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Rock River at Jefferson

Highest listed crest 15.64 ftFlood stage 10.0 ft33 crests since 1979

The Rock River at Jefferson crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 33 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1979 to 2026. The highest, 15.64 ft on June 19, 2008, was major flooding, 5.64 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
15.64 ft
June 19, 2008
Flood stage
10.0 ft
Major flooding from 13.0 ft
Crests at major
1
64th of 143 gauges in Wisconsin
Most recent flood crest
April 20, 2026
11.69 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Jefferson County
Near Fort Atkinson (5.4 mi), Whitewater (11.6 mi), Watertown (13.9 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 Jefferson
Action stage8.08Jan 28, 2017The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)10.09Jul 9, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage11.010Apr 20, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage13.01Jun 19, 2008Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

33 crests from 1979 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Rock River at Jefferson, 1979 to 2026 6810121416ft Flood stage 10.0 ftMajor 13.0 ft Apr 2, 1979: 12.84 ft, moderate flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1991: 7.80 ft, below flood stage; 5,563 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1993: 12.29 ft, moderate flooding; 8,660 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1994: 8.57 ft, action stage; 6,344 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1999: 9.27 ft, action stage; 7,074 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 2000: 10.81 ft, minor floodingJun 2, 2004: 11.51 ft, moderate floodingApr 5, 2007: 10.27 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 2008: 10.38 ft, minor floodingApr 14, 2008: 11.35 ft, moderate floodingJun 19, 2008: 15.64 ft, major floodingFeb 15, 2009: 7.36 ft, below flood stageMar 17, 2009: 10.56 ft, minor floodingMar 27, 2009: 10.87 ft, minor floodingMay 1, 2009: 9.24 ft, action stageMar 17, 2010: 8.39 ft, action stageJun 27, 2010: 8.81 ft, action stageJul 27, 2010: 11.01 ft, moderate floodingFeb 27, 2011: 7.78 ft, below flood stageMar 27, 2011: 9.70 ft, action stageApr 20, 2013: 12.31 ft, moderate floodingJul 3, 2014: 9.17 ft, action stageApr 15, 2015: 7.92 ft, below flood stageDec 18, 2015: 7.78 ft, below flood stage; 3,635 cubic feet per secondJan 28, 2017: 8.53 ft, action stage; 4,320 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 2018: 11.72 ft, moderate flooding; 7,604 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 2018: 10.64 ft, minor flooding; 6,357 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2019: 11.50 ft, moderate flooding; 7,300 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2019: 11.00 ft, moderate flooding; 6,327 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2024: 10.47 ft, minor flooding; 6,197 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 2024: 10.05 ft, minor flooding; 5,809 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 2024: 10.14 ft, minor flooding; 5,891 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2026: 11.69 ft, moderate flooding; 7,862 cubic feet per second Highest, 15.64 ft, Jun 19, 2008 19801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Rock River at Jefferson 1970s: 1 1980s: 0 1990s: 1 2000s: 8 8 2010s: 6 2020s: 4 1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 Jefferson
1Jun 19, 200815.64+5.64Major—
2Apr 2, 197912.84+2.84Moderate10,300
3Apr 20, 201312.31+2.31Moderate—
4Apr 22, 199312.29+2.29Moderate8,660
5Sep 8, 201811.72+1.72Moderate7,604
6Apr 20, 202611.69+1.69Moderate7,862
7Jun 2, 200411.51+1.51Moderate—
8Mar 16, 201911.50+1.50Moderate7,300
9Apr 14, 200811.35+1.35Moderate—
10Jul 27, 201011.01+1.01Moderate—
11Oct 12, 201911.00+1.00Moderate6,327
12Mar 27, 200910.87+0.87Minor—
13Jun 5, 200010.81+0.81Minor—
14Oct 13, 201810.64+0.64Minor6,357
15Mar 17, 200910.56+0.56Minor—
16Jun 11, 202410.47+0.47Minor6,197
17Apr 2, 200810.38+0.38Minor—
18Apr 5, 200710.27+0.27Minor—
19Jul 9, 202410.14+0.14Minor5,891
20Jun 30, 202410.05+0.05Minor5,809
21Mar 27, 20119.70−0.30Action—
22Apr 27, 19999.27−0.73Action7,074
23May 1, 20099.24−0.76Action—
24Jul 3, 20149.17−0.83Action—
25Jun 27, 20108.81−1.19Action—
26Mar 17, 19948.57−1.43Action6,344
27Jan 28, 20178.53−1.47Action4,320
28Mar 17, 20108.39−1.61Action—
29Apr 15, 20157.92−2.08Below flood stage—
30Apr 16, 19917.80−2.20Below flood stage5,563
31Feb 27, 20117.78−2.22Below flood stage—
32Dec 18, 20157.78−2.22Below flood stage3,635
33Feb 15, 20097.36−2.64Below flood stage—

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 19, 2008: 15.64 ft here, major flooding

  • Fort AtkinsonWI · Jun 15, 2008 · 20.90 ft · Major · its highest
  • JoslinIL · Jun 21, 2008 · 16.61 ft · Major
  • 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 2, 1979: 12.84 ft here, moderate flooding

  • RocktonIL · Apr 2, 1979 · 12.75 ft · Moderate
  • Latham ParkIL · Apr 3, 1979 · 12.30 ft · Moderate
  • AftonWI · Apr 5, 1979 · 11.86 ft · Moderate
  • WatertownWI · Mar 31, 1979 · 6.19 ft · Moderate

April 20, 2013: 12.31 ft here, moderate flooding

  • JoslinIL · Apr 21, 2013 · 19.11 ft · Major
  • Fort AtkinsonWI · Apr 22, 2013 · 18.12 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

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 AtkinsonWI16.020.90 ft, Jun 15, 20082
Jefferson this gaugeWI10.015.64 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
Fort Atkinson16.020.90 ft, Jun 15, 20082
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 JFFW3, 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.