More for Wisconsin: Highest flood risk cities · Wisconsin live outlook
Current risk outlook
Flooding and heavy rain risk for Milwaukee, WI.
Live conditions updated just now. Refreshes every 5–40 minutes.
This view focuses on street flooding, ponding in low-lying areas, and how heavy rain tends to behave around this city.
Live risk outlook
MODERATEModerate
Next 6–24 hours: Today: Moderate (44/100) · Rain 65% · 0.4 in · Max wind 5 to 10 mph.
3 active alerts nearby.
Sources: NOAA, NWS, SPC, NHC, FEMA, USGS.
Historical risk score
Long-term baseline derived from historical hazard activity.
37
/ 100
For typical homes located in Milwaukee, WI.
Baseline context
FEMA NFHL flood zones: 2 features intersect this tile.
Compare other local risks
See how Milwaukee scores across each hazard model.
City snapshot
All hazards combined
Wind risk
Roof stress and gust-driven damage
AQI risk
Current air quality and AQI signal
Lightning risk
Thunderstorm and strike exposure
Wildfire risk
Fuels, dryness, and fire potential
Tornado risk
Historic tornado corridor exposure
Hail risk
Hail frequency and roof impact potential
Local historical hazard map
Milwaukee, WI
Click a tile to update scores. These layers show long-term historical baseline risk, not live warnings or short-term forecast risk.
Live flood alerts & official forecast (NWS)
Forecast office: MKX · radar KMKX
Active alerts near Milwaukee
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Effective local time
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued August 9 at 11:10AM CDT until August 9 at 12:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Large hail, damaging wind, and continuous cloud to ground lightning are occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
Special Weather Statement
Effective local time
Special Weather Statement issued August 9 at 10:56AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 PM CDT for southeastern Wisconsin.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Effective local time
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued August 9 at 9:48AM CDT until August 9 at 2:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Protect your home before the next storm
Turn today’s risk into a checklist for your home.
Flood intelligence snapshot
FEMA flood zones (NFHL)
Dominant zone: AE (52% of features)
SFHA share: 52% (feature-weighted)
NFHL features in tile: 176
Tile risk label: Elevated
Source: FEMA NFHL (MapServer).
Nearest river gauge (USGS)
No nearby USGS gauges reporting right now.
Source: USGS NWIS (instant values).
Soil saturation (model)
Soil moisture: 37% volumetric
Last 24h rain: 0.00 in
Updated: local time
Source: Open-Meteo soil model (proxy).
Protect your home before the next storm
Turn today's flood exposure into a checklist for drains, valuables, and coverage in Milwaukee, WI.
5-day flood & rain outlook
Today
MODERATERain chance: 65% · 0.4 in
Max wind: 5 to 10 mph
Risk score: 44/100
Tomorrow
LOWRain chance: 16% · 0.6 in
Max wind: 5 mph
Risk score: 28/100
Tue
MODERATERain chance: 52% · 0.3 in
Max wind: 0 to 5 mph
Risk score: 39/100
Wed
LOWRain chance: 35%
Max wind: 0 to 5 mph
Risk score: 24/100
Thu
LOWRain chance: 7%
Max wind: 5 to 10 mph
Risk score: 13/100
Outlook blends NWS forecast, WPC QPF totals, and Excessive Rainfall Outlook categories.
Historical flooding exposure
Local flood data facts
Data from FEMA NFHL, USGS gauges, and Open-Meteo soil moisture.
Historical flooding exposure in Milwaukee
- Lowest-lying streets and drainage chokepoints tend to flood first during heavy rain.
- Long-duration rainfall can raise ponding risk even without a named storm.
- Local elevation and canal/river networks can amplify or reduce flood impacts.
Flood & storm risk FAQs for Milwaukee
Does Milwaukee flood often?
Flooding risk depends on elevation, drainage, and rainfall intensity. This model summarizes localized flood patterns from public datasets.
What causes street flooding without a storm surge?
Short bursts of heavy rain can overwhelm drains; longer events can saturate soils and keep water standing even after rain ends.