Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 10, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 9, 20114 counties in Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 9, 2011, 8:37 PM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 6 hr. 5 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 9, 2011, 8:37 PM CDT (01:37 UTC)
Expired: Jun 10, 2011, 2:30 AM CDT
In force: 6 hr
Issued by: NWS Des Moines, IA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Dallas County, IA, Madison County, IA, Polk County, IA, Warren County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 17 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:38 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 9, 9:04 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	4 E Des Moines, IA	4 FT OF WATER COVERING VANDALIA RD AND SE 42ND ST...
Jun 9, 11:15 PM CDT	HEAVY RAIN 4.61	5 Wnw Des Moines, IA	EVENT TOTAL 4.61 INCHES. SOILS SATURATED. WATER SEEPING THROUGH BASEMENT WALLS. FROM WINDSOR HEIGHTS.
Jun 10, 12:00 AM CDT	HEAVY RAIN 4.53	Des Moines Int Airport, IA	24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL
Jun 10, 1:31 AM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	4 S Des Moines Int Airp, IA	8 TO 10 INCHES OF WATER FLOWING RAPIDLY ACROSS HIS YARD...
Jun 10, 2:14 AM CDT	HEAVY RAIN 4.15	5 Sw Saylorville Lake, IA	24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL

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, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 238 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: 151 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -389 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 539 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 426 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 608 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 14.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

235 
WGUS53 KDMX 100137
FFWDMX
IAC049-121-153-181-100730-
/O.NEW.KDMX.FF.W.0010.110610T0137Z-110610T0730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
837 PM CDT THU JUN 9 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN DALLAS COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...
  NORTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  NORTHERN WARREN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  POLK COUNTY IN CENTRAL IOWA...

* UNTIL 230 AM CDT

* AT 837 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE      
  WARNED AREA. AN INCH OF RAIN HAS FALLEN IN THE PAST 30             
  MINUTES...AND MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...DES
  MOINES...ALTOONA...ANKENY...BONDURANT...CARLISLE...CLIVE...
  GRIMES...JOHNSTON...NORWALK...PLEASANT HILL...POLK CITY...         
  URBANDALE...WAUKEE...WEST DES MOINES AND WINDSOR HEIGHTS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES
AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS. THIS IS 
ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THE DES MOINES METRO AREA.

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR
IN VEHICLES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES...DIPS...
OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM... EVEN A
SMALL ONE...ON FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4184 9389 4182 9335 4160 9335 4160 9333
      4154 9333 4146 9333 4146 9393

$$

BEITLICH

6 follow-up statements

920 
WGUS73 KDMX 100213
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
913 PM CDT THU JUN 9 2011

IAC049-121-153-181-100730-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110610T0730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WARREN IA-POLK IA-MADISON IA-DALLAS IA-
913 PM CDT THU JUN 9 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN DALLAS...
NORTHEASTERN MADISON...POLK AND NORTHERN WARREN COUNTIES UNTIL 230 AM
CDT...

AT 904 PM CDT...THE MEDIA REPORTED WATER COVERING VANDALIA ROAD WEST 
OF SOUTHEAST 42ND STREET. THUNDERSTORMS WITH HIGH RAINFALL RATES 
WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE DES MOINES METRO AREA.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH  FLOODING INCLUDE...
DES MOINES...ALTOONA...ANKENY...BONDURANT...CARLISLE...CLIVE...
GRIMES...JOHNSTON...NORWALK...PLEASANT HILL...POLK 
CITY...URBANDALE...WAUKEE...WEST DES MOINES AND WINDSOR HEIGHTS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE MINOR FLOODING OF
SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND
UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.
NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT OR
IN A VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4184 9389 4182 9335 4160 9335 4160 9333
      4154 9333 4146 9333 4146 9393

$$

BEITLICH

109 
WGUS73 KDMX 100312
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1012 PM CDT THU JUN 9 2011

IAC049-121-153-181-100730-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110610T0730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WARREN IA-POLK IA-MADISON IA-DALLAS IA-
1012 PM CDT THU JUN 9 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN DALLAS...
NORTHEASTERN MADISON...POLK AND NORTHERN WARREN COUNTIES UNTIL 230 AM
CDT...

