Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2004

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Quad Cities, IA

May 22, 20046 counties in Iowa

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this flash flood warning at May 22, 2004, 10:15 PM CDT for 6 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 10 hr. 10 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 22, 2004, 10:15 PM CDT (03:15 UTC)
Expired
May 23, 2004, 8:00 AM CDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Benton County, IA, Buchanan County, IA, Delaware County, IA, Dubuque County, IA, Jones County, IA, Linn County, IA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 23, 1:55 AM CDTFLASH FLOODCedar Rapids, IA4 TO 5 INCHES OF WATER IN THE STREETS.
May 23, 2:15 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 S Independence, IAROADS FLOODED AND WASHED OUT.
May 23, 2:30 AM CDTFLASH FLOODEdgewood, IAROADS DAMAGED FROM FLOOD WATERS.
May 23, 2:46 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 2.37Edgewood, IA2.37 INCHES OF RAIN IN 45 MINUTES.
May 23, 3:15 AM CDTFLASH FLOODW Edgewood, IAWATER OVER HIGHWAY 3
May 23, 4:00 AM CDTFLASH FLOODIndependence, IAEVACUATION OF RESIDENTS ALONG MALONE CREEK IN INDEPENDENCE IS UNDERWAY
May 23, 5:25 AM CDTFLASH FLOODManchester, IAWIDE SPREAD REPORTS OF ROADS WASHED OUT IN WESTERN PARTS OF THE COUNTY.
May 23, 5:25 AM CDTFLASH FLOODMasonville, IAHOUSES SURROUNDED BY HIGH WATER...PEOPLE TRAPPED ON UPPER FLOOR.
May 23, 7:01 AM CDTFLASH FLOODBackbone State Park, IAEVACUATING CAMPERS FROM PARK.
May 23, 7:01 AM CDTFLASH FLOODManchester, IASANDBAGGING HAS BEGUN.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Lincoln, IL (KILX), launched 00:00Z, 3.3 hours before the alert went out and 334 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, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2004-05-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1518 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Lincoln, IL at 00:00Z on 2004-05-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 46 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
1518 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-63 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1522 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
46 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
144 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
4.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS53 KDVN 230315
FFWDVN
IAC011-019-055-061-105-113-231200-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1015 PM CDT SAT MAY 22 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE QUAD CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  DUBUQUE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA
  DELAWARE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA
  BUCHANAN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA
  JONES COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA
  BENTON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA
  LINN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA

* UNTIL 800 AM CDT

* AT 1015 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM VINTON TO NORTH OF CEDAR RAPIDS TO DUBUQUE. 
RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT...AS THUNDERSTORMS MOVE 
ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA...ALONG A SLOWLY MOVING WARM FRONT.  AN ADDITIONAL
1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
INDEPENDENCE...MANCHESTER...DUBUQUE...VINTON...CEDAR RAPIDS...AND
JONES COUNTIES.

FLOOD WARNINGS ARE ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WAPSIPINICON...MAQUOKETA 
...AND CEDAR RIVERS.

MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION TONIGHT.  DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH 
WATER THAT IS COVERING ROADWAYS.  PEOPLE LIVING ON STREAMS SHOULD 
REMAIN ALERT FOR RISING WATER.

LAT...LON 4263 9204 4228 9205 4228 9231 4189 9227
          4191 9144 4196 9143 4198 9095 4231 9094
          4234 9071 4242 9073 4241 9060 4268 9079

$$

REA
5 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS73 KDVN 230634
FFSDVN
IAC011-019-055-061-105-113-231300-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
125 AM CDT SUN MAY 23 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 8 AM CDT FOR DUBUQUE
COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...DELAWARE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...
BUCHANAN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...JONES COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL
IOWA...BENTON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA AND LINN COUNTY IN EAST
CENTRAL IOWA...

