Active flood warnings have pulled back marginally — from 90 to 87 — across ten states, but the National Weather Service warns that flooding remains widespread and ongoing through the Midwest and beyond, with the Rock River system now a focal point stretching across Wisconsin and Illinois.
The current alert footprint spans Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Texas joins the active list in today’s count, marking a further geographic shift even as the overall alert number ticks slightly downward.
Rock River System Under Strain
The Rock River is generating multiple simultaneous warnings across Wisconsin and Illinois. The National Weather Service has active flood warnings on the Rock River at Newville, near Lake Koshkonong, at Fort Atkinson, at Afton, and at Jefferson — affecting Jefferson, Rock, and Winnebago counties in Wisconsin and Lake and Kenosha counties in Illinois. The breadth of gauges under warning along a single river system signals sustained, basin-wide saturation rather than isolated high water.
Missouri Rivers Still Running High
Missouri continues to account for a significant share of active alerts. Big Creek at Blairstown remains under a flood warning affecting Johnson, Cass, and Henry counties, with minor flooding occurring and forecast to continue until early Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service notes that at 20.0 feet the west bank begins to flood, with broader impacts above 23.0 feet.
Safety Guidance
The National Weather Service is reiterating its standard flood safety message across all active warnings: do not attempt to drive through flooded roads or around barricades. The agency notes that the majority of flood fatalities occur in vehicles. Pedestrians are urged to stay clear of riverbanks.
Residents in the Houston weather area should monitor local National Weather Service guidance as Texas appears in the active alert list for the first time in this event cycle. Travelers and residents across the broader affected corridor — including those tracking Milwaukee weather given the Rock River warnings upstream — should check current gauge readings before approaching low-lying roads or river corridors.
The slight reduction in total alert count does not indicate the event is winding down; several warnings remain in effect through at least Friday. The National Weather Service advises checking weather.gov for current river stage data and updated warning information across all affected states.