Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2009

Flash Flood Warning 18, NWS Quad Cities, IA

June 21, 2009Louisa County, Muscatine County, Iowa

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 21, 2009, 9:37 PM CDT for Louisa County, Muscatine County, Iowa. It was in force for 6 hr. 3 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 21, 2009, 9:37 PM CDT (02:37 UTC)
Expired: Jun 22, 2009, 3:30 AM CDT
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Louisa County, IA, Muscatine County, IA

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:41 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jun 21, 10:51 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 S Grandview, IA	SIGNIFICANT WATER OVER HIGHWAY 61.
Jun 21, 10:51 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Columbus Junction, IA	HIGHWAY 92 HAS DEEP WATER OVER THE ROAD. IN PROCESS OF CLOSING HIGHWAY.
Jun 21, 11:55 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Columbus Junction, IA	WATER RESCUE BEING CONDUCTED FOR TWO STALLED VEHICLES ON HIGHWAY 92 IN TOWN. WATER IS 1 TO 2 FEET DEEP AND FLOWING FAST.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 3 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 74 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 00:00Z, 2.6 hours before the alert went out and 69 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2040 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 739 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 141 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 257 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.5
Supercell composite: 11.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS53 KDVN 220237
FFWDVN
IAC115-139-220830-
/O.NEW.KDVN.FF.W.0018.090622T0237Z-090622T0830Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
937 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE QUAD CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN MUSCATINE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF MUSCATINE...
  NORTHERN LOUISA COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF COLUMBUS JUNCTION...

* UNTIL 330 AM CDT

* AT 933 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  FLASH FLOODING FROM A THUNDERSTORM OVER THE WARNED AREA. DOPPLER 
  RADAR INDICATES THAT MORE THAN 2 INCHES OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE IN     
  LESS THAN AN HOUR.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WEST
  LIBERTY...NICHOLS AND ATALISSA

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF FLOOD-PRONE
AND LOW LYING AREAS. MOVE IMMEDIATELY FROM THESE AREAS TO HIGHER
GROUND.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING...ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING.

&&

LAT...LON 4143 9137 4159 9137 4159 9106 4142 9106
      4123 9112 4123 9148 4142 9148

$$

KUHL

2 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS73 KDVN 220412
FFSDVN

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1112 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

IAC115-139-220830-
/O.CON.KDVN.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-090622T0830Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MUSCATINE IA-LOUISA IA-
1112 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 AM CDT FOR
NORTHERN LOUISA AND WESTERN MUSCATINE COUNTIES...

AT 1109 PM CDT...FLASH FLOODING CONTINUES ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. 
RAINFALL OF 2 TO 4 INCHES HAS BEEN OBSERVED OVER THE PAST 3 HOURS.  
THIS HAS RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF FLASH FLOODING.

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MUSCATINE...
WEST LIBERTY...NICHOLS AND ATALISSA

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING...ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING.

&&

LAT...LON 4143 9137 4159 9137 4159 9106 4142 9106
      4123 9112 4123 9148 4142 9148

$$

000 
WGUS73 KDVN 220836
FFSDVN

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
336 AM CDT MON JUN 22 2009

IAC115-139-220844-
/O.EXP.KDVN.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-090622T0830Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MUSCATINE IA-LOUISA IA-
336 AM CDT MON JUN 22 2009

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NORTHERN LOUISA AND
WESTERN MUSCATINE COUNTIES...


THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTHERN LOUISA AND WESTERN MUSCATINE 
COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED.  THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA 
AND NO ADDITIONAL FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED.


LAT...LON 4143 9137 4159 9137 4159 9106 4142 9106
      4123 9112 4123 9148 4142 9148

$$

DLF

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 Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jun 21, 2:32 PM CDT, 7 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 21, 2:32 PM CDT, 7 hours 5 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
232 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

.SYNOPSIS...
WARM ADVECTION WING OF PCPN EXITING EASTERN COUNTIES OF CWA ATTM.
SFC WARM FRONT WELL DEFINED NEAR KSPW-KDSM-KOTM LINE...WITH
LOW LOCATED NEAR KFSD. STRONG HEATING ALONG/SOUTH OF FRONT HAS
ALLOWED TEMPS TO SOAR INTO THE U80S WHILE DEWPTS IN M70S LEADING
TO VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS WITH SBCAPES OF 2000-3000 J/KG AND CLIMBING.
FRONTAL ZONE LOOKS TO BE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT AND
POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WX LATE THIS AFTN/EVE. ..05..

