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Slow/no wake order issued for Rock County

Although authorities have issued a slow/no wake order in northern Rock County because of high water, the National Weather Service isn’t predicting significant flooding.

“It’s elevated a little bit, considering we’d had a mild stretch with melted snow, but it’s not out of the ordinary for this time of year,” said Chris Franks, a Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Sullivan.

Franks said snow melt and ground frost runoff have caused the swell. He said that’s normal for March in the Rock River basin.

“It’s a lot of liquid going in the rivers,” he said “You’ll certainly see rises, but it’s not uncommon.”

Franks said forecasts show rainfall totals in coming days probably won’t have much impact on area river levels.

“We don’t expect any kind of rain in the next week or so that would compound flooding or the river’s rises,” he said.

River levels near Lake Koshkonong were at 7.25 feet Friday morning, up from 6.4 feet Monday, Franks said. He said in the next 10 days, water levels there could climb as high as 8 feet, but he noted no road flooding is expected in the area.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office on Friday issued a slow/no wake order on the part of the Rock River that flows through Fulton and Milton townships.

The order will remain in effect until the towns request it be removed.

At Afton, the Rock River was at 6.5 feet Friday. Franks said runoff from continued ground thaws in the next week could raise the river in southern Rock County another 12 to 18 inches.

There’s a chance that could result in Afton reaching minor flood stage at 9 feet, but Franks said it’s unlikely.

“Any flooding would be pretty low impact,” Franks said.

He said people might notice some slow flooding in low-lying areas near Afton.

Friday morning, the Sugar River at Brodhead had exceeded minor flood stage. The river, which was at 3 feet Wednesday, had reached 5.5 feet Friday, the National Weather Service reported. Flood stage is 5 feet.

Sugar River is expected to crest at 6 feet early Saturday, with river levels falling back below flood stage by Sunday, Franks said.

Impact could include slow flooding of low land and minor road flooding near the Avon Bottoms State Natural area, and at the boat ramp at Sugar River Park, Franks said.