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Flood — Polk, WI

Mar 15, 2019

There were many factors that led to a severe Spring flood melt along the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers and several of their tributaries during the last two weeks of March. The first factor was above average snowpack for mid March. Additionally, the added effect of a cold late Winter kept this snowpack deeper into the early Spring. Once temperatures warmed, and snow began to melt, a few storms led to additional water on the already heavy snowpack. As area rivers, streams and creeks began to thaw

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 814870). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.

Flood Risk Context for Polk, WI

This event is one of many recorded floods in Polk County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.

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