May 24, 1996
A mesoscale convective complex developed over eastern Nebraska and advanced into Iowa during the early morning hours. The problem was with the heavy rainfall. A narrow band of heavy rain fell across parts of central Iowa. Polk County recorded between 2 and 3 1/2 inches of rain in a two hour period between 0200 and 0400 CST. Similar heavy rainfall amounts occurred over the south half of both Adair and Cass Counties. Rainfall amounts across Adair and Cass Counties were in the 2 to as much as 6
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5544487). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
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.