‘Mega-rain’ slams Milwaukee, shuts down Wisconsin State Fair originally appeared on Bring Me The News.
Torrential rains over the last 24 have hammered southeast Wisconsin, leading to rain totals in excess of a foot in some locations and shutting down the final day of the annual Wisconsin State Fair.
It’s officially a “mega-rain” event, according to Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. To qualify as a mega-rain event, there has to be at least 6 inches of rain falling over an area of 1,000 square miles within 24, including at least once location exceeding 8 inches.
24-hour rain totals through 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
“After last night’s flash flooding resulted in the early closure of State Fair Park, Wisconsin State Fair officials have determined the Fair Park will not reopen for Sunday, August 10,” fair officials said Sunday.
“We understand the disappointment you may feel as our team works all year for these 11 days. However, the safety of our Fairgoers, team, partners, and vendors will always be our top priority.”
The fair closed early Saturday as rain and heavy storms hit the area hard. The rainfall caused the Root River to overflow, leading to dangerous flash flooding that submerged cars and left fairgoers wading through water.
“We are saddened we cannot deliver this final day of the Wisconsin State Fair, but know that this is the best decision with current conditions and the forecast ahead,” fair officials added.
Rain fell so hard that the Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium, American Family Field, had water leaking through the closed roof during Saturday night’s game. On Sunday, the Brewers told fans that some parking lots and area roads are inaccessible due to flooding, and parking for all fans cannot be guaranteed.
According to We Energies, more than 31,000 customers are still without power in southeast Wisconsin, though power has been restored to more than 36,000 households since systems began going offline during Saturday’s storms.
“My top priority remains the life and safety of Milwaukee County residents,” said David Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “My team is actively working with municipal first responders to address the immediate needs of affected people and ensure the safety of the public.
“As we navigate the aftermath of last night’s severe flooding and storms, I am encouraging the public to stay indoors and seek out emergency assistance if needed.”
Related: Supercharged atmosphere causing more mega-rain events
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
