Major Flood
14.5 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
13.5 ft
Minor Flood
12 ft
Action Stage
10 ft
What Floods at Each Level
15.5 ft
Up to 3 feet of water is covering 2nd Avenue near the State Office Building. Up to 3 feet of water covers 1st and 2nd Streets with floodwaters spreading into 3rd Street and Market Street. The Grand Avenue and Jackson Street bridges may be impacted.
14.8 ft
The water current is extremely dangerous at 78500 cubic feet per second downstream of the dam. Floodwaters are near the bottom of the Jackson Street and Grand Avenue bridges. Up to 2 feet of water covers 1st and 2nd Streets and floodwaters reach the county courthouse. Up to 2 feet of water cover sections of Gaynor Avenue and South Second Avenue near a roundabout by the state office building.
14.5 ft
Up to a foot of water covers portions of 2nd Avenue near Gaynor Avenue and up to a foot of water covers 1st and 2nd Streets just downstream of the dam.
13.5 ft
Floodwaters cover 1st Street and approach 2nd Street. Floodwaters also approach 2nd Avenue near Gaynor Avenue. The current is fast, especially downstream of the dam.
12 ft
Water is near a building at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Gaynor Avenue. Playground equipment in Lions Park is surrounded by water.
10 ft
Water covers a walkway in Lions Park in Wisconsin Rapids. Flood stage is at 12 feet.
8.5 ft
Water approaches a few trees in low-lying areas.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 14, 1880 | 18.8 ft | — |
| Sep 25, 2010 | 14.8 ft | 78,746 cfs |
| Mar 23, 1935 | 14.1 ft | 75,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Rapids?
The Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Rapids gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05400760) 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 Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Rapids?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Rapids is 12 feet. Action stage begins at 10 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 13.5 feet, and major flooding at 14.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when Wisconsin River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Rapids 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 Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Rapids gauge located?
The gauge is located in Wood County, Wisconsin at coordinates 44.3922°N, 89.8269°W. USGS site number: 05400760. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: StoraEnso/Consolidated Water/USGS, 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.
- Gauge reading affected by power generation.
- 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.