AT 120 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED STRONG 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL MOVING FROM WEST TO EAST 
ACROSS THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING COUNTIES OF BUCHANAN...DELAWARE...AND 
BENTON. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN 
IN AN HOUR. OTHER STRONG STORMS PUSHING OUT OF CENTRAL IOWA WILL 
ALSO AFFECT THE WARNED AREA THROUGH 5 AM WITH OCCASIONAL BOUTS OF 
HEAVY RAIN...AGGRAVATING ANY ONGOING FLOODING SITUATIONS OR CREATING 
NEW ONES.

NUMEROUS CREEKS AND SMALL STREAMS WERE REPORTED OUT OF THEIR BANKS 
IN THE WARNED COUNTIES...AS WELL AS NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SUBSTANTIAL 
WATER STANDING OVER ROADS AND IN DRAINAGE DITCHES.

AT 1030 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED SEVERAL ROADS IN THE 
DUBUQUE AREA WERE WASHED OUT.

AT 1240 AM CDT...A TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED 3.75 INCHES OF RAIN FROM 
1045 PM TO 130 AM IN STANLEY IN NORTHERN BUCHANAN COUNTY.

PEOPLE WITH INTERESTS ALONG BUFFALO...BUCK...OTTER...NORTH FORK 
MAQUOKETA...PLEASANT...AND SILVER CREEKS WILL WANT TO MONITOR FOR 
RAPIDLY RISING WATER. ALSO FLOODING WILL BE OCCURRING ALONG THE 
UPPER REACHES OF THE WAPSIPINICON RIVER IN BUCHANAN AND LINN 
COUNTIES.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLASH FLOODING SITUATION. THE GROUND HAS 
ALREADY BEEN SATURATED BY RECENT RAINFALL. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN HAS 
RESULTED IN EXCESSIVE RUNOFF WITH FLASH FLOODING IN THE WARNED AREA.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS 
OBSERVED...QUICKLY MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO WATER COVERED ROADWAYS. THE WATER MAY
BE TOO DEEP TO CROSS SAFELY OR THE ROAD COULD BE WASHED OUT. VEHICLES
CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.

$$

12
000 
WGUS73 KDVN 230637
FFSDVN
IAC011-019-055-061-105-113-231300-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
130 AM CDT SUN MAY 23 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 8 AM CDT FOR DUBUQUE
COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...DELAWARE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...
BUCHANAN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...JONES COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL
IOWA...BENTON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA AND LINN COUNTY IN EAST
CENTRAL IOWA...

AT 120 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED STRONG 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL MOVING FROM WEST TO EAST 
ACROSS THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING COUNTIES OF BUCHANAN...DELAWARE...AND 
BENTON. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN 
IN AN HOUR. OTHER STRONG STORMS PUSHING OUT OF CENTRAL IOWA WILL 
ALSO AFFECT THE WARNED AREA THROUGH 5 AM WITH OCCASIONAL BOUTS OF 
HEAVY RAIN...AGGRAVATING ANY ONGOING FLOODING SITUATIONS OR CREATING 
NEW ONES.

NUMEROUS CREEKS AND SMALL STREAMS WERE REPORTED OUT OF THEIR BANKS 
IN THE WARNED COUNTIES...AS WELL AS NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SUBSTANTIAL 
WATER STANDING OVER ROADS AND IN DRAINAGE DITCHES.

AT 1030 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED SEVERAL ROADS IN THE 
DUBUQUE AREA WERE WASHED OUT.

AT 130 AM CDT...A TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED 3.75 INCHES OF RAIN FROM 
1045 PM TO 130 AM IN STANLEY IN NORTHERN BUCHANAN COUNTY.