&&

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...COMBINATION OF HEATING AND IMPULSE
MOVING THROUGH NORTHEAST NE INTO NORTHWEST IA ATTIM PER WATER VAPOR
AND IR IMAGERY... SHOULD DECREASE CIN AND RESULT IN DEVELOPMENT OF
STORMS BY 21Z NEAR TRIPLE POINT OVER NORTHWEST IA. ACTIVITY EXPECTED
TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND PROPAGATE AND/OR DEVELOP SOUTHEASTWARD
ALONG WARM FRONT. BACKED SFC WINDS NORTH OF FRONT AND 20-25 KT
SOUTHWESTERLY H85 WINDS TO ENHANCE LOW LEVEL HODOGRAPHS ...AND
COMBINATION WITH DEEP LAYER SHEAR SHOULD RESULT IN THREAT OF
TORNADOES AND BOWING LINE SEGMENTS. IN FACT ENVIRONMENT QUITE
SIMILIAR TO THAT OF CENTRAL KS YESTERDAY WHERE JUST UNDER 10 REPORTS
OF TORNADOES ALONG/NORTH OF WARM FRONT. INFLOW REGION WITH STORMS IN
KS YESTERDAY FEATURED T/TD OF U80S/L70S... BUT A BIT MORE HEATING TO
PUSH INFLOW REGION INTO L90S WITH M70S DEWPTS ACROSS SOUTHERN IA.
PCPN IS EXPECTED TO EXIT MUCH OF THE REGION OVRNGT. ..05..

.LONG TERM...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT SUNDAY...HOT AND HUMID
WEATHER WILL CONTINUE AS AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE REMAINS ANCHORED OVER
THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE LOW
TO MID 90S THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES APPROACHING 100
DEGREES OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA ON EACH DAY. THE
NEXT CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE WEDNESDAY EVENING
INTO EARLY THURSDAY AS THE ECMWF/GFS PROG A UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TO
MOVE EAST ALONG THE CANADIAN/U.S. BORDER. A COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS SHORTWAVE WILL SAG SOUTH ACROSS IOWA AND ILLINOIS WHICH
COULD PRODUCE THUNDERSTORMS AND THEN BRING SLIGHTLY COOLER AND DRIER
AIR TO THE REGION ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THE EXTENDED MODELS PROG
ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TO MOVE NORTH OF THE REGION IN THE SATURDAY/SUNDAY
TIME FRAME...SO I HAVE INCLUDED A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR
BOTH DAYS. ..KUHL..

&&

.AVIATION...MVFR TO VFR CIGS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SCT TSRA WILL DEVELOP AFTER 22/00Z AND
CONTINUE THRU 22/03Z. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE AND
LOWER SFC CIGS/VSBYS TO LIFR CONDITIONS WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS UP
TO 50KT. LATER TONIGHT MVFR TO IFR CIGS/VSBYS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN
AREAS OF BR AND FG...PRIMARILY AFTER 22/08Z. CIGS/VSBYS WILL IMPROVE
AND SHOULD BECOME VFR BY 22/12Z. ..KUHL..

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...NONE.
IL...NONE.
MO...NONE.

&&

05/KUHL

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 21, 1:05 PM CDT, 8 hours 32 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
105 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-220930-
BUCHANAN-DELAWARE-DUBUQUE-BENTON-LINN-JONES-JACKSON-IOWA-JOHNSON-
CEDAR-CLINTON-MUSCATINE-SCOTT-KEOKUK-WASHINGTON-LOUISA-JEFFERSON-
HENRY IA-DES MOINES-VAN BUREN-LEE-JO DAVIESS-STEPHENSON-CARROLL-
WHITESIDE-ROCK ISLAND-HENRY IL-BUREAU-PUTNAM-MERCER-HENDERSON-
WARREN-HANCOCK-MCDONOUGH-SCOTLAND-CLARK-
105 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
ILLINOIS...NORTHWEST ILLINOIS...WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS...EAST
CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST IOWA AND NORTHEAST
MISSOURI.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS
ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA FOR MID TO LATE AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY MID AFTERNOON ACROSS
NORTHERN IOWA...WITH THE ACTIVITY EXPECTED TO PROPAGATE OR
DEVELOP SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE OUTLOOK AREA BY LATE AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH DAMAGING
WINDS AND TORNADOES BEING THE PRIMARY THREAT. IN ADDITION...
ISOLATED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES IS
POSSIBLE.

