UPDATE: More park areas close in La Crosse because of flooding

The flood of 2023 could be a top-5 flood of all time for most river towns in the La Crosse area.

The National Weather Service says the chance of Prairie du Chien having its second-highest flood ever is close to 90 per cent. Communities north of La Crosse could see a crest any time between Tuesday and Friday.

La Crosse is still expecting a crest of 16.1 feet late Wednesday or early Thursday, but after that, the river could drop to 15.5 feet by Sunday.

Early Monday night, the weather service measured the river stage at 15.7 feet, which tied the third-highest flood on record in La Crosse, in April of 1969. The water would have to rise another seven-tenths of a foot to pass the second-highest crest, from 2001.

More public locations in La Crosse are closed for now, because of flood waters. The park department has announced the temporary closures of the Houska Dog Park, along the riverfront…Veterans Freedom Park, off Clinton Street…and Lueth Park, north of La Crosse Street, near the marsh.