National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

September 10-11, 2022 Heavy Rain and Flooding

A slow moving closed low moved across southern Lake Michigan and brought a long period of heavy rain. Rain started during the evening of September 10 across southwest and south-central Wisconsin as a cold front moved southeast across the state. It stalled and weakened a closed low pressure system developed over southern Lake Michigan later on September 10. Rain from the closed low then impacted southern Wisconsin from late on the 10th to the morning of September 12. In far eastern Wisconsin, the rain started around 6 am on the 11th resulting in most of the rainfall occurring in about a 24 hour period.

Rain was moderate to heavy for a 24 to 36 hour time period and amounts ranged from 1 to 2 inches west of Madison, 4 to 7 inches across Jefferson, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Racine, and Walworth counties. Highest amounts of 7 to 9.6 inches fell in eastern Racine county where two different bands of heavy rain moved overhead. Other parts of southeast Wisconsin received 3 to 4 inches. Rain rates were 0.5 to 1 inch an hour at times in the heaviest rain bands. A few locations broke records for greatest 1 day or 2 day rainfall amounts for Sep 11 or the entire month of September.

Radar Loop

3:30 AM Sunday, September 11 to

4 AM Monday, September 12

 

There were several areas with standing water on roads, especially across Waukesha and Racine counties. However, mostly dry weather prevailed during the week prior to this storm so the ground was somewhat dry and able to soak up some of the rain which helped to limit further flooding issues. It was also fairly dry in the month prior to this storm and subsoil moisture was somewhat low.

 

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