I don’t have live access to current news in this turn. Based on the latest publicly available updates I can see, here are the key points about flooding in Portage, WI:
- The Wisconsin River at Portage peaked around 20.47 feet in mid-April 2026, approaching a historical high. This level prompted evacuations near the Blackhawk neighborhood and required sandbagging along a stretch of I-39 near Highway 33, with multiple road closures and flood-related precautions.[1]
- Flooding affected Lake Road and southern Blackhawk Road, with some homes accessible only by boat, and a swift-water rescue team deployed for evacuations and to assist residents.[1]
- Local authorities and state agencies issued flood warnings and monitored river levels closely during the event, with ongoing testing and public safety operations tied to rapid weather changes and snowmelt contributing to high flows.[4]
If you want, I can pull current updates from reliable sources (e.g., the City of Portage, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and local TV stations) and summarize the most recent conditions, road statuses, and shelter information for Portage, WI. I can also set up a brief alert if you’d like to monitor developments over the next 24–48 hours.
Sources
The 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.govAround 75 Residents Decide to Remain in Homes as Engineers Inspect Battered Levee System
www.cbsnews.comNOAA National Weather Service
forecast.weather.govCity of Portage Wisconsin - Where the North Begins
portagewi.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.govFlooding Expected Around Wisconsin River At Portage
www.weather.gov