Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 35, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 29, 1993Emmet County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 29, 1993, 5:05 PM CDT for Emmet County, Iowa. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 29, 1993, 5:05 PM CDT (22:05 UTC)
Expired
Jun 29, 1993, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Emmet County, IA

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 185 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 1993-06-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 1993-06-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 109 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
938 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
109 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
211 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KDSM 292205
FFWDSM
IAC063-300100-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
505 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  800 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION(S)...
 
IN NORTHWEST IOWA
 
   ...EMMET COUNTY
 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WERE MOVING ACROSS EMMET
COUNTY...OR ABOUT 20 TO 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPENCER.
 
THE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING 2 TO 4 INCH RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN AHOUR.  THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS...COMBINED WITH ALREADY SATURATED GROUND
CONDITIONS...WILL CAUSE QUICK RUNOFF AND FLASH FLOODING OF STREAMS AND
CREEKS.
 
 
DO NOT D,RIVE 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 GROUND.

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 29, 4:26 PM CDT, 39 minutes before
IAZ014-003-292230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
426 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS CONTINUE IN PARTS OF NORTHERN IOWA...

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUES IN THE IOWA LAKES AREA THIS AFTERNOON.
THREE INCHES OF RAIN WAS REPORTED AT OCHEYEDEN IN 45 MINUTES...AND
NEARLY THAT MUCH (2.8 INCHES) WAS LOGGED JUST TO THE WEST AT ALLENDORF.
AT SPIRIT LAKE...RAIN WAS FALLING AT THE RATE OF ONE-TENTH OF AN INCH
PER MINUTE...WITH 1.3 INCHES RECORDED BETWEEN 400 AND 415 PM.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR DICKINSON COUNTY UNTIL 715
PM...AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST CORNER
OF THE STATE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.  WITH RAINFALL OF THE INTENSITY FALLING
ALONG HIGHWAY 9 IN OSCEOLA AND DICKINSON COUNTIES...ANYONE DRIVING IN
THE IOWA LAKES AREA SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL THIS EVENING.  FLASH
FLOOD WATERS RISE VERY QUICKLY AND CAN EASILY SEND EVEN LARGE VEHICLES
FLOATING OUT OF CONTROL.

&
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 4:27 PM CDT, 38 minutes before
IAZ014-003-292230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
426 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS CONTINUE IN PARTS OF NORTHERN IOWA...

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUES IN THE IOWA LAKES AREA THIS AFTERNOON.
THREE INCHES OF RAIN WAS REPORTED AT OCHEYEDEN IN 45 MINUTES...AND
NEARLY THAT MUCH (2.8 INCHES) WAS LOGGED JUST TO THE WEST AT ALLENDORF.
AT SPIRIT LAKE...RAIN WAS FALLING AT THE RATE OF ONE-TENTH OF AN INCH
PER MINUTE...WITH 1.3 INCHES RECORDED BETWEEN 400 AND 415 PM.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR DICKINSON COUNTY UNTIL 715
PM...AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST CORNER
OF THE STATE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.  WITH RAINFALL OF THE INTENSITY FALLING
ALONG HIGHWAY 9 IN OSCEOLA AND DICKINSON COUNTIES...ANYONE DRIVING IN
THE IOWA LAKES AREA SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL THIS EVENING.  FLASH
FLOOD WATERS RISE VERY QUICKLY AND CAN EASILY SEND EVEN LARGE VEHICLES
FLOATING OUT OF CONTROL.

&
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 4:47 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
IAZALL-292240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
447 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL 8 PM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL MIDNIGHT...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A SMALL PART OF EXTREME
   NORTHEAST IOWA TONIGHT...

AT 430 PM CDT...ISOLATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER
NORTHWEST IOWA.  THE STORMS WERE LOCATED 20 MILES NORTH OF SPENCER NEAR
SPIRIT LAKE...AND 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF FORT DODGE NEAR WEST BEND.
THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL.

