Milwaukee Flooding: Historic Floods Paralyze City After Record 14 Inches of Rain

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Milwaukee, one of the largest cities in the United States, experienced flash flooding that paralyzed much of the metropolitan area on August 10, 2025.

As reported by CNN, this flooding followed record-breaking rainfall the previous night, August 9, 2025, causing widespread impacts and significant losses to residents and the city's infrastructure.

Extraordinarily heavy rainfall was the primary trigger for this disaster, as part of a larger weather system that affected much of the central United States.

On August 9, 2025, Milwaukee recorded 5.74 inches (146 mm) of rain, surpassing the previous daily record of 1.64 inches.

This made it the second wettest day in Milwaukee since record-keeping began.

A state of emergency was declared by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

Residents faced widespread property damage, particularly flooding of basements, while transportation was severely disrupted with many roads impassable and vehicles stranded.

🇺🇸 WISCONSIN HIT WITH “BIBLICAL” FLOOD: STATE FAIR TURNS INTO WATER PARK, CARS TURN INTO SUBMARINESWisconsin was hit with rain like Mother Nature was emptying an Olympic-sized swimming pool over Milwaukee, 8 inches, officially, but locals swear it was closer to a foot.That’s… https://t.co/mwiII1xzVb pic.twitter.com/n1lZcA5Y5p

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) August 11, 2025

The historic flooding in Milwaukee on August 10, 2025, was triggered by extremely intense rainfall.

The storm's total rainfall reached nearly 7 inches (178 mm) in Milwaukee on the morning of August 10.

In fact, some areas around Milwaukee reported rainfall totals between 10 and 11 inches (250-279 mm), demonstrating the extreme scale of this weather.

Even more astonishing data came from Milwaukee's northwest side, where a Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District gauge recorded more than 14 inches (355 mm) of rainfall near 81st Street and West Florist Avenue.

Some reports even put the figure as high as 14.50 inches.

This makes August 9, 2025, the second wettest day in Milwaukee, second only to August 6, 1986, which recorded 6.81 inches (173 mm).

This record-breaking rainfall quickly disrupted the city's drainage system, causing widespread and rapid flooding.

Flash flooding was reported in multiple areas, including basements, creeks and streets, where some vehicles were reported stranded, according to the National Weather Service.

“It’s something that Milwaukee hasn’t seen in perhaps a decade or more,” Milwaukee Mayor Chevy Johnson said at a Sunday news conference, noting his own family was affected.

The impact of the Milwaukee flooding was widespread and caused significant losses.

While no flood-related deaths were reported within the city, residents faced significant property damage, particularly flooding in basements.

Many residents reported three feet or more of water in their basements, damaging valuables and building structures.

The transportation sector was also completely paralyzed.

Roads were flooded and impassable, with many vehicles stranded and abandoned.

Some roads even collapsed due to the rushing water, further disrupting traffic.

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport also experienced flooding on nearly all runways, taxiways, and underground tunnels, causing massive flight delays and cancellations.

Furthermore, more than 16,000 homes in Milwaukee County experienced power outages on Sunday afternoon, with nearly 18,000 We Energies customers without power in southeastern Wisconsin.

Several major events were also forced to cancel, including the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis and USA Triathlon's Sprint and Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee.

Water levels in the Milwaukee River also reached record highs, with several other rivers such as the Root River and Menomonee River overflowing.

In response to the severe flooding in Milwaukee, emergency response was immediately activated.

The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to more than 600 emergency calls between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Because they were so inundated with calls for help, a dozen fire departments from neighboring counties assisted with the response, the fire chief said.

“We are still in the middle of it,” Aaron Lipski, Chief of The Milwaukee Fire Department added, as rain came down on the officials gathered in Milwaukee for the news conference.

These calls included incidents such as gas leaks, flooded basements, power outages, and water rescues.

Sixty-five water rescues were conducted overnight, with dozens of people rescued from flooded cars or on top of them.

The Red Cross also actively participated in the disaster response by opening two emergency shelters.

These facilities were provided to residents forced to evacuate their homes due to the flooding.

The collaborative efforts of multiple emergency agencies demonstrated the seriousness of the crisis caused by this extreme rainfall.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson stated that this flooding event was something Milwaukee hadn't seen in a decade or more.

Officials urged residents to stay home and avoid driving on flooded roads.

Milwaukee is under a level 2 out of 4 risk for heavy rain on Sunday and is under a flood watch.

The region is expected to receive an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain on top of what has already fallen, and some isolated locations could see up to 5 inches of additional rain by early Monday morning.