(PORTAGE) Rising water along the Wisconsin River could bring major flooding to the Portage area Wednesday.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says river levels are expected to climb past flood stage and may reach more than 20 feet. Flood stage is 17 feet, and the river was already nearing 19 feet as of Tuesday.
As a precaution, crews are checking nearby levees twice a day to make sure they’re holding. If water levels reach 19.4 feet, monitoring will shift to around-the-clock.
The focus is on levees in the Caledonia and Lewiston areas, where higher water could put added pressure on the system.
State officials say they’re watching conditions closely and sharing updates with local emergency managers. They stress that public and responder safety remains the top priority.
People can track river levels online through the National Weather Service and find flood safety tips on the DNR’s website.
