Flood Warnings Issued for West-Central Wisconsin

Parts of western and central Wisconsin are under flood warnings after heavy rains filled rivers already inundated with northern snowmelt.

Up to 4 inches of rain fell earlier this week. According National Weather Service Hydrologist Mike Welvart, flood warnings were issued for large portions of the west-central part of the state.

“The Chippewa, the Trempealeau River was flooding for a while. The Black River is still seeing some flooding here in western Wisconsin, and also along the Wisconsin River and some of its tributaries through the central part of the state,” Welvart said.

Smaller rivers have already crested, but the Chippewa and Wisconsin Rivers will crest on Saturday.

“The biggest concern is probably along the Wisconsin River in the central part of the state. Some pretty high water values coming through that area and I know around the Portage area they’re expecting some pretty significant flooding there.”

The Wisconsin River is expected to crest at more than 19 feet. Columbia County has offered sandbags to people living in low lying areas.