Rivers in Wisconsin

Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Dells

Columbia County, WisconsinNWS WDEW3USGS 05404000Dousman office

Below flood stage
3.07ftStage

Observed Sat, Sep 26, 11:00 PM CDT

Flood stage
16.00 ft
Record crest
20.70 ft1973

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood18.90 ft
Moderate flood17.60 ft
Minor flood16.00 ft
Action13.00 ft
  1. 18.21 ftFloodwaters affect cabins and trailers southeast of Wisconsin Dells along Levee Road, Van Hoosen Road, Indian Trail Parkway and boat launch and Norway Drive. Water may impact structures on Rivers Edge Rd. Water from the Wisconsin River backs into Hulburt Creek causing floodwaters to affect the backyards of some businesses in downtown Wisconsin Dells along Highway 13 east of I90. Water may impact the intersection of Indian Trail and County Rd A, Fish St, Sherri Linn Dr, and parts of Ingebretson Rd.
  2. 17.60 ftFloodwaters affect cabins and trailers southeast of Wisconsin Dells along Levee Road, Van Hoosen Road, Indian Trail Parkway and boat launch, Fish St, Ingebretson Road, Sherri Linn Dr and Norway Drive. Water approaches structures on Rivers Edge Rd. Water from the Wisconsin River backs into Hulburt Creek causing floodwaters to affect the backyards of some businesses in downtown Wisconsin Dells along Highway 13 east of I 90. Water approaches the intersection of Indian Trail and County Rd A.
  3. 17.00 ftFloodwaters affect cabins and trailers southeast of Wisconsin Dells along Levee Road, River Shores Rd, River Mills Rd, Van Hoosen Road, Indian Trail Parkway and boat launch, Fish St, Ingebretson Road, Sherri Linn Dr and Norway Drive.
  4. 16.93 ftFloodwaters affect cabins and trailers southeast of Wisconsin Dells along Levee Road, Van Hoosen Road, Indian Trail Parkway and boat launch, Ingebretson Road and Norway Drive.
  5. 16.00 ftNewport Park and boat ramps floods. Yards along Indian Trail Parkway flood. There is widespread flooding to agricultural land and wooded land in the Wisconsin Dells area.
  6. 15.64 ftThere is widespread flooding to lowland and agricultural land in the Wisconsin Dells area.
  7. 15.00 ftThere is widespread lowland and agricultural land flooding.
  8. 14.00 ftThere is minor lowland flooding.
  9. 13.50 ftThere is minor lowland flooding.
  10. 13.00 ftThere is minor lowland flooding
  11. 12.91 ftThere is minor lowland flooding in the Wisconsin Dells area.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 25, 2026.

Crest history

49 crests on NOAA’s list since 1935.

#DateStage
1March 16, 197320.70 ft
2April 5, 196719.22 ft
3April 15, 196518.95 ft
4September 14, 193818.83 ft
5June 24, 199318.16 ft
6June 30, 196917.91 ft
7September 30, 198617.89 ft
8March 27, 193517.80 ft
9September 29, 197217.77 ft
10March 10, 198317.74 ft
11September 27, 201017.56 ft
12March 10, 196817.30 ft
13June 28, 196817.30 ft
14April 21, 201916.90 ft
15September 25, 198016.82 ft
16April 16, 202616.76 ft
17April 17, 202616.76 ft
18March 31, 197616.68 ft
19April 13, 201116.56 ft
20June 15, 200316.31 ft
21March 19, 201616.31 ft
22June 15, 199016.31 ft
23May 10, 196016.02 ft
24April 13, 197115.95 ft
25April 30, 197515.88 ft

Most recent crests

  • April 17, 2026: 16.76 ft
  • April 16, 2026: 16.76 ft
  • April 21, 2019: 16.90 ft
  • June 15, 2017: 11.75 ft
  • May 21, 2017: 14.19 ft
  • March 19, 2016: 16.31 ft
  • December 17, 2015: 14.05 ft
  • June 11, 2015: 10.94 ft
  • May 24, 2015: 11.02 ft
  • April 13, 2015: 9.80 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. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.