Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 19, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 12, 1993Buena Vista County, Clay County, Sac County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 12, 1993, 5:34 PM CDT for Buena Vista County, Clay County, Sac County, Iowa. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 12, 1993, 5:34 PM CDT (22:34 UTC)
Expired
Jun 12, 1993, 8:30 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Buena Vista County, IA, Clay County, IA, Sac County, IA

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 187 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 1993-06-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 116 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Omaha, NE at 12:00Z on 1993-06-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 35 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
116 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-90 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
949 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
67 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KDSM 122236
FFWDSM
IAC021-161-041-130130-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
534 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  830 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTHWEST IOWA
 
   ...BUENA-VISTA AND CLAY COUNTIES
 
IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA
 
   ...SAC COUNTY
 
AT 527 PM...DES MOINES RADAR CONTINUES TO SHOW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
MOVING ACROSS BUENA VISTA AND SAC COUNTIES. RAINFALL REPORTS RECEIVED
DURING THE PAST HOUR RANGE FROM 3 TO 6 INCHES ACROSS PARTS OF BUENA
VISTA COUNTY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE CONTINUING TO DEVELOP OVER
SOUTHERN SAC INTO SOUTHERN BUENA VISTA COUNTIES. THESE THUNDERSTORMS
WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE OVER AREAS
THAT HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED EXCESSIVE RAINS DURING THE PAST HOUR.
 
SOME OF THE TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE
STORM LAKE...SAC CITY...SPENCER.
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER G<ROUND.
 
 
SMITH

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 12, 4:39 PM CDT, 55 minutes before
IAZALL-122240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
440 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 1993

AT 427 PM CDT...A SMALL CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER
NORTHWEST IOWA...50 MILES NORTHEAST OF SIOUX CITY BETWEEN CHEROKEE AND
STORM LAKE.  THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...WIND GUSTS UP
TO 50 MILES AN HOUR AND PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL.

THESE STRONG STORMS WERE PART OF A LARGER AREA OF SHOWERS AND STORMS
OVER THE NORTHWEST THIRD OF IOWA.  THE RAIN WAS NORTHWEST OF A LINE THAT
EXTENDED FROM JUST NORTH OF COUNCIL BLUFFS TO THE MINNESOTA BORDER...50
MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY.

THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

FILLBACH
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 4:40 PM CDT, 54 minutes before
IAZALL-122240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
440 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 1993

AT 427 PM CDT...A SMALL CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER
NORTHWEST IOWA...50 MILES NORTHEAST OF SIOUX CITY BETWEEN CHEROKEE AND
STORM LAKE.  THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...WIND GUSTS UP
TO 50 MILES AN HOUR AND PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL.

THESE STRONG STORMS WERE PART OF A LARGER AREA OF SHOWERS AND STORMS
OVER THE NORTHWEST THIRD OF IOWA.  THE RAIN WAS NORTHWEST OF A LINE THAT
EXTENDED FROM JUST NORTH OF COUNCIL BLUFFS TO THE MINNESOTA BORDER...50
MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY.

THE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

FILLBACH
Local storm report, Jun 12, 5:18 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT...PRELIMINARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
518 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 1993

TIME               EVENT                   LOCATION -CITY AND COUNTY

...EVENT OCCURRED ON JUN 12 1993...

430 PM CDT        GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL       30 SW 3SE OR 8 SW REMBRANDT
                                           IN N BUENA VISTA COUNTY

...FOLLOWED BY TORRENTIAL RAIN...

BURKE
Local storm report, Jun 12, 5:18 PM CDT, 16 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT...PRELIMINARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
518 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 1993

TIME               EVENT                   LOCATION -CITY AND COUNTY

...EVENT OCCURRED ON JUN 12 199"3...

430 PM CDT        GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL       30 SW 3SE OR 8 SW REMBRANDT
                                           IN N BUENA VISTA COUNTY

...FOLLOWED BY TORRENTIAL RAIN...

BURKE
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 5:24 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
IAC021-041-122330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
524 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 1993

...TORRENTIAL RAINFALL CONTINUES ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHWEST IOWA LATE
THIS AFTERNOON...

AT 522 PM CDT...DES MOINES RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
OVER NORTHWEST IOWA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE CONTINUING OVER BUENA VIS
AND CLAY COUNTIES. UNOFFICIAL RAINFALL REPORTS RECEIVED AS OF 5PM
INCLUDE:

5 INCHES OF RAIN IN ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF 7 MILES NORTH OF ALTA IN
WESTERN BUENA VISTA COUNTY.

2.6 INCHES RECORDED AT PETERSON...IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST CLAY COUNTY.

2.34 INCHES IN A 45 MINUTE PERIOD 5 MILES WEST OF THE TOWN OF REMBRANDT
IN NORTH CENTRAL BUENA VISTA COUNTY.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS BUENA VISTA AND CLAY COUNTIES
DURING THE NEXT HOUR WITH ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE. IF YOU
LIVE NEAR A FLOOD PRONE AREA...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO SAFETY IF FLOODING
IS OBSERVED IN YOUR AREA.

SMITH
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 5:25 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
IAC021-041-122330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
524 PM CDT SAT JUN 12 1993

...TORRENTIAL RAINFALL CONTINUES ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHWEST IOWA LATE
THIS AFTERNOON...

AT 522 PM CDT...DES MOINES RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
OVER NORTHWEST IOWA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE CONTINUING OVER BUENA VIS
AND CLAY COUNTIES. UNOFFICIAL RAINFALL REPORTS RECEIVED AS OF 5PM
INCLUDE:

5 INCHES OF RAIN IN ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF 7 MILES NORTH OF ALTA IN
WESTERN BUENA VISTA COUNTY.

2.6 INCHES RECORDED AT PETERSON...IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST CLAY COUNTY.

2.34 INCHES IN A 45 MINUTE PERIOD 5 MILES WEST OF THE TOWN OF REMBRANDT
IN NORTH CENTRAL BUENA VISTA COUNTY.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS BUENA VISTA AND CLAY COUNTIES
DURING THE NEXT HOUR WITH ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE. IF YOU
LIVE NEAR A FLOOD PRONE AREA...BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO SAFETY IF FLOODING
IS OBSERVED IN YOUR .AREA.

SMITH

The office that day

Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 12, 4:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBuena Vista45 min
Jun 12, 5:47 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXEmmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 1993Every flash flood warning in 1993

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.