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Kickapoo River at Ontario

Highest listed crest 28.50 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft16 crests since 2004

The Kickapoo River at Ontario crested at major flood stage 9 times among the 16 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2004 to 2026. The highest, 28.50 ft on August 28, 2018, was major flooding, 12.50 feet above flood stage. 6 other gauges on the Kickapoo River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 5 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
28.50 ft
August 28, 2018
Flood stage
16.0 ft
Major flooding from 19.0 ft
Crests at major
9
4th of 143 gauges in Wisconsin
Most recent flood crest
July 2, 2026
18.35 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Monroe County
Wisconsin

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Kickapoo River at Ontario
Action stage14.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.03Jul 2, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage18.04Jul 2, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage19.09Apr 4, 2026Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

16 crests from 2004 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Kickapoo River at Ontario, 2004 to 2026 15202530ft Flood stage 16.0 ftMajor 19.0 ft Mar 1, 2004: 16.95 ft, minor floodingMar 14, 2007: 18.85 ft, moderate flooding; 1,770 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2008: 21.96 ft, major flooding; 3,640 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 2010: 19.30 ft, major flooding; 3,310 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 2014: 17.16 ft, minor flooding; 2,280 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 2016: 19.36 ft, major flooding; 2,340 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 2018: 28.50 ft, major floodingMar 15, 2019: 19.68 ft, major flooding; 2,541 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 2019: 18.69 ft, moderate flooding; 2,907 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 2019: 20.32 ft, major flooding; 3,847 cubic feet per secondSep 19, 2019: 19.40 ft, major flooding; 2,557 cubic feet per secondAug 7, 2021: 18.11 ft, moderate flooding; 2,350 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2024: 16.04 ft, minor floodingJul 14, 2024: 19.95 ft, major floodingApr 4, 2026: 19.75 ft, major flooding; 4,466 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2026: 18.35 ft, moderate flooding; 3,545 cubic feet per second Highest, 28.50 ft, Aug 28, 2018 20052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Kickapoo River at Ontario 2000s: 3 2010s: 8 8 2020s: 5 2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Kickapoo River at Ontario
1Aug 28, 201828.50+12.50Major—
2Jun 8, 200821.96+5.96Major3,640
3Jul 19, 201920.32+4.32Major3,847
4Jul 14, 202419.95+3.95Major—
5Apr 4, 202619.75+3.75Major4,466
6Mar 15, 201919.68+3.68Major2,541
7Sep 19, 201919.40+3.40Major2,557
8Sep 22, 201619.36+3.36Major2,340
9Sep 23, 201019.30+3.30Major3,310
10Mar 14, 200718.85+2.85Moderate1,770
11Jul 4, 201918.69+2.69Moderate2,907
12Jul 2, 202618.35+2.35Moderate3,545
13Aug 7, 202118.11+2.11Moderate2,350
14Mar 28, 201417.16+1.16Minor2,280
15Mar 1, 200416.95+0.95Minor—
16Jul 2, 202416.04+0.04Minor—

The worst floods along the Kickapoo River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Kickapoo River that crested above flood stage within a week.

August 28, 2018: 28.50 ft here, major flooding

  • ViolaWI · Aug 29, 2018 · 23.72 ft · Major · its highest
  • ReadstownWI · Aug 29, 2018 · 23.17 ft · Major · its highest
  • Gays MillsWI · Aug 29, 2018 · 22.31 ft · Major · its highest
  • Soldiers GroveWI · Aug 29, 2018 · 21.06 ft · Major
  • SteubenWI · Aug 30, 2018 · 19.84 ft · Major · its highest
  • La FargeWI · Aug 29, 2018 · 19.42 ft · Major · its highest

June 8, 2008: 21.96 ft here, major flooding

  • ViolaWI · Jun 9, 2008 · 21.25 ft · Major
  • Soldiers GroveWI · Jun 9, 2008 · 21.21 ft · Major
  • Gays MillsWI · Jun 9, 2008 · 20.44 ft · Major
  • ReadstownWI · Jun 9, 2008 · 19.65 ft · Major
  • SteubenWI · Jun 10, 2008 · 19.16 ft · Major
  • La FargeWI · Jun 9, 2008 · 15.78 ft · Major

July 19, 2019: 20.32 ft here, major flooding

  • ViolaWI · Jul 20, 2019 · 17.20 ft · Moderate
  • Gays MillsWI · Jul 21, 2019 · 15.61 ft · Moderate
  • ReadstownWI · Jul 20, 2019 · 14.71 ft · Moderate
  • La FargeWI · Jul 20, 2019 · 13.06 ft · Moderate
  • Soldiers GroveWI · Jul 20, 2019 · 14.25 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Kickapoo River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Kickapoo River
Gays MillsWI13.022.31 ft, Aug 29, 20186
La FargeWI12.019.42 ft, Aug 29, 20185
Ontario this gaugeWI16.028.50 ft, Aug 28, 20189
ReadstownWI11.023.17 ft, Aug 29, 20187
Soldiers GroveWI13.021.63 ft, Jul 22, 19515
SteubenWI12.019.84 ft, Aug 30, 20185
ViolaWI14.023.72 ft, Aug 29, 20186
WiltonWI6.07.35 ft, Apr 4, 20260

Other gauges in Monroe County

Flood gauges in Monroe County
Kendall Village5.06.70 ft, Apr 4, 20260
Fort McCoy - Hawk Road5.56.16 ft, Jun 30, 20250
Ontario - Niagara Ave5.35.68 ft, Apr 4, 20260
Wilton6.07.35 ft, Apr 4, 20260
Sparta8.512.26 ft, Jul 20, 20172
Norwalk8.08.07 ft, Jul 2, 20260
Wilton - County Road T10.010.24 ft, Jul 2, 20260
State Highway 21 Near Angelo9.010.02 ft, Jul 20, 20170

Monroe County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Wisconsin

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ONTW3, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.