On the evening of Monday, September 22, the City of Waukesha was impacted by the severe rains from a large thunderstorm.

The storms hit Waukesha County around 8 p.m., with the National Weather Service issuing a severe thunderstorm warning that lasted until 9:45 p.m.

Shortly afterwards, flooding alerts were issued that lasted until 1:45 a.m. the following day, September 23.

Although these warnings and alerts covered large portions of Waukesha County, the City of Waukesha was one of the most heavily impacted areas.

Delafield Street near Lemira Avenue was flooded due to the quick, heavy rainfall caused by the storm.

According to a local public safety source, either a creek or a natural drainage system has been covered beneath the north side of Waukesha as the city has expanded.

The marshy natural biome has caused the slopes of the land to particularly impact what is now recognized as Delafield Street.

Despite pipes and sewer systems being installed to help alleviate severe rainfall influxes, the constructed systems can sometimes be overwhelmed by large scale rainfall.

The flash flooding allowed for at least one vehicle to become stuck on Delafield Street, eliciting a police response.

There was also another flooding emergency at Hunter Road and Foxcroft Lane, just off of Guthrie Drive.

Reports stated that there was major flooding in the area, with ‘homes threatened’. Many in the neighborhood considered evacuation, and over six fire units responded to the event.

This recent flooding comes in the wake of August’s severe flooding emergencies, which impacted hundreds throughout southeastern Wisconsin.

The City of Waukesha has over ‘147 linear miles of storm sewer mains, culverts, and drain tiles’. Despite this, flooding continues to be a problem, especially as the Fox River has reached historic crests this past summer.

Waukesha has conducted a study that identified several areas that have high likelihoods for flooding, including:

1. Rolling Ridge Drive & N University Drive
2. N University Drive, Darrell Drive, Patrick Ln
3. Airport Business Park & Peters Drive
4. Frame Park Creek at Harding Avenue & Anoka Avenue
5. Lawndale Avenue & S Washington Avenue
6. E Moreland Blvd. & Wolf Road
7. Summit Avenue & Michigan Avenue
8. S West Avenue, S Grand Avenue & S East Avenue at W Sunset Drive
9. W Newhall Avenue at S West Avenue
10. Merrill Crest Park