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Wisconsin River at Rainbow Reservoir

Highest listed crest 7.59 ftFlood stage 6.0 ft18 crests since 1938

The Wisconsin River at Rainbow Reservoir crested above flood stage 11 times among the 18 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1938 to 2022. The highest, 7.59 ft on September 5, 1941, was moderate flooding, 1.59 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Wisconsin River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
7.59 ft
September 5, 1941; 3,570 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
6.0 ft
Major flooding from 9.0 ft
Crests at major
0
11 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
June 18, 2018
6.51 ft, minor flooding
Location
Oneida County
Wisconsin

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Wisconsin River at Rainbow Reservoir
Action stage4.06May 13, 2022The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)6.010Jun 18, 2018Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage7.51Sep 5, 1941Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage9.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

18 crests from 1938 to 2022. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Wisconsin River at Rainbow Reservoir, 1938 to 2022 246810ft Flood stage 6.0 ftMajor 9.0 ft Aug 10, 1938: 6.33 ft, minor flooding; 2,420 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1939: 6.43 ft, minor flooding; 2,650 cubic feet per secondSep 5, 1941: 7.59 ft, moderate flooding; 3,570 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1942: 7.23 ft, minor flooding; 3,430 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1943: 6.66 ft, minor flooding; 3,010 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1946: 6.68 ft, minor flooding; 3,010 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1968: 6.02 ft, minor flooding; 2,550 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1973: 6.30 ft, minor flooding; 2,770 cubic feet per secondAug 27, 1978: 6.27 ft, minor flooding; 2,750 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1981: 6.14 ft, minor flooding; 2,520 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1991: 5.37 ft, action stage; 2,100 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2002: 4.70 ft, action stage; 1,880 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2003: 4.40 ft, action stageJun 18, 2018: 6.51 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 2019: 5.50 ft, action stage; 2,520 cubic feet per secondJul 27, 2020: 4.60 ft, action stage; 1,960 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 2021: 3.25 ft, below flood stage; 1,120 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2022: 4.78 ft, action stage; 2,030 cubic feet per second Highest, 7.59 ft, Sep 5, 1941 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Wisconsin River at Rainbow Reservoir 1930s: 2 1940s: 4 4 1950s: 0 1960s: 1 1970s: 2 1980s: 1 1990s: 0 2000s: 0 2010s: 1 2020s: 0 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Wisconsin River at Rainbow Reservoir
1Sep 5, 19417.59+1.59Moderate3,570
2Jul 18, 19427.23+1.23Minor3,430
3Jun 26, 19466.68+0.68Minor3,010
4Jun 17, 19436.66+0.66Minor3,010
5Jun 18, 20186.51+0.51Minor—
6Jun 30, 19396.43+0.43Minor2,650
7Aug 10, 19386.33+0.33Minor2,420
8May 7, 19736.30+0.30Minor2,770
9Aug 27, 19786.27+0.27Minor2,750
10Jun 20, 19816.14+0.14Minor2,520
11Jun 30, 19686.02+0.02Minor2,550
12Apr 24, 20195.50−0.50Action2,520
13May 31, 19915.37−0.63Action2,100
14May 13, 20224.78−1.22Action2,030
15May 1, 20024.70−1.30Action1,880
16Jul 27, 20204.60−1.40Action1,960
17May 17, 20034.40−1.60Action—
18Apr 19, 20213.25−2.75Below flood stage1,120

The worst floods along the Wisconsin River

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

September 5, 1941: 7.59 ft here, moderate flooding

  • RothschildWI · Sep 1, 1941 · 32.30 ft · Major · its highest
  • MerrillWI · Aug 31, 1941 · 18.26 ft · Major · its highest

June 18, 2018: 6.51 ft here, minor flooding

  • PortageWI · Jun 21, 2018 · 17.49 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Wisconsin River

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

Flood gauges on the Wisconsin River
MerrillWI11.018.26 ft, Aug 31, 19412
MuscodaWI9.011.48 ft, Sep 16, 19382
PortageWI17.020.66 ft, Sep 28, 20108
Rainbow Reservoir this gaugeWI6.07.59 ft, Sep 5, 19410
RothschildWI25.032.30 ft, Sep 1, 19416
Wisconsin DellsWI16.020.70 ft, Mar 16, 19733
Wisconsin RapidsWI12.018.80 ft, Jun 15, 18802
Alexander DamWI1,259.01,260.53 ft, Apr 14, 20230
Biron DamWI1,017.01,020.73 ft, Sep 25, 20100
Dubay DamWI1,098.01,103.11 ft, Sep 24, 20100
Stevens Point DamWI1,076.01,080.64 ft, Sep 24, 20100
Wausau DamWI1,167.01,169.87 ft, Apr 18, 20230
Whiting DamWI1,053.01,055.99 ft, Sep 25, 20100
Wisconsin Rapids DamWI991.0993.27 ft, Sep 25, 20100

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge LTKW3, 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.