 02-28-2023	(P)
3.	9.29 ft	on 09-12-2022	(P)
4.	8.34 ft	on 08-03-2020	(P)
5.	9.48 ft	on 05-18-2020

Historic Crests

1.	11.00 ft	on 06-08-2008
2.	10.51 ft	on 07-23-2010
3.	9.57 ft	on 03-30-1960
4.	9.48 ft	on 05-18-2020
5.	9.43 ft	on 07-03-2000

Vertical Datum Table

type	NAVD88
major Flooding	686.20 ft
moderate Flooding	684.20 ft
minor Flooding	682.20 ft
action	681.20 ft
Latest Value	678.28 ft
Gauge Zero	674.20 ft

Gauge Photos

Photo 1 of 1

Aerial photo looking north-Root River near Franklin, WI

Probability Information

Photo 1 of 3

Weekly Chance of Exceeding Levels
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Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period
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Short Range Forecast Uncertainty
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Unique Local Info

Recent Camera Image
How low could the river get?

Collaborative Agencies

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.

Resources

Hydrologic Resource Links

Additional Resource Links

WFO Information

Weather Forecast Office

Milwaukee/Sullivan

N3533 Hardscrabble Road

Dousman, WI 53118

(262) 965-2074

Ask Questions/Webmaster

Official Homepage

1.	8.27 ft	on 04-03-2024	(P)
2.	8.44 ft	on 02-28-2023	(P)
3.	9.29 ft	on 09-12-2022	(P)
4.	8.34 ft	on 08-03-2020	(P)
5.	9.48 ft	on 05-18-2020
6.	8.48 ft	on 04-30-2020
7.	8.61 ft	on 10-03-2019
8.	9.07 ft	on 09-13-2019
9.	8.06 ft	on 05-23-2019	(P)
10.	8.08 ft	on 03-15-2019	(P)
11.	8.36 ft	on 10-02-2018	(P)
12.	8.05 ft	on 05-13-2018
13.	8.50 ft	on 02-21-2018
14.	8.68 ft	on 02-20-2018
15.	8.29 ft	on 04-10-2015	(P)
16.	6.86 ft	on 07-13-2014
17.	8.67 ft	on 05-13-2014
18.	8.75 ft	on 03-16-2014
19.	8.91 ft	on 04-18-2013
20.	7.56 ft	on 05-07-2012
21.	7.56 ft	on 03-21-2011
22.	6.86 ft	on 02-19-2011
23.	10.51 ft	on 07-23-2010
24.	7.96 ft	on 07-16-2010
25.	8.70 ft	on 06-24-2010
26.	6.70 ft	on 04-07-2010
27.	6.67 ft	on 03-12-2010
28.	9.32 ft	on 06-20-2009
29.	8.45 ft	on 04-27-2009
30.	7.14 ft	on 02-11-2009
31.	8.62 ft	on 12-28-2008
32.	8.52 ft	on 06-13-2008
33.	11.00 ft	on 06-08-2008
34.	8.40 ft	on 04-11-2008
35.	7.82 ft	on 04-01-2008
36.	7.46 ft	on 08-21-2007
37.	8.23 ft	on 04-03-2007
38.	7.44 ft	on 03-14-2007
39.	8.34 ft	on 03-13-2006
40.	8.60 ft	on 05-23-2004
41.	8.01 ft	on 06-13-2001
42.	9.43 ft	on 07-03-2000
43.	9.16 ft	on 06-13-1999
44.	7.38 ft	on 11-11-1998
45.	8.94 ft	on 06-22-1997
46.	8.83 ft	on 06-18-1996
47.	7.04 ft	on 08-17-1995
48.	8.79 ft	on 02-20-1994
49.	8.90 ft	on 04-20-1993
50.	7.57 ft	on 10-25-1992
51.	7.39 ft	on 03-28-1991
52.	8.25 ft	on 05-11-1990
53.	8.15 ft	on 01-20-1988
54.	8.10 ft	on 03-11-1986
55.	8.54 ft	on 04-03-1983
56.	7.89 ft	on 03-14-1982
57.	8.58 ft	on 03-05-1976
58.	8.00 ft	on 04-28-1975
59.	9.31 ft	on 04-21-1973
60.	8.80 ft	on 09-18-1972
61.	8.36 ft	on 06-30-1969
62.	8.43 ft	on 03-05-1965
63.	9.57 ft	on 03-30-1960

1.	11.00 ft	on 06-08-2008
2.	10.51 ft	on 07-23-2010
3.	9.57 ft	on 03-30-1960
4.	9.48 ft	on 05-18-2020
5.	9.43 ft	on 07-03-2000
6.	9.32 ft	on 06-20-2009
7.	9.31 ft	on 04-21-1973
8.	9.29 ft	on 09-12-2022	(P)
9.	9.16 ft	on 06-13-1999
10.	9.07 ft	on 09-13-2019
11.	8.94 ft	on 06-22-1997
12.	8.91 ft	on 04-18-2013
13.	8.90 ft	on 04-20-1993
14.	8.83 ft	on 06-18-1996
15.	8.80 ft	on 09-18-1972
16.	8.79 ft	on 02-20-1994
17.	8.75 ft	on 03-16-2014
18.	8.70 ft	on 06-24-2010
19.	8.68 ft	on 02-20-2018
20.	8.67 ft	on 05-13-2014
21.	8.62 ft	on 12-28-2008
22.	8.61 ft	on 10-03-2019
23.	8.60 ft	on 05-23-2004
24.	8.58 ft	on 03-05-1976
25.	8.54 ft	on 04-03-1983
26.	8.52 ft	on 06-13-2008
27.	8.50 ft	on 02-21-2018
28.	8.48 ft	on 04-30-2020
29.	8.45 ft	on 04-27-2009
30.	8.44 ft	on 02-28-2023	(P)
31.	8.43 ft	on 03-05-1965
32.	8.40 ft	on 04-11-2008
33.	8.36 ft	on 10-02-2018	(P)
34.	8.36 ft	on 06-30-1969
35.	8.34 ft	on 08-03-2020	(P)
36.	8.34 ft	on 03-13-2006
37.	8.29 ft	on 04-10-2015	(P)
38.	8.27 ft	on 04-03-2024	(P)
39.	8.25 ft	on 05-11-1990
40.	8.23 ft	on 04-03-2007
41.	8.15 ft	on 01-20-1988
42.	8.10 ft	on 03-11-1986
43.	8.08 ft	on 03-15-2019	(P)
44.	8.06 ft	on 05-23-2019	(P)
45.	8.05 ft	on 05-13-2018
46.	8.01 ft	on 06-13-2001
47.	8.00 ft	on 04-28-1975
48.	7.96 ft	on 07-16-2010
49.	7.89 ft	on 03-14-1982
50.	7.82 ft	on 04-01-2008
51.	7.57 ft	on 10-25-1992
52.	7.56 ft	on 03-21-2011
53.	7.56 ft	on 05-07-2012
54.	7.46 ft	on 08-21-2007
55.	7.44 ft	on 03-14-2007
56.	7.39 ft	on 03-28-1991
57.	7.38 ft	on 11-11-1998
58.	7.14 ft	on 02-11-2009
59.	7.04 ft	on 08-17-1995
60.	6.86 ft	on 02-19-2011
61.	6.86 ft	on 07-13-2014
62.	6.70 ft	on 04-07-2010
63.	6.67 ft	on 03-12-2010