4,632 first-hand accounts of flood events in Iowa, ranked by impact. Each is a NOAA-written narrative of the moment.
A strong warm front was positioned southwest of Iowa during the early morning of the the 24th. A 40 to 50 kt low level jet transported a considerable amount of moisture northeast across the frontal boundary.
Read the full account →A strong warm front was positioned southwest of Iowa during the early morning of the the 24th. A 40 to 50 kt low level jet transported a considerable amount of moisture northeast across the frontal boundary.
Read the full account →A cold front moved through Iowa during the afternoon of the 11th into the morning of the 12th. The front stalled over southeast Iowa in response to a strong upper level ridge of high pressure building in the central and southeast U.S.
Read the full account →An unseasonably strong storm system aloft was located over the northern Rockies. This produced a very strong northward push of moisture into Iowa.
Read the full account →A cold front pushed through Iowa and Illinois during the afternoon and evening of June 19, bringing severe thunderstorms and flooding to much of the area.
Read the full account →A warm front lifted northeast through Iowa during the evening hours of June 21 and the early morning hours of June 22 triggering some heavy rain-producing showers and thunderstorms across much of Iowa. Some of the storms were severe producing winds over 58 mph and large hail.
Read the full account →A warm front lifted northeast through Iowa during the evening hours of June 21 and the early morning hours of June 22 triggering some heavy rain-producing showers and thunderstorms across much of Iowa. Some of the storms were severe producing winds over 58 mph and large hail.
Read the full account →A warm front lifted northeast through Iowa during the evening hours of June 21 and the early morning hours of June 22 triggering some heavy rain-producing showers and thunderstorms across much of Iowa. Some of the storms were severe producing winds over 58 mph and large hail.
Read the full account →A warm front lifted northeast through Iowa during the evening hours of June 21 and the early morning hours of June 22 triggering some heavy rain-producing showers and thunderstorms across much of Iowa. Some of the storms were severe producing winds over 58 mph and large hail.
Read the full account →Warm weather and melting snow continued to cause problems with rivers over north central Iowa through the 12th and 13th. Ice jamming occurred along the Winnebago near Mason City and the Des Moines River north of Fort Dodge.
Read the full account →A nearly stationary front was located across southeast Iowa. A strong upper level low pressure system lifted northeast across the central U.S. An area of thunderstorms developed along the front and trained northeast across southeast Iowa.
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 →A nearly stationary front was located across southeast Iowa. A strong upper level low pressure system lifted northeast across the central U.S. An area of thunderstorms developed along the front and trained northeast across southeast Iowa.
Read the full account →A nearly stationary front was located across southeast Iowa. A strong upper level low pressure system lifted northeast across the central U.S. An area of thunderstorms developed along the front and trained northeast across southeast Iowa.
Read the full account →A weak cold front moved southeast across Iowa early on the 4th and had become stationary east-west to the south of the state. The thermal gradient increased during the day and moisture pooled along the front by evening.
Read the full account →A very humid and unstable airmass was in place over Iowa during the evening of the 11th into the morning of the 12th. A strong push if moisture pushed precipitable water values to over 2 inches over southern Iowa by evening.
Read the full account →A nearly stationary front was located across southeast Iowa. A strong upper level low pressure system lifted northeast across the central U.S. An area of thunderstorms developed along the front and trained northeast across southeast Iowa.
Read the full account →A weak cold front moved southeast across Iowa early on the 4th and had become stationary east-west to the south of the state. The thermal gradient increased during the day and moisture pooled along the front by evening.
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 →A nearly stationary front was located across southeast Iowa. A strong upper level low pressure system lifted northeast across the central U.S. An area of thunderstorms developed along the front and trained northeast across southeast Iowa.
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.
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.
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 →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.
Read the full account →