Flash Flood in Wisconsin, July 18, 1996

The same thunderstorms that trained southeast through nextdoor Lafayette county also created flash flooding in the Browntown to Monroe areas down to Martintown in Green county. Rainfall amounts in a 5 hour period ending at 0200CST generally totaled 10 to 12 inches in this triangular area. Up to 13.50 inches fell about 6 miles northwest of Monroe!! A bridge on the Highway 11 approach to Browntown was washed away as water depths on the road reached 4 feet. The highway east of Browntown was closed for several days after the flood waters receded. Most roads into Browntown were closed due to flash flooding of streams, creeks, and rivers. Consequently, Browntown was almost isolated. The flood waters of Skinner Creek washed out County Highway Y about 4 miles northeast of Browntown. Smock Creek flooded Highway 11 just east of Brownstown for the first time in 60 years! Three homes in Monroe sustained major structural damage, and many other homes had basement flooding. Businesses in Monroe also suffered flash flood damage as water surged thru the streets. One women at the Green County Fairgrounds in Monroe was injured as flood waters swept her off her feet. Serious soil erosion and crop damage occurred to about 15,000 acres of rural farm fields. Highway 81 west of Monroe was closed to high water levels. Local people claimed that the Pecatonica River upsteam from Martintown was the highest they've ever seen. This river at Martintown crested at 16.12 feet at 2000CST on the 20th, or 5.13 feet above flood stage. It was above flood stage from 0400CST on the 18th to 2105CST on the 24th of July!