SOME AREA RIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING MINOR TO MODERATE FLOODING.
PLEASE SEE THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENTS AND FLOOD WARNINGS
FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

VERY WARM AND HUMID AIR WILL BE IN PLACE ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY
AND TUESDAY. THE HEAT INDEX IS FORECAST TO REACH THE MID 90S ALONG
THE HIGHWAY 20 CORRIDOR TO THE LOW 100S ALONG THE IOWA-MISSOURI
BORDER AND INTO WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS. THIS WILL CREATE STRESSFUL
CONDITIONS FOR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OR WITHOUT
ACCESS TO AIR CONDITIONING.

A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS FORECAST LATE WEDNESDAY INTO
THURSDAY...AND AGAIN ON SATURDAY.  AT THIS TIME...THE MAIN THREATS
APPEAR TO BE LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
AN EMERGENCY MANAGERS CONFERENCE CALL HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR 230 PM
CDT. SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING OVER PORTIONS OF THE OUTLOOK AREA.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 21, 8:50 PM CDT, 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
850 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

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

0849 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SE MARENGO            41.78N 92.04W
06/21/2009  M1.70 INCH       IOWA               IA   CO-OP OBSERVER

            FELL IN ABOUT ONE AND A HALF HOURS.

&&

WE

Local storm report, Jun 21, 8:53 PM CDT, 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
853 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

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

0852 PM     FLASH FLOOD      BELLE PLAINE            41.90N 92.27W
06/21/2009                   BENTON             IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH ALL THE DITCHES RUNNING FULL.

&&

WE

Local storm report, Jun 21, 9:07 PM CDT, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
907 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

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

0905 PM     HEAVY RAIN       BELLE PLAINE            41.90N 92.27W
06/21/2009  M2.60 INCH       BENTON             IA   CO-OP OBSERVER

            RAINFALL OF 2.6 INCHES IN ONE HOUR.

&&

JH2

Local storm report, Jun 21, 9:11 PM CDT, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
911 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

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

0910 PM     HAIL             11 S IOWA CITY          41.50N 91.54W
06/21/2009  M0.75 INCH       WASHINGTON         IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ON HIGHWAY 218. ALSO VERY HEAVY RAIN RESTRICTING
            VISIBILITY.

&&

WE

Local storm report, Jun 21, 9:16 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
916 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

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

0914 PM     TSTM WND GST     SW IOWA CITY            41.66N 91.54W
06/21/2009  E0 MPH           JOHNSON            IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROTATION OVER LAKE RIDGE MOBILE HOME PARK REPORTED BY HAM
            RADIO OPERATOR.

&&

WE

Local storm report, Jun 21, 9:20 PM CDT, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
920 PM CDT SUN JUN 21 2009

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

0920 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MARENGO                 41.80N 92.07W
06/21/2009                   IOWA               IA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            10 TO 12 INCHES OF FLOWING WATER COVERING MOST CITY
            STREETS IN MARENGO.

&&

STEVEK

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 21, 7:26 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DVN	Benton	49 min
Jun 21, 7:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DVN	Benton, Iowa	44 min
Jun 21, 8:06 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DVN	Iowa, Johnson, Washington	39 min
Jun 21, 8:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DVN	Iowa, Johnson	35 min
Jun 21, 8:37 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DVN	Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Linn	6 hr
Jun 21, 8:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DVN	Johnson, Louisa, Washington	52 min
Jun 21, 9:13 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DVN	Keokuk, Washington	6 hr
Jun 21, 9:21 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	DVN	Washington	54 min
Jun 21, 9:45 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DVN	Johnson	6 hr
Jun 21, 11:00 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	DVN	Keokuk	4 days
Jun 22, 12:17 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DVN	Louisa	34 hr
Jun 22, 12:24 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DVN	Des Moines, Henry, Louisa	6 hr
Jun 22, 1:29 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	DVN	Jefferson, Lee, Van Buren	61 min
Jun 22, 1:55 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DVN	Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Van Buren	50 min
Jun 22, 2:45 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DVN	Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Van Buren	60 min
Jun 22, 10:02 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DVN	Des Moines, Henry, Lee	5 days
Jun 22, 12:07 PM CDT	Heat Advisory	DVN	Cedar, Des Moines, Henry, Iowa, Jefferson, Johnson and 7 more	7 hr
Jun 22, 3:25 PM CDT	Heat Advisory	DVN	Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Des Moines and 15 more	29 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2009 Every flash flood warning in 2009

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.