Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2007

Flash Flood Warning 5, NWS Des Moines, IA

March 14, 2007Emmet County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Mar 14, 2007, 12:12 PM CDT for Emmet County, Iowa. It took effect at Mar 14, 2007, 12:18 PM CDT. It was in force for 6 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 14, 2007, 12:12 PM CDT (17:12 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 14, 2007, 12:18 PM CDT
Expired
Mar 14, 2007, 6:15 PM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

County Emmet County, IA

The radar

The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 167 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:12 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 5.2 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 2007-03-14Temperature 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 2007-03-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -195 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
1154 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
64 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-195 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
107 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 
WGUS53 KDMX 141718
FFWDMX
IAC063-142315-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1212 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTH CENTRAL EMMET COUNTY IN NORTHWEST IOWA...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 1209 PM CDT...LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED     
  FLASH FLOODING ALONG THE WEST FORK OF THE DES MOINES RIVER DUE TO  
  AN ICE JAM JUST SOUTH OF WALLINGFORD.

* LOCATIONS NEAR 420TH AVENUE AND BURR OAK ROAD CAN EXPECT RAPID     
  INUNDATION FROM THIS FLOODING.  OTHER LOCATIONS UPSTREAM FROM THE
  ICE JAM WILL ALSO EXPERIENCE RAPID RISES IN WATER LEVELS.  

IF THE ICE JAM BREAKS...ADDITIONAL FLOODING CAN BE EXPECTED 
DOWNSTREAM FROM THE JAM TO THE COUNTY BORDER NEAR 430TH AVENUE.  

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. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

LAT...LON 4325 9479 4325 9471 4333 9478 4332 9481

$$

COGIL
5 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 141820
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
120 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

IAC063-142315-
EMMET IA-
120 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL EMMET 
COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM CDT...

AT 115 PM CDT...EMMET COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE THAT THE ICE JAM SOUTH OF WALLINGFORD ON THE WEST FORK OF 
THE DES MOINES RIVER REMAINED IN PLACE.  WATER CONTINUED TO RISE 
BEHIND THIS JAM AND HAD INUNDATED 420TH AVENUE SOUTH OF WALLINGFORD. 
IN ADDITION...WATER HAD FILLED THE DITCHES AND WAS APPROACHING THE 
ROAD SURFACE ALONG BURR OAK ROAD.  CONTINUED RAPID RISES ARE 
EXPECTED UPSTREAM OF THE ICE JAM THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.  

IF THE ICE JAM DOES BREAK...LOCATIONS DOWNSTREAM OF THE JAM TO THE 
SOUTHERN EMMET COUNTY BORDER SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR FLASH FLOODING 
WITH RAPID INUNDATION OCCURRING IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.  

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.

LAT...LON 4325 9479 4325 9471 4333 9478 4332 9481

$$

COGIL
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 141916
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
215 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

IAC063-142315-
EMMET IA-
215 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL EMMET 
COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM CDT...

AT 210 PM CDT...EMMET COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED THAT AN 
ICE JAM REMAINED ON THE WEST FORK OF THE DES MOINES RIVER SOUTH OF 
WALLINGFORD.  THIS WAS PRODUCING FLOODING UPSTREAM OF THE JAM WITH 
WATER COVERING 420TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST OF WALLINGFORD.  WATER WAS 
ALSO IN THE DITCHES AROUND BURR OAK ROAD WITH THE WATER APPROACHING 
THE ROAD SURFACE.  ADDITIONAL RAPID RISES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE 
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AS THE ICE JAM OBSTRUCTS THE FLOW IN THE RIVER.

SHOULD THE ICE JAM BREAK...FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE 
DOWNSTREAM OF THE JAM IN SOUTHERN EMMET COUNTY ALONG THE WEST FORK 
OF THE DES MOINES RIVER.  RAPID RISES WITH INUNDATION OCCURRING IN 
LESS THAN AN HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE.

