4,632 first-hand accounts of flood events in Iowa, ranked by impact. Each is a NOAA-written narrative of the moment.
Major to record flooding occurred during the month of June 2008 with most forecast points above flood stage for the majority of the month. The flooding during this month was more prolific and severe than the flooding in April 2008, and the flooding in April had been the most…
Read the full account →A warm front pushed into southern Iowa from Missouri, bringing with it storms and heavy rainfall. The front progressed slowly, aiding in keeping the rain over the same areas for long periods of time.
Read the full account →As much as 8 inches of rain caused flash flooding over portions of northeast Iowa. Hardest hit were Rockford and Nora Springs (Floyd County) where an earthen dike washed away and a dam was breached.
Read the full account →A strong upper level disturbance moved north-northeast into Iowa during the afternoon hours. A very unstable airmass was in place over the state with lifted indices near -10 degrees C.
Read the full account →The weather situation once again was set up for a heavy rain event as had been the case during the previous several nights. During the late afternoon a weak low pressure was centred over northeast Nebraska with a stationary front extending through Sioux City through Fort Dodge…
Read the full account →A major wind and significant flash flooding event took shape across Iowa during the afternoon and evening of the 25th. A dynamic upper level system approached Iowa from the northwest during the afternoon.
Read the full account →A major wind and significant flash flooding event took shape across Iowa during the afternoon and evening of the 25th. A dynamic upper level system approached Iowa from the northwest during the afternoon.
Read the full account →A nearly stationary frontal boundary was located to the north of Iowa during the day on the 9th. Very rich air was pumped north into the state with surface dew point temperatures reaching the mid 70s to low 80s by the late afternoon and evening hours.
Read the full account →Supercell thunderstorms developed in the afternoon and evening north of a warm front that ran from Southern Iowa into Central Illinois. Three distinct supercells produced a majority of the wind, hail, and heavy rain reports from Jefferson County Iowa into Henry County Illinois.
Read the full account →Very warm temperatures moved into Iowa during the previous several days. High temperatures warmed into the 50s and 60s across snow covered areas. This caused considerable snow melt, leading to flooding along area rivers.
Read the full account →A cold frontal boundary, which actually is the same boundary as had been over the state for the past several days, began to move southeast across the state during the late afternoon of the 23rd.
Read the full account →A cold frontal boundary, which actually is the same boundary as had been over the state for the past several days, began to move southeast across the state during the late afternoon of the 23rd.
Read the full account →A cold frontal boundary, which actually is the same boundary as had been over the state for the past several days, began to move southeast across the state during the late afternoon of the 23rd.
Read the full account →A cold frontal boundary, which actually is the same boundary as had been over the state for the past several days, began to move southeast across the state during the late afternoon of the 23rd.
Read the full account →A cold frontal boundary, which actually is the same boundary as had been over the state for the past several days, began to move southeast across the state during the late afternoon of the 23rd.
Read the full account →The cold front mentioned in the event above became stationary for several hours during the early morning of the 24th as low pressure moved from the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles on the night of the 23rd, northeast into Iowa by the morning of the 24th.
Read the full account →Several rounds of heavy rain-producing showers and thunderstorms moved across eastern Iowa and west central Illinois from 12:00 am June 22nd until approximately 6:00 am June 23rd. This occurred on already saturated ground from heavy rains on June 21st.
Read the full account →Low pressure developed over Kansas with a strong southerly flow of very moist air streaming into Iowa ahead of it. Surface temperatures warmed into the 80s with dew point readings in the low to mid 70s.
Read the full account →A very unstable airmass was in place over western Iowa and areas to the west. CAPE rose to over 6500 J/kg by late afternoon with the lifted indices falling to -12 to -15 C.
Read the full account →An extremely unstable airmass remained in place over Iowa on the afternoon of the 26th. Low pressure was over southeast South Dakota, with a warm front extending east-southeast into east central Iowa and a cold front extending southwest into northwest Kansas.
Read the full account →A very unstable airmass was in place over Iowa during the late afternoon and evening of the 22nd. Surface temperatures warmed into the upper 80s to low 90s over much of the state with dew point temperatures rising into the mid 70s to low 80s.
Read the full account →An unstable airmass remained in place over Iowa. CAPE values were in the 3000 to 5000 J/kg range with lifted indices in the -5 to -10 C range. A frontal boundary shifted south during the late afternoon and evening.
Read the full account →A very unstable airmass was in place over Iowa. Afternoon temperatures warmed into the upper 80s to mid 90s, with dewpoint readings in the upper 70s to low 80s. A weak boundary extended out of eastern Nebraska across northern Iowa. This boundary helped to focus moisture.
Read the full account →Once again the atmosphere over Iowa became very unstable during the peak heating of the day. CAPE rose to 3500-4500 J/kg by the mid to late afternoon with lifted indices of -8 to -10 C.
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