The National Weather Service office in Milwaukee/Sullivan, Wisconsin issued a Flood Warning on September 20 at 9:57 PM CDT, in effect until September 22 at 3:00 AM CDT. The warning covers 42 areas across three states, including Racine and Kenosha counties in Wisconsin; Lake, Pike, Adams, and Calhoun counties in Illinois; and Ralls, Lewis, Marion, and Lincoln counties in Missouri.
A Flood Warning means flooding is already occurring or is imminent — this is a step above a Flood Watch, which only means conditions are favorable. The affected areas stretch along and near the Mississippi River corridor and nearby waterways, where recent heavy rainfall has pushed rivers, creeks, and low-lying areas above safe levels.
What You Might Notice
Residents in the warned areas may see water over roadways, swollen streams and rivers, water in basements, and flooded fields or underpasses. Some rural roads near river crossings may be closed. If you live near the Mississippi River or its tributaries in these counties, water levels may continue to rise through the weekend before cresting.
What To Do
Never drive or walk through floodwater — just six inches of moving water can knock an adult down, and two feet can carry away most vehicles. If you encounter a flooded road, turn around; road beds may be washed out underneath. Move vehicles, equipment, and valuables out of basements and low-lying areas, and keep a charged phone nearby in case evacuation becomes necessary overnight. Monitor local radio or weather alerts, since the warning runs through 3:00 AM CDT on September 22.
This data comes from the National Weather Service (NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan office).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is flooding happening right now, or just possible?
A Flood Warning means flooding is occurring or imminent in the warned areas — this is not just a possibility. The warning is in effect until 3:00 AM CDT on September 22.
Which areas are affected?
Forty-two areas across southeastern Wisconsin (including Racine and Kenosha), northeastern and western Illinois (including Lake, Pike, Adams, and Calhoun counties), and northeastern Missouri (including Ralls, Lewis, Marion, and Lincoln counties), largely along the Mississippi River corridor.
What should I do right now?
Avoid driving through any water-covered roads, move belongings out of basements and low spots, and stay tuned to local alerts in case conditions worsen overnight. If water is rising near your home, move to higher ground before roads become impassable.
How long will this last?
The current warning runs until 3:00 AM CDT on September 22, but river flooding can linger after warnings expire as water drains downstream, so continue monitoring NWS updates even after the official end time.
Keep tracking this:
Source: National Weather Service (NWS)
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Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (69% illuminated), in Capricorn.
Notable planetary angles: Mercury sextile Jupiter (59°), Sun sextile Mars (62°), Mercury opposite Saturn (176°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 1.7; strongest recent solar flare: nothing notable.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
