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Wisconsin River at Rothschild

Highest listed crest 32.30 ftFlood stage 25.0 ft31 crests since 1941

The Wisconsin River at Rothschild crested at major flood stage 6 times among the 31 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1941 to 2026. The highest, 32.30 ft on September 1, 1941, was major flooding, 7.30 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
32.30 ft
September 1, 1941; 48,300 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
25.0 ft
Major flooding from 28.0 ft
Crests at major
6
11th of 143 gauges in Wisconsin
Most recent flood crest
April 14, 2026
25.93 ft, minor flooding
Location
Marathon County
Near Weston (4.2 mi), Wausau (5.3 mi)

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 Rothschild
Action stage18.09Apr 13, 2021The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)25.013Apr 14, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage27.03Jun 21, 1993Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage28.06Apr 18, 2019Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

31 crests from 1941 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Wisconsin River at Rothschild, 1941 to 2026 1520253035ft Flood stage 25.0 ftMajor 28.0 ft Sep 1, 1941: 32.30 ft, major flooding; 48,300 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1976: 27.37 ft, moderate flooding; 43,800 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1979: 24.79 ft, action stage; 32,000 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 1980: 26.89 ft, minor flooding; 41,600 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1983: 26.42 ft, minor flooding; 39,400 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 1986: 27.96 ft, moderate flooding; 46,700 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 1986: 25.96 ft, minor flooding; 37,300 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1990: 28.29 ft, major flooding; 48,300 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1991: 24.14 ft, action stage; 29,600 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 1992: 22.00 ft, action stageJun 21, 1993: 27.48 ft, moderate flooding; 44,440 cubic feet per secondSep 17, 1994: 21.60 ft, action stageFeb 28, 1995: 23.25 ft, action stageApr 20, 1996: 25.92 ft, minor floodingApr 6, 1997: 26.73 ft, minor floodingApr 1, 1998: 23.08 ft, action stageApr 13, 2001: 25.20 ft, minor floodingApr 13, 2002: 25.35 ft, minor flooding; 34,300 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2003: 25.54 ft, minor floodingSep 24, 2010: 29.46 ft, major flooding; 52,700 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2011: 28.17 ft, major flooding; 48,000 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2014: 24.86 ft, action stage; 32,500 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 2016: 28.16 ft, major flooding; 44,800 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 2017: 25.84 ft, minor flooding; 36,779 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2018: 22.96 ft, action stage; 26,400 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 2019: 29.18 ft, major flooding; 52,300 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 2020: 25.34 ft, minor flooding; 33,600 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 2021: 19.65 ft, action stage; 14,400 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2022: 25.03 ft, minor flooding; 30,800 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 2023: 26.10 ft, minor floodingApr 14, 2026: 25.93 ft, minor flooding; 37,184 cubic feet per second Highest, 32.30 ft, Sep 1, 1941 1960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Wisconsin River at Rothschild 1940s: 1 1950s: 0 1960s: 0 1970s: 1 1980s: 4 1990s: 4 2000s: 3 2010s: 5 5 2020s: 4 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 Rothschild
1Sep 1, 194132.30+7.30Major48,300
2Sep 24, 201029.46+4.46Major52,700
3Apr 18, 201929.18+4.18Major52,300
4Jun 14, 199028.29+3.29Major48,300
5Apr 11, 201128.17+3.17Major48,000
6Mar 17, 201628.16+3.16Major44,800
7Sep 28, 198627.96+2.96Moderate46,700
8Jun 21, 199327.48+2.48Moderate44,440
9Mar 31, 197627.37+2.37Moderate43,800
10Sep 22, 198026.89+1.89Minor41,600
11Apr 6, 199726.73+1.73Minor—
12Mar 7, 198326.42+1.42Minor39,400
13Apr 13, 202326.10+1.10Minor—
14Oct 13, 198625.96+0.96Minor37,300
15Apr 14, 202625.93+0.93Minor37,184
16Apr 20, 199625.92+0.92Minor—
17May 19, 201725.84+0.84Minor36,779
18May 12, 200325.54+0.54Minor—
19Apr 13, 200225.35+0.35Minor34,300
20Mar 30, 202025.34+0.34Minor33,600
21Apr 13, 200125.20+0.20Minor—
22Apr 14, 202225.03+0.03Minor30,800
23Apr 11, 201424.86−0.14Action32,500
24Jun 17, 197924.79−0.21Action32,000
25Mar 27, 199124.14−0.86Action29,600
26Feb 28, 199523.25−1.75Action—
27Apr 1, 199823.08−1.92Action—
28Apr 26, 201822.96−2.04Action26,400
29Nov 2, 199222.00−3.00Action—
30Sep 17, 199421.60−3.40Action—
31Apr 13, 202119.65−5.35Action14,400

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 1, 1941: 32.30 ft here, major flooding

  • MerrillWI · Aug 31, 1941 · 18.26 ft · Major · its highest
  • Rainbow ReservoirWI · Sep 5, 1941 · 7.59 ft · Moderate · its highest

September 24, 2010: 29.46 ft here, major flooding

  • PortageWI · Sep 28, 2010 · 20.66 ft · Major · its highest
  • Wisconsin RapidsWI · Sep 25, 2010 · 14.80 ft · Major
  • Dubay DamWI · Sep 24, 2010 · 1,103.11 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • Stevens Point DamWI · Sep 24, 2010 · 1,080.64 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • Biron DamWI · Sep 25, 2010 · 1,020.73 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • Wisconsin Rapids DamWI · Sep 25, 2010 · 993.27 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • Wausau DamWI · Sep 24, 2010 · 1,169.50 ft · Minor
  • Whiting DamWI · Sep 25, 2010 · 1,055.99 ft · Minor · its highest
  • Wisconsin DellsWI · Sep 27, 2010 · 17.56 ft · Minor
  • MerrillWI · Sep 25, 2010 · 12.23 ft · Minor

April 18, 2019: 29.18 ft here, major flooding

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 ReservoirWI6.07.59 ft, Sep 5, 19410
Rothschild this gaugeWI25.032.30 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

Other gauges in Marathon County

Flood gauges in Marathon County
Stratford15.524.50 ft, Sep 9, 19383
Rib Falls10.016.20 ft, Aug 31, 19382
Kelly9.011.45 ft, Aug 21, 19260
Wausau Dam1,167.01,169.87 ft, Apr 18, 20230

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ROTW3, 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.