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.

LAT...LON 4325 9479 4325 9471 4333 9478 4332 9481

$$
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 142025
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
317 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

IAC063-142315-
EMMET IA-
317 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL EMMET COUNTY 
UNTIL 615 PM CDT...

AT 315 PM CDT...EMMET COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INDICATED THAT THE 
ICE JAM SOUTH OF WALLINGFORD CONTINUES TO PRODUCE RAPID RISES ON THE 
WEST FORK OF THE DES MOINES RIVER.  420TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST OF 
WALLINGFORD REMAINS UNDER WATER WITH WATER UP TO THE SHOULDER ON 
BURR OAK ROAD.  ADDITIONAL RISES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS 
AFTERNOON AS THE ICE JAM PERSISTS.

SHOULD THE ICE JAM BREAK...VERY QUICK RISES CAN BE EXPECTED 
DOWNSTREAM ON THE WEST FORK OF THE DES MOINES RIVER.  INUNDATION MAY 
OCCUR IN UNDER AN HOUR.  

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.

LAT...LON 4325 9479 4325 9471 4333 9478 4332 9481

$$
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 142118
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
418 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

IAC063-142315-
EMMET IA-
418 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN EMMET COUNTY
UNTIL 615 PM CDT...
AT 315 PM CDT...EMMET COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INDICATED THAT THE 
ICE JAM SOUTH OF WALLINGFORD CONTINUES TO PRODUCE RAPID RISES ON THE 
WEST FORK OF THE DES MOINES RIVER.  420TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST OF 
WALLINGFORD REMAINS UNDER WATER WITH WATER UP TO THE SHOULDER ON 
BURR OAK ROAD.  ADDITIONAL RISES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS 
AFTERNOON AS THE ICE JAM PERSISTS.

SHOULD THE ICE JAM BREAK...VERY QUICK RISES CAN BE EXPECTED 
DOWNSTREAM ON THE WEST FORK OF THE DES MOINES RIVER.  INUNDATION MAY 
OCCUR IN UNDER AN HOUR.  

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.

LAT...LON 4325 9479 4325 9471 4333 9478 4332 9481

$$
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 142216
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
516 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

IAC063-142315-
EMMET IA-
516 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN EMMET COUNTY
UNTIL 615 PM CDT...

AT 515 PM CDT...EMMET COUNTY OFFICIALS INDICATED THAT THE ICE JAM 
SOUTH OF WALLINGFORD CONTINUES TO PRODUCE FLOODING ON THE WEST FORK 
OF THE DES MOINES RIVER...HOWEVER LITTLE RISE HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN 
THE PAST HOUR OR SO.  420TH AVENUE SOUTHEAST OF WALLINGFORD REMAINS 
UNDER WATER WITH WATER UP TO THE SHOULDER ON BURR OAK ROAD.  
ADDITIONAL RISES ARE STILL LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AS THE ICE JAM 
PERSISTS.

SHOULD THE ICE JAM BREAK...VERY QUICK RISES CAN BE EXPECTED 
DOWNSTREAM ON THE WEST FORK OF THE DES MOINES RIVER.  INUNDATION MAY 
OCCUR IN UNDER AN HOUR.  

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.

LAT...LON 4325 9479 4325 9471 4333 9478 4332 9481

$$

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.

NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Mar 14, 10:34 AM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 14, 10:34 AM CDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1026 AM CDT MAR 14 2007

.DISCUSSION...

