Rivers in Wisconsin
Wisconsin River at Portage
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 19.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 18.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 17.00 ft |
| Action | 12.70 ft |
- 22.00 ftWater impacts Highway 51 south of Portage, Indian Trail in Lake Delton. Other roads that are flooded are River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, Levee Road, Parkway Dr, Ruemann Rd, Cty V, Cty U Cty J, Summit St, Carroll st, Conant St, Caledonia St, Wood Street, Prospect Ave, Pleasant St and Thunderbird Road in the Portage area. Water may hit Duck Creek bridge or impact the shoulders of the bridge.
- 21.50 ftWater impacts Highway 51 south of Portage, Indian Trail in Lake Delton. Other roads that are flooded are River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, Levee Road, Parkway Dr, Ruemann Rd, Cty V, Cty U Cty J, Summit St, Carroll st, Conant St, Caledonia St, Wood Street, Prospect Ave, Pleasant St and Thunderbird Road in the Portage area. Water may hit Duck Creek bridge or impact the shoulders of the bridge.
- 21.00 ftWater impacts Highway 51 south of Portage, Indian Trail in Lake Delton. Other roads that are flooded are River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, Levee Road, Parkway Dr, Ruemann Rd, Cty V, Cty U Cty J, Summit St, Carroll st, Conant St, Caledonia St, Wood Street, Prospect Ave, Pleasant St and Thunderbird Road in the Portage area. Water may hit Duck Creek bridge or impact the shoulders of the bridge.
- 20.50 ftIndian 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, Cty V, Cty J, Wood Street, Summit St, Carroll, Conant St, Cty JV, and parts of Thunderbird Road in the Portage area. Water up to Hwy 51 bridge over Duck Creek. Water approaches cabins near river along Levee Rd, River Shores Rd, River Mills Rd.
- 20.00 ftSunset Point-Conant St underwater. Floodwaters affect homes in the Blackhawk Park area as well as River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, Cty V, Cty J and Levee Road in the Portage area. Water is over Thunderbird Road. Water approaches cabins near river along Levee Rd, River Shores Rd, River Mills Rd.
- 19.50 ftWaters over a low spot on Thunderbird Road. Water comes up through ground at Sunset and Franklin and approaches road. Floodwaters affect River Shores Road in the Town of Lewiston, Cty V, Cty J, River Oaks Road in the Town of Dekorra, and Levee Road in the Portage area, and numerous roads in the Blackhawk Park area about 3 miles south of Portage. Some water on Summit St near boat landing. Water over Conant St and Carroll St.
- 19.00 ftThere is 1 foot of water over a low section of County Highway V in Dekorra. Floodwaters affect River Oaks Road and River Shores Road (Lewiston Township) as well as numerous roads in the Blackhawk Park area about 3 miles south of Portage. Water up to edge of Wood St before town line.
- 18.50 ftFloodwaters affect River Shores Road about 3 miles upstream of Portage in the Town of Lewiston and River Oaks Road about 7 miles downstream of Portage in the Town of Dekorra in Columbia County. Water over Levee Rd and Tritz Rd. There is widespread flooding of roads in the Blackhawk Park Area including West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road. The Blackhawk Park area is on the south side of the river about 3 miles south of Portage.
- 18.00 ftWater surrounds seasonal homes along Old River Rd in the Blackhawk Park area including water at the base of Caledonia/Lewiston Levee on Old River Rd. Old River Rd, W Lake Rd, Sec K Rd, Blackhawk Rd covered with water. West Lane Rd in Long Lake area has 4 feet of water over it in places. In the Town of Dekorra, about 12 homes are flooded on Hwy V. Water over River Oaks Rd and Oak Knoll Dr near Hwy V.
- 17.50 ftIn the Blackhawk Park area in the Town of Caledonia, Old River Road is closed with water over it. West Lane Road in the Long Lake area is closed with about 4 feet of water over it in places. County Highway V and Oak Knoll Dr in the Town of Dekorra have water up to the edge of the pavement. A few homes in the Town of Dekorra area near the river have water in the first floor and there is also flooding of outbuildings and yards.
- 17.00 ftWater is near homes in the Blackhawk Park area of Portage on the south side of the river along Old River Road. Floodwaters are over West Lake Road, West Lane Rd, and Blackhawk Road in the Blackhawk Park area.
- 16.00 ftThere is lowland flooding mainly in the Blackhawk Park area on the south side of the river. In the Blackhawk Park area...floodwaters about 40 inches deep flow over parts of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road.
- 15.00 ftThere is minor lowland flooding mainly in the Blackhawk Park area on the south side of the river. In the Blackhawk Park area...floodwaters are about 28 inches deep over parts of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road. West Lane Road and Old River Road are underwater.
- 14.00 ftThere are about 15 inches of water running over parts of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road in the Blackhawk Park area. The boat landing on West Lake Road is flooded.
- 13.50 ftThere about 11 inches of water over parts of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road in the Blackhawk Park area on the south side of the river about 3 miles south of Portage. The boat landing on West Lake Raod is flooded.
- 12.70 ftThere are about 3 inches of water running over 2 spots of West Lake Road and Blackhawk Road in the Blackhawk Park area on the south side of the river about 3 miles south of Portage. The boat landing on West Lake Road is starting to get some water on it.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 10% |
| Moderate flooding | 7% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.
Crest history
50 crests on NOAA’s list since 1938.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 28, 2010 | 20.66 ft |
| 2 | September 14, 1938 | 20.50 ft |
| 3 | April 17, 2026 | 20.47 ft |
| 4 | March 17, 1973 | 20.20 ft |
| 5 | April 22, 2019 | 20.08 ft |
| 6 | March 20, 2016 | 19.62 ft |
| 7 | June 25, 1993 | 19.58 ft |
| 8 | April 14, 2011 | 19.40 ft |
| 9 | April 23, 1996 | 18.93 ft |
| 10 | April 18, 2023 | 18.91 ft |
| 11 | March 17, 2019 | 18.86 ft |
| 12 | April 23, 2008 | 18.59 ft |
| 13 | May 15, 2003 | 18.45 ft |
| 14 | February 27, 2017 | 18.44 ft |
| 15 | December 7, 1991 | 18.40 ft |
| 16 | May 22, 2017 | 18.30 ft |
| 17 | April 1, 2020 | 18.18 ft |
| 18 | December 17, 2015 | 18.15 ft |
| 19 | April 9, 1997 | 18.12 ft |
| 20 | April 16, 2002 | 18.10 ft |
| 21 | October 15, 2018 | 18.02 ft |
| 22 | June 26, 2024 | 18.01 ft |
| 23 | April 20, 2003 | 17.94 ft |
| 24 | April 2, 2025 | 17.88 ft |
| 25 | April 14, 2014 | 17.84 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 17, 2026: 20.47 ft
- April 25, 2025: 17.80 ft
- April 2, 2025: 17.88 ft
- June 26, 2024: 18.01 ft
- April 18, 2023: 18.91 ft
- March 25, 2022: 15.72 ft
- April 1, 2020: 18.18 ft
- April 22, 2019: 20.08 ft
- March 28, 2019: 17.73 ft
- March 17, 2019: 18.86 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. 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. 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.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.