Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2007

Flash Flood Warning 83, NWS Des Moines, IA

August 23, 2007Ringgold County, Union County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 23, 2007, 7:49 PM CDT for Ringgold County, Union County, Iowa. It was in force for 6 hr. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 23, 2007, 7:49 PM CDT (00:49 UTC)
Expired
Aug 24, 2007, 1:45 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Ringgold County, IA, Union County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:50 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 23, 9:00 PM CDTFLASH FLOODCreston, IAWATER OVER SEVERAL COUNTY ROADS. WATER HAS RECEDED BUT MOST CREEKS REMAIN OUT OF THEIR BANKS. TIME ESTIMATED.
Aug 24, 12:30 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 S Creston, IASOUTH CHERRY STREET CLOSED DUE TO FLASH FLOODING.
Aug 24, 1:00 AM CDTFLASH FLOODThayer, IATHROUGHOUT EAST AND SOUTHEAST PORTIONS OF UNION COUNTY FLOODING IS WIDESPREAD. THOMPSON RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES WELL OUT OF BANKS. SEVERAL GRAVEL ROADS UNDER WATER WITH TREES ON ROADS CARRIED BY FLOOD WATERS.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 0.8 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2007-08-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 820 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2007-08-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 35 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
820 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-103 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
922 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
121 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS53 KDMX 240049
FFWDMX
IAC159-175-240645-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
749 PM CDT THU AUG 23 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN RINGGOLD COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  UNION COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 145 AM CDT.

* AT 742 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  FLASH FLOODING FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CRESTON.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...HIGHWAYS AND UNDERPASSES. ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY
ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW
LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING.

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 4106 9449 4117 9403 4090 9402 4075 9448
TIME...MOT...LOC 0049Z 180DEG 0KT 4099 9434

$$
5 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 240138
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
836 PM CDT THU AUG 23 2007

IAC159-175-240645-
RINGGOLD IA-UNION IA-
836 PM CDT THU AUG 23 2007

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM CDT FOR UNION
AND NORTHERN RINGGOLD COUNTIES...

AT 832 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WARNED
AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CRESTON. 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES THREE TO FOUR 
INCHES OF RAINFALL THIS EVENING OVER THE WARNED AREA. 

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT
FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN IOWA.

LAT...LON 4106 9449 4117 9403 4090 9402 4075 9448
TIME...MOT...LOC 0136Z 180DEG 0KT 4099 9434

$$
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 240252
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
951 PM CDT THU AUG 23 2007

IAC159-175-240645-
RINGGOLD IA-UNION IA-
951 PM CDT THU AUG 23 2007

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM CDT FOR UNION
AND NORTHERN RINGGOLD COUNTIES...

AT 948 PM CDT...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS REPORTED
OVER THE WARNED AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CRESTON

RAINFALL ESTIMATES AND RAIN GAGE REPORTS ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX 
INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER THE WARNED AREAS IN THE PAST THREE 
HOURS. UP TO 4.6 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS FALLEN AT AFTON IN UNION 
COUNTY.  

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT
FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN IOWA.

LAT...LON 4106 9449 4117 9403 4090 9402 4075 9448
TIME...MOT...LOC 0251Z 180DEG 0KT 4099 9434

$$
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 240350
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1048 PM CDT THU AUG 23 2007

IAC159-175-240645-
RINGGOLD IA-UNION IA-
1048 PM CDT THU AUG 23 2007

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM CDT FOR UNION
AND NORTHERN RINGGOLD COUNTIES...

AT 1044 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES 
THAT THE RAIN HAS LET UP FOR THE MOMENT...BUT MORE THUNDERSTORMS 
WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE MOVING INTO UNION AND RINGGOLD COUNTIES 
FROM NORTHERN MISSOURI AND WESTERN IOWA. 

RAINFALL ESTIMATES AND RAIN GAGE REPORTS ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX 
INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER THE WARNED AREAS IN THE PAST THREE 
HOURS. UP TO 4.7 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS FALLEN AT AFTON IN UNION 
COUNTY.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CRESTON

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT
FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN IOWA.

