RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WXPR) – Parts of the Northwoods are still dealing with some minor flooding and the rain this week isn’t helping.
Governor Evers declared a state of emergency in Wisconsin this week because of flooding throughout the state.
Ryan Jirik is a Hydrologic Technician with the USGS. He says this is one of the more unique springs he’s seen in his 20 years in the field. “We’ve had some big snow melts before, but to have it all or lot of it all melted off in a three-day, four-day period is kind of something I’ve never seen.”
Jirik says one of the big factors in the rising water levels was how wet and heavy the recent snowfalls have been.
The water equivalent in the snowpack was high. The other issue is that swamps are now filling up and there’s not enough vegetation to soak up the water. He encourages people to be cautious near rivers. “If we get an inch of rain on Thursday, there’s no telling what might happen to some of the rivers. Some of the storms might be localized. But like I said, just be vigilant.”
The National Weather Service Green Bay forecast is calling for half an inch to an inch of rain across the region between last night and tomorrow morning.
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