Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, June 8 to 9, 2008

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of central Dodge County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The Rock and Crawfish Rivers set all-time crest records in June, 2008. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 8 with minor damage, and 3 destroyed (total of $1 million for home losses). The breakdown for business losses were: 3 with minor damage, and 5 with major damage (total of $100 thousand). Crop losses were estimated at 8 million. Public sector damage was about $184 thousand. There were a couple roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down a few large trees.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of western Fond du Lac County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 4000 minimally affected, 2100 with minor damage, 125 with major damage, and 15 destroyed (total of $3.87 million for home losses). The breakdown for business losses were: 35 with minor damage (total of $242 thousand). Crop losses were estimated at $9 million. Public sector damage was about $772 thousand. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Powerful thunderstorm winds knocked down many large trees and some power-lines.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees and power-lines.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding over much of Washington County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields would remain flooded into early July. The breakdown in residential home losses were: 560 affectd with minimal damage, 60 with minor damage, and 12 with major damage (total of about $2.4 million). Business losses were: 45 with minor damage, and 5 with major damage (total of about $1.125 million). Crops losses were estimated at 3.5 million. Public sector damage was about $0.6 million. Several roads and bridges sustained damage.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down a few large trees.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of Jefferson County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. The rain on June 12th ultimately lead to record-setting crests on the Rock and Crawfish Rivers, and many farm fields remained flooded into early July. The cities of Watertown, Jefferson, and Ft. Atkinson were hard hit by high river levels. The breakdown on residential home damage losses were: 100 with minor damage, 400 with major damage, and 10 destroyed (total of about $36 million). Business losses totaled abouit $21.4 million. Crops losses were estimated at $35 million. Public sector damage was about $44.811 million. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of Waukesha County. Water reached depths of 3 feet or more and several cars stalled. This was one of 4 flash floods in Waukesha County that occurred on Junen 7th and 8th. Collectively, each of these 4 flash floods resulted in home and business damage along with some crop losses. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown for all of Waukesha County is provided in this flash flood event.

The breakdown for residential home losses were: 1433 with minor damage, 188 with major damage, and 1 destroyed (total of $54.632 million for home losses). Business losses totaled $5.462 million. Crop losses were estimated at $1 million. Public sector damage wa|s about $2.9 million. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding around Plymouth and south to the county line. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 20 minimally affected, and 20 with minor damage (total of $50 thousand for home losses). There were no business losses. Crop losses were estimated at $200 thousand. Public sector damage was about $100 thousand. A couple roads and bridges sustained damage.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees and power-lines.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of Kenosha County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 37 minimally affected, 47 with minor damage, 33 with major damage, and 3 destroyed (total of $300 thousand for home losses). There were no business losses. Crop losses were estimated at 2 million. Public sector damage was about $673 thousand. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across a good part of Walworth County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. State Highway 59 was closed in Whitewater. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 10 with minor damage (total of about $50 thousand in damage). There were no business losses. Crop losses were estimated at $1 million. Public sector damage was about $100 thousand.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of Milwaukee County. Water depths on some roads reached 3 to 4 feet and many cars stalled. Water entered many homes and businesses. Two other flash flood event occurred in Milwaukee County on June 7th. Collectively, these 3 flash floods resulted in home and business damage along with some crop losses. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown for the 3 flash flood events is provided in the June 8th StormData entry for Milwaukee County.

The collective breakdown for residential home losses were: 3957 minimally affected, 2583 with minor damage, and 1135 with major damage (total of $32/301 million for home losses). The total business losses were $5.855 million. Crop losses were $15.5 thousand. Public sector damage was about $40.814 million. Several roads and bridges that sustained damage. On June 7th, 4.93 inches of rain fell at Milwaukee Mitchell Field, breaking the old record rainfall for the date which was 2.44 inches (June 7, 1916). On June 8th, 2.25 inches of rain broke the old record rainfall for the date which was 1.24 inches (June 8, 1974). Combined, these two days of rainfall broke the 48-hour all-time rainfall record at Milwaukee. The previous record was 6.84 inches, which was recorded on August 5-6, 1986. On June 7-8, 2008, Milwaukee observed 7.18 inches of rain.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Sauk County experienced 4 flash flood events over a 3-day period. Two of the events started on June 7th, one on June 8th, and the last one on June 9th. In each case, flash flooding caused home and business damage as well as crop losses. Roads were blocked or washed out (STH 154 and CTH C), and bridges were damaged. Many vehicles stalled. Locations in the Baraboo River Valley sustained considerable damage as the river crested at all-time levels. Collectively, each of these 4 flash floods resulted in home and business damage along with some crop losses. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown is provided in the June 9th StormData entry for Sauk County.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding as water reached depths of 3 feet or more and several cars stalled. This was the 2nd of 6 flash floods in Dane County on 3 different days. The first one occurred on June 7th, the next two on June 8th, and the last three on June 12th. In all six cases, damage to homes, businesses, and crops was noted. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown is provided in the last June 12th flash flood StormData entry for Dane County.

Heavy rains resulted in a flash flood event that washed out some raods and gravel shoulders in the western part of the county. This event was one of 3 flash flood events over parts of Columbia County on 3 separate days. Two started on June 7th, and one on June 8th. In all 3 flash flood events, home and business damage was reported, and there was crop damage. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood. Therefore, the collective damage breakdown for these events is provided in this June 8th flash flood StormData entry for Columbia County.

The breakdown for residential home losses were: over 1500 minimally affected, 45 with minor damage, 26 with major damage, and 5 destroyed (total of $10 million for home losses). Total business losses were about $2 million. Crop losses were estimated at about $40 million. Public sector damage was about $3.66 million. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of Green County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 109 with minor damage, 12 with major damage, and 1 destroyed (total of $750 thousand for home losses). There were no business losses. Farm buiding losses were: 1 with minor damage, 2 with major damage, and 4 destroyed (for a total of $195 thousand in farm building losses). Crop losses were estimated at $20 million. Public sector damage was about $373.3 thousand. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of southeastern Dodge County. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses was: 8 with minor damage (total of $200 thousand for home losses). The breakdown for business losses was: 1 with minor damage (total of $78 thousand). Crop losses were estimated at 8 million. Public sector damage was about $184 thousand. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding as water reached depths of 3 feet or more and several cars stalled. This was the 3rd of 6 flash floods in Dane County on 3 different days. The first one occurred on June 7th, the next two on June 8th, and the last three on June 12th. In all six cases, damage to homes, businesses, and crops was noted. It was nearly impossible to break down the damages by flash flood event. Therefore, the collective breakdown is provided in the last June 12th flash flood StormData entry for Dane County. On June 7th, 2.23 inches of rain broke the old record rainfall for the date which was 2.01 inches (June 7, 1993). On June 8th, 4.11 inches of rain broke the old record rainfall for the date which was 1.40 inches (June 8, 1874).

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Lightning struck a home, and the current damaged the residents's electrical system, appliances, and televisions.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees and power-lines.

Powerful thunderstorms winds knocked down large trees.

Heavy rains resulted in flash flooding across much of Racine County, especially in the city of Racine. Water depths on road surfaces reached 3 feet or more and there were gravel washouts. Some farm fields remained flooded into early July. The breakdown for residential home losses were: 10 minimally affected, 30 with minor damage, and 15 with major damage (total of $400 thousand for home losses). There were no business losses. Crop losses were estimated at $1.5 million. Public sector damage was about $1.748 million. There were several roads and bridges that sustained damage.