PEOPLE WITH INTERESTS ALONG BUFFALO...BUCK...OTTER...NORTH FORK 
MAQUOKETA...PLEASANT...AND SILVER CREEKS WILL WANT TO MONITOR FOR 
RAPIDLY RISING WATER. ALSO FLOODING WILL BE OCCURRING ALONG THE 
UPPER REACHES OF THE WAPSIPINICON RIVER IN BUCHANAN AND LINN 
COUNTIES.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLASH FLOODING SITUATION. THE GROUND HAS 
ALREADY BEEN SATURATED BY RECENT RAINFALL. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN HAS 
RESULTED IN EXCESSIVE RUNOFF WITH FLASH FLOODING IN THE WARNED AREA.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS 
OBSERVED...QUICKLY MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO WATER COVERED ROADWAYS. THE WATER MAY
BE TOO DEEP TO CROSS SAFELY OR THE ROAD COULD BE WASHED OUT. VEHICLES
CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.

$$

12
000 
WGUS73 KDVN 230759
FFSDVN
IAC011-019-055-061-105-113-231300-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
258 AM CDT SUN MAY 23 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 8 AM CDT FOR DUBUQUE
COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...DELAWARE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...
BUCHANAN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...JONES COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL
IOWA...BENTON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA AND LINN COUNTY IN EAST
CENTRAL IOWA...

AT 250 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED STRONG 
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST 
ACROSS JONES AND DUBUQUE COUNTIES. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF 
PRODUCING UP TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR. WIDESPREAD BUT LIGHTER 
RAIN WILL FOLLOW THESE STRONG STORMS ACROSS THE WARNING AREA THROUGH 
7 AM. THIS STRATIFORM RAIN WILL STILL BE ENOUGH TO AGGRAVATE ANY 
ONGOING FLOODING PROBLEMS...ESPECIALLY ALONG CREEKS AND RIVERS. 

NUMEROUS CREEKS AND SMALL STREAMS WERE REPORTED OUT OF THEIR BANKS 
IN THE WARNED COUNTIES...AS WELL AS NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SUBSTANTIAL 
WATER STANDING OVER ROADS AND IN DRAINAGE DITCHES.

AT 155 AM CDT...A SPOTTER REPORTED 4 TO 5 INCHES OF STANDING WATER 
ON MANY STREETS IN CEDAR RAPIDS. LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS DISCOURAGING 
ANY TRAVEL OVERNIGHT IN LINN COUNTY DUE TO FLOODED ROADS.

AT 215 AM CDT...COUNTY OFFICIALS REPORTED FLOODED ROADS SOUTH OF 
INDEPENDENCE. 

AT 230 AM CDT...A TRAINED SPOTTER IN EDGEWOOD IN FAR NORTHERN 
DELAWARE COUNTY...REPORTED 2.37 INCHES OF RAIN IN A HALF HOUR FROM 2 
TO 230 AM. ROADS DAMAGED FROM THE FLOODING WAS ALSO REPORTED IN 
EDGEWOOD.

PEOPLE WITH INTERESTS ALONG BUFFALO...BUCK...OTTER...NORTH FORK 
MAQUOKETA...PLEASANT...AND SILVER CREEKS WILL WANT TO MONITOR FOR 
RAPIDLY RISING WATER. ALSO FLOODING WILL BE OCCURRING ALONG THE 
UPPER REACHES OF THE WAPSIPINICON RIVER IN BUCHANAN AND LINN 
COUNTIES.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLASH FLOODING SITUATION. THE GROUND HAS 
ALREADY BEEN SATURATED BY RECENT RAINFALL. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN HAS 
RESULTED IN EXCESSIVE RUNOFF WITH FLASH FLOODING IN THE WARNED AREA.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS 
OBSERVED...QUICKLY MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO WATER COVERED ROADWAYS. THE WATER MAY
BE TOO DEEP TO CROSS SAFELY OR THE ROAD COULD BE WASHED OUT. VEHICLES
CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.

$$

12
000 
WGUS73 KDVN 231003
FFSDVN
IAC011-019-055-061-105-113-ILC085-231300-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
5 AM CDT SUN MAY 23 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 8 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL IOWA...DUBUQUE...DELAWARE... 
BUCHANAN...JONES...BENTON AND LINN...

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 730 AM FOR JO DAVIESS 
COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ILLINOIS...

