Rainy Friday Night Ahead, Flood Watch Starts Saturday
The City of Madison is monitoring conditions as rain begins to move into the Madison area starting Friday night, Sept. 18. The rain is expected to continue through the weekend, and the National Weather Service has declared a Flood Watch from 1 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday for portions of south central Wisconsin.
Madison is expected to receive up to 3 inches of rain starting tonight, and some areas could receive more. The heaviest rain is expected tonight and into tomorrow morning. City staff are monitoring lake levels, but they are not a concern since they are low.
City Engineering crews have been clearing debris from storm grates. Crews clear debris from priority drainage areas ahead of the storms to make sure the system functions as well as it can.
Rain Impacts
City of Madison residents should be prepared to see localized flash flooding in the low-lying areas that are typically impacted during these types of rain events.
Flash flooding can occur anywhere throughout the City when the stormwater infrastructure cannot convey the amount of water that is falling.
Please refer to the City's historical street flooding map to identify flood-prone locations, which include:
- E. Mifflin Street at N. Livingston Street
- E. Mifflin Street at N. Blount Street
- N. Third Street at E. Johnson Street
- Grand Canyon Drive at Odana Road
- N. Midvale Boulevard at University Avenue
- University Avenue at Highland Avenue
- Marty Road at Raymond Road
Please avoid parking overnight on streets that are more likely to experience flooding. Please use caution near creeks and streams. If you live or drive near a river or creek, please monitor the water levels.
Do not walk or drive through floodwaters.
It's possible that manhole covers may be pushed off during more intense periods of rainfall. If you see a manhole cover popped off, please report the location via Report A Problem.