Major Flood
12 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
10 ft
Minor Flood
8 ft
Action Stage
7 ft
What Floods at Each Level
12 ft
Nicholson Rd, Drexel, S Howell Ave, S 60th and Oakwood Rd, 8 Mile Rd and 27th St, Root River Parkway and Ryan Rd are flooded. Yards along the river are flooded.
11 ft
Nicholson Rd, Drexel, S Howell Ave, S 60th and Oakwood Rd, 8 Mile Rd and 27th St and Root River Parkway are flooded. Water approaches Ryan Rd. Yards along the river are flooded.
10.5 ft
Nicholson Rd, Drexel, S Howell Ave, S 60th and Oakwood Rd, 8 Mile Rd and 27th St flood. Portions of Root River Parkway are flooded. Yards along the river are flooded.
9.5 ft
Oakwood Road near S 60th is flooded. Water approaches 8 Mile Rd and 27th St. Nicholson Rd may be flooded. Some yards along the river are flooded. Portions of Root River Parkway are flooded.
9 ft
Portions of the Root River Parkway are flooded. Oakwood Road near S 60th is flooded. Some yards along the river are flooded.
8 ft
A low spot on Oakwood Road is flooded. Some yards along the river flood.
7 ft
There is minor flooding to agricultural land.
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 | 11.71 ft | 6,075 cfs |
| Jun 8, 2008 | 11 ft | 5,350 cfs |
| Jul 23, 2010 | 10.51 ft | 3,440 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Root 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 Root River at Franklin?
The Root River at Franklin gauge is maintained by USGS (site 04087220) 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 Root River at Franklin?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Root River at Franklin is 8 feet. Action stage begins at 7 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 10 feet, and major flooding at 12 feet.
How do I get alerts when Root River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Root River at Franklin 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 Root River at Franklin gauge located?
The gauge is located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin at coordinates 42.8736°N, 87.9958°W. USGS site number: 04087220. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Root River
On This River
Downstream: Root River at Racine
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- 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.
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.