Wisconsin, 1996

Flooding in Wisconsin, April 19 to 23, 1996

April 19 to 23, 1996 · NWS GRB · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Heavy runoff from spring snow melt and recent rains resulted in widespread minor flooding across north central and far northeast Wisconsin. Numerous roads and culverts were washed out in Vilas, Oneida, Forest, Florence and Lincoln counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GRB wrote it up.

Heavy runoff from spring snow melt and recent rains resulted in widespread minor flooding across north central and far northeast Wisconsin. Numerous roads and culverts were washed out in Vilas, Oneida, Forest, Florence and Lincoln counties. The Wisconsin River at Merrill (Lincoln county) rose to a river stage of 12.94 feet on the 21st, nearly 2 feet above the flood stage of 11.00 feet. Street flooding was reported in the Merrill area.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

5 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Vilas

When
April 19, 12:00 PM CST to April 23, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Vilas forecast zone
Coordinates
46.053, -89.515 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Oneida

When
April 19, 12:00 PM CST to April 23, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Oneida forecast zone
Coordinates
45.706, -89.522 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Forest

When
April 19, 12:00 PM CST to April 23, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Forest forecast zone
Coordinates
45.667, -88.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Florence

When
April 19, 12:00 PM CST to April 23, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Florence forecast zone
Coordinates
45.848, -88.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Lincoln

When
April 19, 12:00 PM CST to April 23, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Lincoln forecast zone
Coordinates
45.338, -89.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Wisconsin in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, April 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5543986, 5543987, 5543988, 5543989, 5543990.