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Rock River at Fort Atkinson

Highest listed crest 20.90 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft31 crests since 2000

The Rock River at Fort Atkinson crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 31 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2000 to 2026. The highest, 20.90 ft on June 15, 2008, was major flooding, 4.90 feet above flood stage. 11 other gauges on the Rock River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 5 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
20.90 ft
June 15, 2008; 15,100 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
16.0 ft
Major flooding from 18.0 ft
Crests at major
2
46th of 143 gauges in Wisconsin
Most recent flood crest
April 20, 2026
17.40 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Jefferson County
Near Fort Atkinson (0.3 mi), Whitewater (8.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Rock River at Fort Atkinson
Action stage14.59Apr 8, 2023The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.08Jul 6, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage17.06Apr 20, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage18.02Apr 22, 2013Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

31 crests from 2000 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Rock River at Fort Atkinson, 2000 to 2026 121416182022ft Flood stage 16.0 ftMajor 18.0 ft Jun 6, 2000: 16.63 ft, minor flooding; 7,740 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 2004: 17.29 ft, moderate flooding; 11,306 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 2007: 16.24 ft, minor flooding; 7,407 cubic feet per secondAug 29, 2007: 16.20 ft, minor floodingApr 16, 2008: 17.33 ft, moderate flooding; 11,396 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2008: 20.90 ft, major flooding; 15,100 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 2009: 16.44 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 2009: 16.97 ft, minor flooding; 10,635 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2010: 15.04 ft, action stageJul 29, 2010: 16.89 ft, minor flooding; 8,190 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 2011: 15.69 ft, action stageApr 22, 2013: 18.12 ft, major flooding; 13,173 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 2014: 15.22 ft, action stage; 6,380 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2014: 15.19 ft, action stage; 6,992 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 2015: 13.54 ft, below flood stage; 4,970 cubic feet per secondDec 18, 2015: 14.21 ft, below flood stage; 5,266 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 2016: 14.66 ft, action stage; 5,200 cubic feet per secondJan 28, 2017: 14.69 ft, action stageMay 4, 2017: 15.35 ft, action stage; 6,170 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 2018: 17.04 ft, moderate flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondSep 11, 2018: 17.40 ft, moderate flooding; 11,473 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2019: 17.22 ft, moderate flooding; 10,274 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2019: 16.82 ft, minor flooding; 7,430 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2020: 15.52 ft, action stageMar 12, 2021: 13.13 ft, below flood stage; 4,190 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2021: 13.44 ft, below flood stageApr 14, 2022: 14.01 ft, below flood stageJun 17, 2022: 13.67 ft, below flood stage; 5,210 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2023: 15.21 ft, action stage; 5,710 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 2024: 16.02 ft, minor flooding; 8,730 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2026: 17.40 ft, moderate flooding; 11,674 cubic feet per second Highest, 20.90 ft, Jun 15, 2008 200020052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Rock River at Fort Atkinson 2000s: 8 8 2010s: 6 2020s: 2 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, Rock River at Fort Atkinson
1Jun 15, 200820.90+4.90Major15,100
2Apr 22, 201318.12+2.12Major13,173
3Sep 11, 201817.40+1.40Moderate11,473
4Apr 20, 202617.40+1.40Moderate11,674
5Apr 16, 200817.33+1.33Moderate11,396
6Jun 5, 200417.29+1.29Moderate11,306
7Mar 24, 201917.22+1.22Moderate10,274
8Sep 7, 201817.04+1.04Moderate10,000
9Apr 1, 200916.97+0.97Minor10,635
10Jul 29, 201016.89+0.89Minor8,190
11Oct 12, 201916.82+0.82Minor7,430
12Jun 6, 200016.63+0.63Minor7,740
13Mar 18, 200916.44+0.44Minor—
14Apr 6, 200716.24+0.24Minor7,407
15Aug 29, 200716.20+0.20Minor—
16Jul 6, 202416.02+0.02Minor8,730
17Mar 28, 201115.69−0.31Action—
18Mar 29, 202015.52−0.48Action—
19May 4, 201715.35−0.65Action6,170
20May 15, 201415.22−0.78Action6,380
21Apr 8, 202315.21−0.79Action5,710
22Jul 8, 201415.19−0.81Action6,992
23Jun 28, 201015.04−0.96Action—
24Jan 28, 201714.69−1.31Action—
25Apr 2, 201614.66−1.34Action5,200
26Dec 18, 201514.21−1.79Below flood stage5,266
27Apr 14, 202214.01−1.99Below flood stage—
28Jun 17, 202213.67−2.33Below flood stage5,210
29Apr 12, 201513.54−2.46Below flood stage4,970
30Mar 16, 202113.44−2.56Below flood stage—
31Mar 12, 202113.13−2.87Below flood stage4,190