THE STORMS WERE PART OF AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND STORMS OCCURRING WEST OF
A LINE FROM 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY AT THE IOWA/MINNESOTA
BORDER...TO 40 MILES EAST OF FORT DODGE NEAR IOWA FALLS...TO 15 MILES
WEST OF DES MOINES NEAR ADEL.
/
OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING FROM 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DES
MOINES NEAR WINTERSET...TO 60 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DES MOINES NEAR
CORYDON.

THE STORMS AND SHOWERS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.

JAK/BRF
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 4:47 PM CDT, 18 minutes before
IAZALL-292240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
447 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL 8 PM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST IOWA UNTIL MIDNIGHT...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A SMALL PART OF EXTREME
   NORTHEAST IOWA TONIGHT...

AT 430 PM CDT...ISOLATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER
NORTHWEST IOWA.  THE STORMS WERE LOCATED 20 MILES NORTH OF SPENCER NEAR
SPIRIT LAKE...AND 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF FORT DODGE NEAR WEST BEND.
THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING AND POSSIBLY SOME HAIL.

THE STORMS WERE PART OF AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND STORMS OCCURRING WEST OF
A LINE FROM 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF MASON CITY AT THE IOWA/MINNESOTA
BORDER...TO 40 MILES EAST OF FORT DODGE NEAR IOWA FALLS...TO 15 MILES
WEST OF DES MOINES NEAR ADEL.
/
OTHER SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING FROM 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DES
MOINES NEAR WINTERSET...TO 60 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DES MOINES NEAR
CORYDON.

THE STORMS AND SHOWERS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.

JAK/BRF
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 5:00 PM CDT, 5 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-292300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
505 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING ACROSS THE I35 CORRIDOR...

AT 500 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS SOME PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN
...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WERE MOVING OVER
NORTH CENTRAL IOWA.  THIS CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED
ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTH OF MASON CITY...JUST WEST OF SHEFFIELD AND
SOUTH OF THORNTON.  THE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES
AN HOUR AND WILL AFFECT SHEFFIELD...HAMPTON...THORNTON...AND
THE MASON CITY AREA BY 515PM TO 600 PM CDT.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING MONITORED CLOSELY BY THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE AND UPD2ATES ON THESE STORMS WILL BE ISSUED AS
THEY MOVE THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST IOWA. PEOPLE
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE
QUICK ACTION IF THE STORMS BECOME INTENSE.
Special weather statement, Jun 29, 5:05 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
IAZ006>011-016>019-026>029-038>040-292300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATERLOO IA
505 PM CDT TUE JUN 29 1993

...THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING ACROSS THE I35 CORRIDOR...

AT 500 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS SOME PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN
...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING WERE MOVING OVER
NORTH CENTRAL IOWA.  THIS CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED
ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTH OF MASON CITY...JUST WEST OF SHEFFIELD AND
SOUTH OF THORNTON.  THE STORMS ARE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES
AN HOUR AND WILL AFFECT SHEFFIELD...HAMPTON...THORNTON...AND
THE MASON CITY AREA BY 515PM TO 600 PM CDT.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEING MONITORED CLOSELY BY THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE AND UPDATES ON THESE STORMS WILL BE ISSUED AS
THEY MOVE THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL INTO NORTHEAST IOWA. PEOPLE
SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THESE THUNDERSTORMS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE
QUICK ACTION IF THE STORMS BECOME INTENSE.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 29, 3:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClay, Dickinson28 min
Jun 29, 4:11 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXDickinson3 hr
Jun 29, 4:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDickinson30 min
Jun 29, 5:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXEmmet39 min
Jun 29, 5:43 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXKossuth, Palo Alto62 min
Jun 29, 5:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXKossuth, Palo Alto62 min
Jun 29, 5:46 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXClay, Dickinson59 min
Jun 29, 5:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClay, Dickinson59 min
Jun 29, 5:58 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXKossuth32 min
Jun 29, 6:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPalo Alto26 min
Jun 29, 6:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXHancock50 min
Jun 29, 6:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPocahontas30 min
Jun 29, 6:42 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXKossuth3 hr
Jun 29, 6:55 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXBuena Vista2 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.