Wisconsin River at Portage
No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for this area.
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Warning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 06/19/2025 8:30 AM CDTOfficial Forecast (FCST) 06/19/2025 8:28 AM CDTCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 19 ft Moderate Flooding 18 ft Minor Flooding 17 ft Action 12.7 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.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 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.
- 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.
Gauge Info
| Coordinates | 43.5363, -89.4738 |
| RFC | NCRFC |
| State | WI |
| WFO | MKX |
| County | Columbia |
| Data Provider(s) | |
| NWS, City/Portage, Columbia Co. | NWS, City/Portage, Columbia Co. |
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 17.73 ft | on 04-25-2025 | (P) |
| 2. | 17.88 ft | on 04-02-2025 | (P) |
| 3. | 18.01 ft | on 06-26-2024 | (P) |
| 4. | 18.91 ft | on 04-18-2023 | |
| 5. | 15.72 ft | on 03-25-2022 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 17.73 ft | on 04-25-2025 | (P) |
| 2. | 17.88 ft | on 04-02-2025 | (P) |
| 3. | 18.01 ft | on 06-26-2024 | (P) |
| 4. | 18.91 ft | on 04-18-2023 | |
| 5. | 15.72 ft | on 03-25-2022 | |
| 6. | 18.18 ft | on 04-01-2020 | |
| 7. | 20.08 ft | on 04-22-2019 | |
| 8. | 17.73 ft | on 03-28-2019 | |
| 9. | 18.86 ft | on 03-17-2019 | |
| 10. | 18.02 ft | on 10-15-2018 | |
| 11. | 17.49 ft | on 06-21-2018 | |
| 12. | 17.36 ft | on 04-28-2018 | |
| 13. | 15.86 ft | on 06-22-2017 | |
| 14. | 16.73 ft | on 06-16-2017 | |
| 15. | 18.30 ft | on 05-22-2017 | |
| 16. | 18.44 ft | on 02-27-2017 | |
| 17. | 19.62 ft | on 03-20-2016 | |
| 18. | 18.15 ft | on 12-17-2015 | |
| 19. | 16.30 ft | on 06-12-2015 | |
| 20. | 16.30 ft | on 05-30-2015 | |
| 21. | 15.54 ft | on 04-15-2015 | |
| 22. | 14.82 ft | on 10-18-2014 | |
| 23. | 17.84 ft | on 04-14-2014 | |
| 24. | 15.11 ft | on 05-09-2012 | |
| 25. | 15.60 ft | on 06-26-2011 | |
| 26. | 15.80 ft | on 05-01-2011 | |
| 27. | 19.40 ft | on 04-14-2011 | |
| 28. | 14.60 ft | on 03-23-2011 | |
| 29. | 20.66 ft | on 09-28-2010 | |
| 30. | 16.30 ft | on 07-25-2010 | |
| 31. | 16.43 ft | on 07-18-2010 | |
| 32. | 15.34 ft | on 05-01-2009 | |
| 33. | 12.84 ft | on 02-15-2009 | |
| 34. | 15.66 ft | on 06-10-2008 | |
| 35. | 18.59 ft | on 04-23-2008 | |
| 36. | 16.85 ft | on 04-13-2008 | |
| 37. | 15.70 ft | on 05-27-2004 | |
| 38. | 18.45 ft | on 05-15-2003 | |
| 39. | 17.94 ft | on 04-20-2003 | |
| 40. | 18.10 ft | on 04-16-2002 | |
| 41. | 17.50 ft | on 04-03-1998 | |
| 42. | 18.12 ft | on 04-09-1997 | |
| 43. | 18.93 ft | on 04-23-1996 | |
| 44. | 16.45 ft | on 09-01-1995 | |
| 45. | 16.98 ft | on 04-29-1994 | |
| 46. | 19.58 ft | on 06-25-1993 | |
| 47. | 17.10 ft | on 05-07-1993 | |