The worst floods along the Rock River

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

June 15, 2008: 20.90 ft here, major flooding

  • JoslinIL · Jun 21, 2008 · 16.61 ft · Major
  • JeffersonWI · Jun 19, 2008 · 15.64 ft · Major · its highest
  • Lake KoshkonongWI · Jun 21, 2008 · 15.13 ft · Major · its highest
  • MolineIL · Jun 17, 2008 · 14.91 ft · Major
  • RocktonIL · Jun 17, 2008 · 14.72 ft · Major
  • Latham ParkIL · Jun 18, 2008 · 14.30 ft · Major
  • Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridgeWI · Jun 15, 2008 · 14.01 ft · Major · its highest
  • AftonWI · Jun 21, 2008 · 13.51 ft · Major · its highest
  • WatertownWI · Jun 13, 2008 · 7.81 ft · Major · its highest
  • ByronIL · Jun 15, 2008 · 14.81 ft · Moderate

April 22, 2013: 18.12 ft here, major flooding

  • JoslinIL · Apr 21, 2013 · 19.11 ft · Major
  • ByronIL · Apr 20, 2013 · 17.08 ft · Major
  • MolineIL · Apr 22, 2013 · 16.53 ft · Major · its highest
  • Lake KoshkonongWI · Apr 22, 2013 · 12.35 ft · Major
  • NewvilleWI · Apr 23, 2013 · 8.51 ft · Major · its highest
  • DixonIL · Apr 20, 2013 · 18.16 ft · Moderate
  • RocktonIL · Apr 21, 2013 · 13.46 ft · Moderate
  • Latham ParkIL · Apr 22, 2013 · 12.82 ft · Moderate
  • Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridgeWI · Apr 21, 2013 · 12.54 ft · Moderate
  • JeffersonWI · Apr 20, 2013 · 12.31 ft · Moderate

September 11, 2018: 17.40 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Rock River

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

Flood gauges on the Rock River
AftonWI9.013.51 ft, Jun 21, 20083
ByronIL13.017.80 ft, Apr 20, 19735
ComoIL12.515.64 ft, Jul 23, 20170
DixonIL16.020.50 ft, Apr 20, 19731
Fort Atkinson this gaugeWI16.020.90 ft, Jun 15, 20082
JeffersonWI10.015.64 ft, Jun 19, 20081
Lake KoshkonongWI10.015.13 ft, Jun 21, 20086
Latham ParkIL9.014.70 ft, Mar 26, 19753
Lebanon-3 E-Hwy MM bridgeWI10.014.01 ft, Jun 15, 20081
MolineIL12.016.53 ft, Apr 22, 201334
NewvilleWI6.58.51 ft, Apr 23, 20131
Rockford (Auburn Street)IL6.010.00 ft, Apr 20, 18811
Rockford (Fordam Dam)IL4.06.50 ft, Apr 20, 18811
RocktonIL10.015.54 ft, Mar 25, 19754
WatertownWI5.57.81 ft, Jun 13, 20082
JoslinIL12.019.24 ft, Jun 7, 200224

Other gauges in Jefferson County

Flood gauges in Jefferson County
Rome4.05.07 ft, Jan 19, 20220
Milford7.013.35 ft, Jun 16, 20083
Jefferson10.015.64 ft, Jun 19, 20081
Lake Koshkonong10.015.13 ft, Jun 21, 20086
Watertown5.57.81 ft, Jun 13, 20082

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge FATW3, 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.