LAT...LON 4106 9449 4117 9403 4090 9402 4075 9448
TIME...MOT...LOC 0348Z 180DEG 0KT 4099 9434

$$
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 240446
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1144 PM CDT THU AUG 23 2007

IAC159-175-240645-
RINGGOLD IA-UNION IA-
1144 PM CDT THU AUG 23 2007

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM CDT FOR UNION
AND NORTHERN RINGGOLD COUNTIES...

AT 1139 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES 
THAT THE RAIN WILL INCREASE OVER THE NEXT HOUR AS HEAVY 
THUNDERSTORMS MOVE OUT OF PAGE AND TAYLOR COUNTIES INTO THE WARNED 
AREA.

RAINFALL ESTIMATES AND RAIN GAGE REPORTS ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX 
INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER THE WARNED AREAS IN THE PAST THREE 
HOURS. UP TO 4.7 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS FALLEN AT AFTON IN UNION 
COUNTY. AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAINFALL MAY FALL WITH 
THE NEXT ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CRESTON

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.



MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT
FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN IOWA.

LAT...LON 4106 9449 4117 9403 4090 9402 4075 9448
TIME...MOT...LOC 0444Z 180DEG 0KT 4099 9434

$$
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 240542
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1238 AM CDT FRI AUG 24 2007

IAC159-175-240645-
RINGGOLD IA-UNION IA-
1238 AM CDT FRI AUG 24 2007

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM CDT FOR UNION
AND NORTHERN RINGGOLD COUNTIES AND THIS WARNING IS LIKELY TO BE 
EXTENDED THOUGH THE MORNING HOURS...

AT 1234 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES 
THAT ADDITIONAL MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE OVER THE WARNED 
AREA FOR THE NEXT HOUR.

RAINFALL ESTIMATES AND RAIN GAGE REPORTS ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX 
INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER THE WARNED AREAS IN THE PAST THREE 
HOURS. UP TO 4.7 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS FALLEN AT AFTON IN UNION 
COUNTY. AN ADDITIONAL ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAINFALL MAY FALL WITH 
THE NEXT ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS.

THE UNION COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS THAT WATER HAD BEEN OVER 
SEVERAL COUNTY ROADS...BUT HAD RECEDED. MOST CREEKS REMAIN OUT OF 
THEIR BANKS...SOME TREES ARE BLOCKING SOME COUNTY ROADS. TRAVEL IS 
DISCOURAGED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TONIGHT. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CRESTON

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE
BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

LAT...LON 4106 9449 4117 9403 4090 9402 4075 9448
TIME...MOT...LOC 0538Z 180DEG 0KT 4099 9434

$$

VACHALEK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 23, 7:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWapello23 min
Aug 23, 7:41 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXMahaska, Marion6 hr
Aug 23, 7:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClarke52 min
Aug 23, 8:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXLucas, Wayne49 min
Aug 23, 8:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDecatur40 min
Aug 23, 8:48 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXDecatur27 min
Aug 23, 8:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClarke46 min
Aug 23, 9:02 PM CDTTornado WarningDMXDecatur28 min
Aug 23, 9:21 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXClarke, Decatur6 hr
Aug 23, 9:37 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXDavis, Wapello6 hr
Aug 23, 9:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXWayne50 min
Aug 23, 10:29 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXAppanoose, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne6 hr
Aug 23, 11:51 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXAppanoose, Wayne40 hr
Aug 23, 11:51 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXLucas4 days
Aug 23, 11:51 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXAppanoose61 hr
Aug 23, 11:51 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXDecatur28 hr
Aug 24, 12:25 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXMahaska6 hr
Aug 24, 1:42 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXRinggold, Union6 hr
Aug 24, 2:38 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXAppanoose, Davis6 hr
Aug 24, 3:00 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXTaylor5 hr
Aug 24, 3:10 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXClarke, Decatur6 hr
Aug 24, 3:22 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXDavis, Wapello6 hr
Aug 24, 4:27 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXAppanoose, Wayne6 hr
Aug 24, 9:56 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXMarshall11 hr
Aug 24, 10:50 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXDallas3 days
Aug 24, 11:18 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXMarion47 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.