| 48. | 18.40 ft | on 12-07-1991 | |
| 49. | 20.20 ft | on 03-17-1973 | |
| 50. | 20.50 ft | on 09-14-1938 | |
| 51. | 17.80 ft | on 04-25-0025 |
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 |
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 | |
| 6. | 19.58 ft | on 06-25-1993 | |
| 7. | 19.40 ft | on 04-14-2011 | |
| 8. | 18.93 ft | on 04-23-1996 | |
| 9. | 18.91 ft | on 04-18-2023 | |
| 10. | 18.86 ft | on 03-17-2019 | |
| 11. | 18.59 ft | on 04-23-2008 | |
| 12. | 18.45 ft | on 05-15-2003 | |
| 13. | 18.44 ft | on 02-27-2017 | |
| 14. | 18.40 ft | on 12-07-1991 | |
| 15. | 18.30 ft | on 05-22-2017 | |
| 16. | 18.18 ft | on 04-01-2020 | |
| 17. | 18.15 ft | on 12-17-2015 | |
| 18. | 18.12 ft | on 04-09-1997 | |
| 19. | 18.10 ft | on 04-16-2002 | |
| 20. | 18.02 ft | on 10-15-2018 | |
| 21. | 18.01 ft | on 06-26-2024 | (P) |
| 22. | 17.94 ft | on 04-20-2003 | |
| 23. | 17.88 ft | on 04-02-2025 | (P) |
| 24. | 17.84 ft | on 04-14-2014 | |
| 25. | 17.80 ft | on 04-25-0025 | |
| 26. | 17.73 ft | on 04-25-2025 | (P) |
| 27. | 17.73 ft | on 03-28-2019 | |
| 28. | 17.50 ft | on 04-03-1998 | |
| 29. | 17.49 ft | on 06-21-2018 | |
| 30. | 17.36 ft | on 04-28-2018 | |
| 31. | 17.10 ft | on 05-07-1993 | |
| 32. | 16.98 ft | on 04-29-1994 | |
| 33. | 16.85 ft | on 04-13-2008 | |
| 34. | 16.73 ft | on 06-16-2017 | |
| 35. | 16.45 ft | on 09-01-1995 | |
| 36. | 16.43 ft | on 07-18-2010 | |
| 37. | 16.30 ft | on 05-30-2015 | |
| 38. | 16.30 ft | on 06-12-2015 | |
| 39. | 16.30 ft | on 07-25-2010 | |
| 40. | 15.86 ft | on 06-22-2017 | |
| 41. | 15.80 ft | on 05-01-2011 | |
| 42. | 15.72 ft | on 03-25-2022 | |
| 43. | 15.70 ft | on 05-27-2004 | |
| 44. | 15.66 ft | on 06-10-2008 | |
| 45. | 15.60 ft | on 06-26-2011 | |
| 46. | 15.54 ft | on 04-15-2015 | |
| 47. | 15.34 ft | on 05-01-2009 | |
| 48. | 15.11 ft | on 05-09-2012 | |
| 49. | 14.82 ft | on 10-18-2014 | |
| 50. | 14.60 ft | on 03-23-2011 | |
| 51. | 12.84 ft | on 02-15-2009 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 793.30 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 792.30 ft |
| minor Flooding | 791.30 ft |
| action | 787.00 ft |
| Latest Value | 787.40 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 774.30 ft |
Unique Local Info
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
- NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting
- Area Hydrographs
- Long Term Palmer Drought Severity Index
- Snow Information
- USGS WI Water Science Center
- High Water Mark Signs
- Levee Safety Information
- June 2008 National Flood Assessment
- How to Estimate River Ice Thickness
- Flood Resiliency at Wastewater Plants
- Manure Management Advisory System
- Historic Flooding Events For Southern Wisconsin
WFO Information
Weather Forecast Office
Milwaukee/Sullivan
N3533 Hardscrabble Road
Dousman, WI 53118
Official Homepage