FORECAST UPDATE TO ADJUST TEMPERATURES DOWNWARD ACROSS ALL OF CWA
BUT MOST SIGNIFICANTLY ACROSS THE SOUTH WHERE TEMPERATURES ARE
FALLING DUE TO STRONG 925-850 HPA LAYER COLD ADVECTION. MADE SOME
ADJUSTMENTS FOR CLOUD COVER AS WELL THIS MORNING AND NO OTHER
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO CURRENT FORECAST.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

RUSSELL
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 14, 4:44 AM CDT, 7 hours 28 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
444 AM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>073-
081>084-092>095-151100-
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-
WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-
BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-
POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-
TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-
444 AM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

MANY RIVERS...STREAMS AND TRIBUTARIES ARE AT OR NEAR BANK FULL DUE
TO SNOW MELT RUN OFF. A FEW LOCATIONS HAVE OVERFLOWED THERE
BANKS...FLOODING ADJACENT LOW LANDS. ICE JAMS MAY OCCUR ALONG THE
SOUTH SKUNK...IOWA...RACCOON...DES MOINES AND CEDAR RIVERS PERIODICALLY
WHICH COULD EXACERBATE THE FLOOD THREAT AT ANY GIVEN POINT.

VARIOUS FLOOD WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.
PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

MINOR SNOW MELT FLOODING ALONG AREA RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES WILL
CONTINUE. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED BUT REPORTS OF RIVER AND
STREAM FLOODING ARE APPRECIATED.

IAZ074-075-085-086-096-097-151100-
MARION-MAHASKA-MONROE-WAPELLO-APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
444 AM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

MANY RIVERS...STREAMS AND TRIBUTARIES ARE AT OR NEAR BANK FULL DUE
TO SNOW MELT RUN OFF. A FEW LOCATIONS HAVE OVERFLOWED THERE
BANKS...FLOODING ADJACENT LOW LANDS. ICE JAMS MAY OCCUR ALONG THE
SOUTH SKUNK...IOWA...RACCOON...DES MOINES AND CEDAR RIVERS PERIODICALLY
WHICH COULD EXACERBATE THE FLOOD THREAT AT ANY GIVEN POINT.

VARIOUS FLOOD WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.
PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY EVENING.
THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE...BUT COULD PRODUCE
SMALL HAIL. MINOR SNOW MELT FLOODING ALONG AREA RIVERS AND
TRIBUTARIES WILL CONTINUE.

PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED BUT REPORTS OF RIVER AND
STREAM FLOODING ARE APPRECIATED.

FORSTER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 14, 9:53 AM CDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
953 AM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0950 AM     FLOOD            ESTHERVILLE             43.40N 94.83W
03/14/2007                   EMMET              IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            RIVER AND STREAM FLOODING DUE TO SNOW MELT AND ICE JAMS
            HAS CLOSED MANY ROADS ACROSS COUNTY

&&

BMOYER
Local storm report, Mar 14, 11:20 AM CDT, 52 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1120 AM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 AM     FLASH FLOOD      4 N FORT DODGE          42.57N 94.18W
03/14/2007                   WEBSTER            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ICE JAM FLASH FLOODING CAUSED RAPID RISE ON THE DES
            MOINES RIVER. DAMAGED 20 TO 30 HOMES AND SEVERAL
            VEHICLES.

1000 AM     FLASH FLOOD      FORT DODGE              42.51N 94.18W
03/14/2007                   WEBSTER            IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            LIZARD CREEK FLASH FLOOD DUE TO ICE JAM. CAR WAS SWEEPED
            OFF OF LOW WATER CROSSING. DRIVER WAS RESCUED.

&&

JJOHNSON
Local storm report, Mar 14, 12:06 PM CDT, 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1206 PM CDT WED MAR 14 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1204 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 E ESTHERVILLE         43.40N 94.73W
03/14/2007                   EMMET              IA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ICE JAM FLOODING IN PROGRESS ALONG DES MOINES RIVER SOUTH
            OF ESTHERVILLE. WATER REPORTED OVER 420TH STREET.

&&

JJOHNSON

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 14, 11:29 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchDMXBoone, Dallas, Emmet, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto and 3 more28 hr
Mar 14, 11:39 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXDallas6 hr
Mar 14, 6:11 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXEmmet6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2007Every flash flood warning in 2007

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.