AT 5 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
WIDESPREAD MODERATE RAIN ACROSS EASTERN IOWA AND NORTHWEST 
ILLINOIS...WITH A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY 
RAINFALL IN JO DAVIESS AND STEPHENSON COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST ILLINOIS.

NUMEROUS CREEKS AND SMALL STREAMS WERE REPORTED OUT OF THEIR BANKS 
IN THE WARNED COUNTIES...AS WELL AS NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SUBSTANTIAL 
WATER STANDING OVER ROADS AND IN DRAINAGE DITCHES.

AT 4 AM CDT...THE BUCHANAN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED THE 
RESIDENTS ALONG MALONE CREEK IN THE TOWN OF INDEPENDENCE WERE BEING 
EVACUATED DUE TO RISING WATERS.  BRIDGES WERE REPORTED OUT IN PARTS 
OF THE COUNTY.  THE TOWN OF LAMONT HAS BEEN EVACUATED DUE TO RISING 
WATER ON THE SOUTH FORK OF THE MAQUOKETA RIVER.

AT 450 AM CDT...STREET FLOODING WAS REPORTED IN GALENA IN JO DAVIESS 
COUNTY. 

IF YOU HAVE INTERESTS ALONG BUFFALO...BUCK...OTTER...PLEASANT...AND 
SILVER CREEKS...AND THE NORTH AND SOUTH FORKS OF THE MAQUOKETA 
RIVER...BE PREPARED FOR RAPIDLY RISING WATER.  FLOODING WILL BE 
OCCURRING ALONG THE UPPER REACHES OF THE WAPSIPINICON RIVER IN 
BUCHANAN AND LINN COUNTIES.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FLASH FLOODING SITUATION. THE GROUND HAS 
ALREADY BEEN SATURATED BY RECENT RAINFALL. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN HAS 
RESULTED IN EXCESSIVE RUNOFF WITH FLASH FLOODING IN THE WARNED AREA.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO WATER COVERED ROADWAYS. THE WATER MAY 
BE TOO DEEP TO CROSS SAFELY OR THE ROAD COULD BE WASHED OUT. VEHICLES
CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.

$$

WOLF
000 
WGUS73 KDVN 231225
FFSDVN
IAC011-019-055-061-105-113-231300-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
725 AM CDT SUN MAY 23 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING EXPIRES AT 8 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL IOWA...DUBUQUE...JONES...AND 
LINN...

...A FLOOD WARNING WILL BE EXTENDED FOR BENTON...BUCHANAN AND 
DELAWARE COUNTIES...

THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 AM FOR DUBUQUE...JONES AND 
LINN COUNTIES...BUT WILL BE EXTENDED FOR BENTON...BUCHANAN AND 
DELAWARE COUNTIES.

RAIN HAS ENDED ACROSS THE AREA AND FLOOD WATERS ARE SUBSIDING IN 
DUBUQUE...JONES AND LINN COUNTIES.  NO WATER RELATED PROBLEMS ARE 
EXPECTED IN THESE AREAS FOR THE REST OF THE MORNING...HOWEVER... 
THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND COULD CAUSE MORE 
WATER-RELATED PROBLEMS IN ADDITION TO SEVERE WEATHER.  STAY TUNED TO 
THE MEDIA OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION 
TODAY.

FLOOD WATERS HAVE NOT YET SUBSIDED IN BENTON...BUCHANAN AND DELAWARE 
COUNTIES.  THUS A FLOOD WARNING WILL BE EXTENED FOR THESE AREAS IN 
EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON.

$$

WOLF

The office that day

Everything else NWS Quad Cities, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 10:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBenton39 min
May 22, 10:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDubuque43 min
May 22, 10:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNJackson50 min
May 22, 11:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBenton39 min
May 23, 1:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNBenton, Iowa59 min
May 23, 1:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNJohnson, Linn51 min
May 23, 2:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDelaware, Jones52 min
May 23, 3:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNLee59 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2004Every flash flood warning in 2004

Sources

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