Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2008

Flash Flood Warning 21, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 3, 2008Story County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 3, 2008, 6:20 AM CDT for Story County, Iowa. It was in force for 5 hr. 2 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
Jun 3, 2008, 6:20 AM CDT (11:20 UTC)
Expired
Jun 3, 2008, 11:44 AM CDT
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Story County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:22 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
Jun 3, 6:35 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD6 Sse Ames Airport, IA1-2 FOOT WATER OVER INTERSTATE 35 NEAR MM 106.
Jun 3, 6:50 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 E Kelley, IANEAR 6 INCHES WATER OVER COUNTY HIGHWAY 57.

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, 11.3 hours before the alert went out and 249 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 2008-06-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1321 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 2008-06-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 8 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
1321 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-32 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1275 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
8 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
0 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS53 KDMX 031120
FFWDMX
IAC169-031715-
/O.NEW.KDMX.FF.W.0021.080603T1120Z-080603T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
620 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  STORY COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 1215 PM CDT

* AT 617 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAIN FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE WARNED AREA.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO NEVADA...
  STORY CITY AND AMES

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.

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 4186 9370 4220 9371 4221 9325 4187 9323
TIME...MOT...LOC 1120Z 180DEG 0KT 4202 9347

$$

RUSSELL
5 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 031208
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
707 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

IAC169-031715-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-080603T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
STORY IA-
707 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM CDT FOR
STORY COUNTY...

AT 704 AM CDT...RUNOFF FROM EARLIER THUNDERSTORMS WAS PRODUCING 
FLASH FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO AMES AND
STORY CITY

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.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT TUESDAY
FOR IOWA.

LAT...LON 4186 9370 4220 9371 4221 9325 4187 9323
TIME...MOT...LOC 1207Z 180DEG 0KT 4202 9347

$$

RUSSELL
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 031345
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
844 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

IAC169-031715-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-080603T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
STORY IA-
844 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM CDT FOR
STORY COUNTY...

AT 842 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL OVER THE WARNED AREA WHICH WILL 
CONTINUE THE THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING OVER THE AREA. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO AMES AND
STORY CITY

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.

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.

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 NOON CDT TUESDAY
FOR SOUTHERN IOWA.

LAT...LON 4186 9370 4220 9371 4221 9325 4187 9323
TIME...MOT...LOC 1344Z 180DEG 0KT 4202 9347

$$

RUSSELL
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 031453
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
951 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

IAC169-031715-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-080603T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
STORY IA-
951 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM CDT FOR
STORY COUNTY...

AT 947 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED FLASH 
FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA WITH SOME COUNTY GRAVEL ROADS STILL 
CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING AND RUNNING WATER. THE WATER PROBLEMS EARLIER 
REPORTED IN URBAN LOCATIONS HAVE ENDED. 

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.

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 NOON CDT TUESDAY
FOR SOUTHERN IOWA.

LAT...LON 4186 9370 4220 9371 4221 9325 4187 9323
TIME...MOT...LOC 1451Z 180DEG 0KT 4202 9347

$$

VACHALEK
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 031559
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1059 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

IAC169-031715-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-080603T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
STORY IA-
1059 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 PM CDT FOR
STORY COUNTY...

AT 1057 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED FLASH 
FLOODING OVER THE WARNED AREA WITH SOME COUNTY GRAVEL ROADS STILL 
CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING AND RUNNING WATER. THE WATER PROBLEMS EARLIER 
REPORTED IN URBAN LOCATIONS HAVE ENDED. 

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.

LAT...LON 4186 9370 4220 9371 4221 9325 4187 9323
TIME...MOT...LOC 1559Z 180DEG 0KT 4202 9347

$$

RUSSELL
000 
WGUS73 KDMX 031644
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1142 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

IAC169-031652-
/O.CAN.KDMX.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-080603T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
STORY IA-
1142 AM CDT TUE JUN 3 2008

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR STORY COUNTY...

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT FLASH FLOODING IS NO 
LONGER OCCURRING. SOME MINOR STREET FLOODING CONTINUES AROUND THE 
CAMBRIDGE AREA...THOUGH THE FLOODING IS DIMINISHING AND FURTHER 
IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED.

LAT...LON 4186 9370 4220 9371 4221 9325 4187 9323
TIME...MOT...LOC 1642Z 180DEG 0KT 4202 9347

$$

VACHALEK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 3, 3:02 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXAppanoose6 hr
Jun 3, 4:05 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAudubon, Carroll40 min
Jun 3, 4:09 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAudubon, Cass51 min
Jun 3, 4:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Cass49 min
Jun 3, 4:48 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXCalhoun, Carroll, Greene42 min
Jun 3, 5:00 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXCass4 hr
Jun 3, 5:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Guthrie45 min
Jun 3, 5:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBoone, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie33 min
Jun 3, 5:33 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAdair, Adams, Madison, Union42 min
Jun 3, 5:39 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXAdair, Guthrie4 hr
Jun 3, 5:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXDallas, Madison, Polk, Warren50 min
Jun 3, 5:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXBoone, Dallas, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Story47 min
Jun 3, 5:46 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClarke, Madison, Marion, Polk, Warren44 min
Jun 3, 6:13 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXWayne5 hr
Jun 3, 6:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJasper, Marion, Polk47 min
Jun 3, 6:16 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXBoone5 hr
Jun 3, 6:23 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJasper, Marshall, Poweshiek, Tama52 min
Jun 3, 6:31 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXDallas, Polk3 hr
Jun 3, 6:31 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClarke, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Warren44 min
Jun 3, 6:38 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXJasper, Marshall4 hr
Jun 3, 6:47 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXTama3 hr
Jun 3, 6:47 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXJasper, Mahaska, Poweshiek43 min
Jun 3, 7:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXPoweshiek, Tama45 min
Jun 3, 7:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMahaska, Marion, Monroe, Wapello43 min
Jun 3, 7:15 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXMarion6 hr
Jun 3, 7:24 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryDMXWapello3 hr
Jun 3, 7:29 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXMahaska3 hr
Jun 3, 7:44 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXDecatur, Ringgold, Wayne3 hr
Jun 3, 8:02 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXPoweshiek2 hr
Jun 3, 8:07 AM CDTHigh Wind WarningDMXJasper, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek and 3 more113 min
Jun 3, 8:46 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXPolk, Story22 hr
Jun 3, 9:02 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXLucas17 hr
Jun 3, 9:02 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXAppanoose12 hr
Jun 3, 9:04 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningDMXAppanoose116 min
Jun 3, 9:33 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXMadison, Warren4 hr
Jun 3, 9:33 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXWapello4 hr
Jun 3, 9:40 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningDMXBoone9 hr
Jun 3, 11:01 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningDMXAppanoose8 hr
Jun 3, 1:54 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXDallas, Polk17 hr
Jun 3, 1:54 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXAppanoose, Wayne7 hr
Jun 3, 2:24 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXStory6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2008Every flash flood warning in 2008

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.