April 15, 2026Updated April 16, 2026, 12:04 a.m. CT
Another night time of thunderstorms and heavy rain in Milwaukee led to flooded roadways all through the town April 15.
As as much as 3 inches of rain fell all through the night time, freeway and freeway closures and flooded streets plagued drivers. It was a well-known scene that performed out, coming solely in the future after rounds of thunderstorms poured rain on the town.
The impacts on Milwaukee’s roadways appeared much more pronounced April 15, as components of Interstate 43, Interstate 94 and Wisconsin Highway 175 had been shuttered for almost three hours resulting from flooding.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office and officers like Mayor Cavalier Johnson urged drivers to remain off the roads.
The rain and highway flooding got here as a Milwaukee Brewers sport ended. Rainfall leaked through the stadium roof and when followers exited, some hiked via excessive water, whereas others tried to drive via – solely to require rescue from authorities or face heavy site visitors backups.
Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski informed the Journal Sentinel his personnel had been again out serving to stranded drivers, one night time after they responded to about 50 calls for water rescues.
Video confirmed the water-ridden roadways in the town.
On social media, Johnson urged folks to name and report flooded streets.
“Don’t wait for someone else to call and please, don’t attempt to drive through high water,” the town’s mayor stated. “Be safe.”
City employees had been planning to work via the night time to answer experiences of flooded streets, however solely slowing rainfall would result in correct drainage, stated Department of Public Works spokesperson Tiffany Shepherd.
“We urge anyone who has to be out on the roads to please drive with caution,” she stated in a message to the Journal Sentinel. “Be aware of your surrounding and do not drive through flooded streets.”
The night’s street flooding got here after the storm poured between 1.5 and three inches of rain in completely different components of the town by 10:30 p.m., stated Kevin Wagner, a meteorologist with the Milwaukee/Sullivan workplace of the National Weather Service.
That’s added up during the last three days when storms have occurred every day in the world. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District reported rain totals from April 13 to fifteen had reached over 5 inches in some components of Milwaukee as of 11 p.m.
The sewerage district initiated a combined sewer overflow at about 8:30 p.m., which means the group launched untreated wastewater to waterways like Lake Michigan to prevent back up into houses and companies.
The heaviest rains ended round 10 p.m., and lighter rainfall, presumably totaling as much as a half inch extra, was anticipated to proceed till about midnight, Wagner stated.
Overnight storm developments had been potential to the west of Milwaukee, nevertheless it was nonetheless too early to say if that might result in extra rain, Wagner stated.
The April 15 street flooding comes in the future after a similar scene throughout the city on April 14. That was when storms pushed via central and southeastern Wisconsin and introduced tornadoes, hail and flooding.
Street flooding areas could be reported by calling 414-286-CITY.
David Clarey is a public security reporter on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He could be reached at dclarey@usatodayco.com.
