Major Flood
18 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
17 ft
Minor Flood
16 ft
Action Stage
14 ft
What Floods at Each Level
17 ft
Water over the 13th street bridge, flooding nearby intersections and approaching or impacting homes along the river from the area in the Lincoln Village and Polonia neighborhoods from 16th to 6th St. Water near or up to the bottom of bridges.
16 ft
Water touches 13th St bridge and may flood nearby intersections. River is outside of the concrete lined channel and up to road guardrails in the Lincoln Village and Polonia neighborhoods from 16th to 6th St. Water impacts roads and yards of homes along the river. Water approaching the bottom of bridges.
15 ft
River is 1 to 2 feet above the top of the concrete lined channel and may impact roads and yards of homes along the river in the Lincoln Village and Polonia neighborhoods from 16th to 6th St.
14 ft
Water is about 1 foot over the top of the concrete lined channel of the Kinnickinnic River from 16th to 6th St.
13 ft
Water is near the top of the concrete lined channel of the Kinnickinnic River from 16th to 6th st.
12 ft
Parts of Jackson Parkway flooded. Jackson Park floods.
11 ft
Flooding in Jackson Park and surrounding low land areas of the Kinnickinnic Parkway parkland.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 2025 | 17.19 ft | 9,199 cfs |
| Aug 5, 1986 | 14.41 ft | 10,600 cfs |
| Jun 6, 2008 | 13.3 ft | 6,490 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
KINW3
River
Kinnickinnic River
County
Milwaukee, WI
Coordinates
42.9975°N, 87.9264°W
Get Flood Alerts for Kinnickinnic River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Kinnickinnic River at Milwaukee?
The Kinnickinnic River at Milwaukee gauge is maintained by USGS (site 04087159) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Kinnickinnic River at Milwaukee?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Kinnickinnic River at Milwaukee is 16 feet. Action stage begins at 14 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 17 feet, and major flooding at 18 feet.
How do I get alerts when Kinnickinnic River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Kinnickinnic River at Milwaukee to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Kinnickinnic River at Milwaukee gauge located?
The gauge is located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin at coordinates 42.9975°N, 87.9264°W. USGS site number: 04087159. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey