Wisconsin, 1996

Flash Flood in Wisconsin, June 17, 1996

June 17, 1996 · NWS MKX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Heavy downpours of rain, of 1 to 2 inches, on top of a saturated ground, resulted in flash flooding of roads and highways in the Madison area. Residents remarked that even the "Beltline" on the south end of town flooded over like they've never seen before.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
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  • Floods
  • Wind
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$4.0 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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 MKX wrote it up.

Heavy downpours of rain, of 1 to 2 inches, on top of a saturated ground, resulted in flash flooding of roads and highways in the Madison area. Residents remarked that even the "Beltline" on the south end of town flooded over like they've never seen before. Basements, businesses, and golf courses flooded over as water reached 2 to 3 foot depths on some roads. About 1275 homes had varying amounts of flood damage. Storm sewers backed up and debris littered many roads. Washouts of portions of road surfaces or shoulders were reported. Emergency managers noted that this was the worst flash flooding seen in the Madison area for 30 years. For the calendar day of the 17th, 4.51 inches of rain fell at the Madison airport site, making it the wettest June day ever.

The radar

The Milwaukee radar (KMKX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:29 UTC.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Dane

When
June 17, 6:30 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Dane County, Madison
Property damage
$4.0 million
Coordinates
43.067, -89.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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, June 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: 5566554.