Severe Storms Flood Marquette University Campus

Heavy rain and leaks impact buildings and streets on Milwaukee campus.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:42am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, depicting a flooded city street in the foreground with the towering, fog-shrouded buildings of a university campus fading into the distance, conveying a sense of the overwhelming power of nature.The severe storms that have battered Marquette University's campus expose the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to the growing threat of extreme weather events.Today in Milwaukee

A third consecutive night of severe storms in Milwaukee has caused flooding on the Marquette University campus. The roof of the Al McGuire Center began leaking around 8:30 p.m. CST, forcing a volleyball match to be ended prematurely. The basement of the Schroeder Hall dorm also started flooding. Streets around campus were affected as well, with the university police coning off the flooded intersection of 15th Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

Why it matters

Marquette University is a prominent institution in Milwaukee, and any disruptions to campus operations due to severe weather can have significant impacts on students, faculty, and the surrounding community. Flooding events like this highlight the need for improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness measures to protect against the growing threat of extreme weather.

The details

According to reports, the roof of the Al McGuire Center, Marquette's basketball and volleyball arena, began leaking around 8:30 p.m. CST, causing rushing water to enter the facility and forcing the volleyball match inside to be ended early. The basement of the Schroeder Hall dormitory on 13th Street also started flooding. Streets around campus were affected as well, with the university police coning off the intersection of 15th Street and Kilbourn Avenue after garbage began floating freely through the flooded intersection.

  • The roof of the Al McGuire Center began leaking around 8:30 p.m. CST.
  • At 9:02 p.m., the university sent out a safety alert about flooding in the area of 15th Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

The players

Marquette University

A private Jesuit research university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, known for its strong athletics programs.

Al McGuire Center

Marquette's basketball and volleyball arena, which experienced roof leaks during the severe storms.

Schroeder Hall

A dormitory on Marquette's campus that experienced flooding in the basement.

Marquette University Police

The campus police force that coned off the flooded intersection of 15th Street and Kilbourn Avenue.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The university is expected to assess the damage and work to repair any issues caused by the flooding. Marquette officials may also need to evaluate the campus' emergency preparedness and response plans to better handle severe weather events in the future.

The takeaway

This flooding incident highlights the growing threat of extreme weather events and the need for universities like Marquette to invest in infrastructure improvements and emergency planning to protect their campuses and communities. As climate change continues to intensify, such weather-related disruptions are likely to become more frequent.