Here’s the latest on Portage, WI flooding based on the most recent official updates I can confirm:
- The Wisconsin River at Portage peaked around 20.47 feet in mid-April 2026, approaching the record level of 20.66 feet, and then began receding. Some areas near the Caledonia-Lewiston levee were affected, and a two-mile stretch of I-39 near Highway 33 required sandbagging to protect infrastructure. This situation prompted partial evacuations and ongoing road closures for safety.[1]
- Multiple local jurisdictions issued flood warnings and updates in April 2026, highlighting that several rivers were above bankfull and some areas could experience minor flood conditions, with warnings continuing as snowmelt and rainfall persisted. Residents and travelers were advised to avoid flooded roadways and monitor official road closure notices.[3][4]
- Public safety and emergency services remained active, including swift-water response capabilities, to support evacuations and access in flooded neighborhoods such as Lake Road and Blackhawk Road areas, while efforts continued to monitor levee performance and water levels in the Portage area.[1]
- In addition to local updates, several media outlets reported on stranded residents and ongoing flood watches in Portage during the peak period, with NOAA/NWS forecasts guiding local responses and preparedness measures; residents were advised to heed “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” for flooded roads.[2][6]
If you want, I can pull the latest official road-closure statuses for Columbia County and Portage specifically, or set up a quick alert to notify you of new flood advisories and status changes in Portage. Would you like me to do that?
Sources: Wisconsin DNR update on Portage river peak and effects, Portage County flood warnings and road advisories, local flood coverage and warnings updates.[4][6][2][3][1]
Sources
Several rivers are above bankfull and a few will remain in minor flood stage.According to NWS, Wisconsin River Flood stage below the Stevens Point dam is 1,076 feet and as of this morning, flow is exceeding that benchmark. Areas adjacent to the affected area can expect:• widespread flooding in wooded land adjacent to the river• floodwaters may approach homes in low-lying areas on Park Drive west of Plover.Precautions in the affected areas include:• ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown’ when encountering...
www.co.portage.wi.govFlooding Expected Around Wisconsin River At Portage
www.weather.govThe Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the Wisconsin River at Portage peaked at 20.47 feet in the afternoon yesterday, April 16, 2026, nearly reaching the highest water level on record of 20.66 feet. While the river level did not set a new record and currently rests at 19.9 feet, it did impact several areas of the Caledonia-Lewiston levee, prompting the evacuation of the Blackhawk neighborhood, and raised enough concern to sandbag a 2-mile stretch of I-39 at the Highway...
dnr.wisconsin.govFlood Warning Issued for Portage County Lowland flooding in wooded areas along Wisconsin River Effective Monday, April 13, 2026, the National Weather Service (https://www.weather.gov/grb/), has issued a Flood Warning for wooded lowland areas along the Wisconsin River in Portage County. Area rivers will continue to run high due to recent rainfall and continued warm temperatures causing snowmelt throughout the Wisconsin River watershed. Several rivers are above bankfull and a few will remain in...
www.co.portage.wi.govCity of Portage Wisconsin - Where the North Begins
portagewi.govNOAA National Weather Service
forecast.weather.govAround 75 Residents Decide to Remain in Homes as Engineers Inspect Battered Levee System
www.cbsnews.com