Rivers in Wisconsin
Rock River at Afton
Below flood stage
6.33ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 5:00 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 9.00 ft
- Record crest
- 13.51 ft2008
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 12.20 ft |
| Moderate flood | 11.10 ft |
| Minor flood | 9.00 ft |
| Action | 8.00 ft |
- 13.00 ftThere is widespread flooding in the Afton and Janesville areas. Numerous roads and streets are impacted including South River Road near Janesville airport, several blocks of Joseph and Charles Streets, and the on ramp to Memorial Drive. The intersection of Wall Street and Main Street is closed. Traxler Park in Janesville is flooded and closed. Water may impact homes on N River Rd. Water touches bottom of Grand Ave bridge.
- 12.70 ftThere is widespread flooding in the Afton and Janesville areas. Numerous roads and streets are closed including South River Road on the south side of Janesville, several blocks of Joseph and Charles Streets, a portion of Main Street, and North Loop Road at Traxler Park. The on-ramp to Memorial Drive is closed. Traxler Park in Janesville is flooded and closed. The intersection of Wall Street and Main Street is flooded. Water backfills into Fisher Creek and hits RR tracks.
- 12.20 ftFlooded roads: South River Road near Janesville airport and near W Avalon Rd, several blocks of Joseph and Charles Streets, a portion of Main Street, and North Loop Road at Traxler Park, bleachers surrounded, the on-ramp to Memorial Drive, a portion of Riverside Drive. Peace Trail and Traxler Park off of Memorial Drive floods. Water approaches homes on N River Rd, water surrounds a home on S Christian Rd and another across the river and along W Bass Creek Rd. RR tracks near W Tripp Rd flood.
- 11.50 ftWater surrounds at least 2 homes near the river in the Afton area. Numerous secondary roads in the Afton area are closed to traffic. Floodwaters affect South River Road on the south side of Janesville. Traxler Park off of Memorial Drive in Janesville is flooded, including boat ramp.
- 11.10 ftFloodwaters affect Riverside Park and a road in Riverside park on the north side of Janesville and South River Road on the south side of Janesville. Floodwaters affect low spots on South River Rd on the south side of Janesville. Floodwaters affect a home on South Christian Rd on the east side of the river in the Afton area. There is extensive lowland and agricultural land flooding in the Afton and Janesville areas.
- 10.50 ftFloodwaters affect Riverside Park on the north side of Janesville and South River Road on the south side of Janesville. Floodwaters affect low spots on South River Rd on the south side of Janesville. Floodwaters affect a home on South Christian Rd on the east side of the river in the Afton area. There is extensive lowland and agricultural land flooding in the Afton and Janesville areas.
- 10.00 ftFloodwaters affect the property of a home on South Christian Road and S Christian Rd floods. Minor erosional flood damage occurs to lowland and agricultural land adjacent to the river the Afton and Janesville areas.
- 9.00 ftFloodwaters affect property of a home on South Christian Road on the east side of the river in the Afton area. There is minor erosional flood damage to lowland and agricultural land in the Afton and Janesville areas.
- 8.50 ftFloodwaters spread into lowland and agricultural land adjacent to the river in the Afton and Janesville areas.
- 8.00 ftWater overflows the lower river banks in the Afton and Janesville areas. The river width is about 240 feet in the area of the gauge.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 11% |
| Moderate flooding | 6% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.
Crest history
121 crests on NOAA’s list since 1914.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 21, 2008 | 13.51 ft |
| 2 | February 5, 1916 | 13.05 ft |
| 3 | January 23, 2008 | 12.21 ft |
| 4 | April 18, 2026 | 12.11 ft |
| 5 | April 5, 1979 | 11.86 ft |
| 6 | October 18, 2015 | 11.84 ft |
| 7 | April 18, 2013 | 11.84 ft |
| 8 | March 23, 1929 | 11.80 ft |
| 9 | April 10, 1959 | 11.77 ft |
| 10 | March 25, 1918 | 11.50 ft |
| 11 | April 23, 1993 | 11.41 ft |
| 12 | April 1, 1975 | 11.25 ft |
| 13 | September 12, 2018 | 11.20 ft |
| 14 | March 25, 2009 | 11.15 ft |
| 15 | February 21, 2018 | 11.12 ft |
| 16 | March 25, 2019 | 11.07 ft |
| 17 | March 16, 1943 | 11.04 ft |
| 18 | September 13, 1915 | 11.00 ft |
| 19 | June 1, 2004 | 10.96 ft |
| 20 | May 8, 1973 | 10.81 ft |
| 21 | August 26, 1940 | 10.80 ft |
| 22 | July 16, 2024 | 10.79 ft |
| 23 | October 9, 1986 | 10.74 ft |
| 24 | June 2, 2000 | 10.73 ft |
| 25 | April 12, 1923 | 10.60 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 18, 2026: 12.11 ft
- July 16, 2024: 10.79 ft
- June 13, 2024: 9.50 ft
- April 10, 2024: 9.12 ft
- April 13, 2022: 7.27 ft
- March 18, 2021: 7.43 ft
- March 29, 2020: 9.36 ft
- October 15, 2019: 10.48 ft
- March 25, 2019: 11.07 ft
- January 26, 2019: 9.86 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. Gauge reading affected by power generation.
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.