AT 1009 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
ANOTHER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HIGH RAINFALL RATES ACROSS 
THE WARNED AREA. THESE STORMS COULD DROP AND ADDITIONAL HALF AN INCH 
OF RAIN IN 15 MINUTES.

RUNOFF ON CONCRETE SURFACES WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME 
LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...DES 
MOINES...ALTOONA...ANKENY...BONDURANT...CARLISLE...CLIVE...GRIMES... 
JOHNSTON...NORWALK...PLEASANT HILL...POLK 
CITY...URBANDALE...WAUKEE...WEST DES MOINES AND WINDSOR HEIGHTS.

IN ADDITION...MEDIA REPORTED FLOODING ALONG VANDALIA ROAD AND 
SOUTHEAST 42ND STREET.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR AND THE
WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. TURN
AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 4184 9389 4182 9335 4160 9335 4160 9333
      4154 9333 4146 9333 4146 9393

$$

BEITLICH

262 
WGUS73 KDMX 100421
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1121 PM CDT THU JUN 9 2011

IAC049-121-153-181-100730-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110610T0730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WARREN IA-POLK IA-MADISON IA-DALLAS IA-
1121 PM CDT THU JUN 9 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN DALLAS...
NORTHEASTERN MADISON...POLK AND NORTHERN WARREN COUNTIES UNTIL 230 AM
CDT...

AT 1112 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY 
HIGH RAINFALL RATES ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF 
RAIN IS POSSIBLE.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO 
OCCUR...ESPECIALLY IN THE DES MOINES METRO AREA. SOME LOCATIONS THAT 
WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH  FLOODING INCLUDE...DES MOINES... 
ALTOONA...ANKENY...BONDURANT...CARLISLE...CLIVE...GRIMES... 
JOHNSTON...NORWALK...PLEASANT HILL...POLK 
CITY...URBANDALE...WAUKEE...WEST DES MOINES AND WINDSOR HEIGHTS.

IN ADDITION...LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED WATER SURROUNDING DOWNED 
POWER POLES NEAR NORTHEAST 94TH AVE AND NORTHEAST 38TH ST. IN 
PLEASANT HILL...THE 5700 BLOCK OF EAST OAKWOOD WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING 
FLOODING

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4184 9389 4182 9335 4160 9335 4160 9333
      4154 9333 4146 9333 4146 9393

$$

BEITLICH

428 
WGUS73 KDMX 100521
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1221 AM CDT FRI JUN 10 2011

IAC049-121-153-181-100730-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110610T0730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WARREN IA-POLK IA-MADISON IA-DALLAS IA-
1221 AM CDT FRI JUN 10 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN DALLAS...
NORTHEASTERN MADISON...POLK AND NORTHERN WARREN COUNTIES UNTIL 230 AM
CDT...

AT 1217 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. AN 
ADDITIONAL INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO 
OCCUR IN THE DES MOINES METRO AREA. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL 
EXPERIENCE FLASH  FLOODING INCLUDE...DES MOINES...
ALTOONA...ANKENY...BONDURANT...CARLISLE... 
CLIVE...GRIMES...JOHNSTON...NORWALK... PLEASANT HILL...POLK 
CITY...URBANDALE...WAUKEE...WEST DES MOINES AND WINDSOR HEIGHTS.

FLASH FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THE EARLIER STORMS...AND THE 
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE MORE WIDEPSREAD FLOODING...OR 
INCREASE THE SEVERITY AT THOSE LOCATIONS THAT ARE FLOODED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4184 9389 4182 9335 4160 9335 4160 9333
      4154 9333 4146 9333 4146 9393

$$

BEITLICH

672 
WGUS73 KDMX 100629
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
129 AM CDT FRI JUN 10 2011

IAC049-121-153-181-100730-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110610T0730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WARREN IA-POLK IA-MADISON IA-DALLAS IA-
129 AM CDT FRI JUN 10 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN DALLAS...
NORTHEASTERN MADISON...POLK AND NORTHERN WARREN COUNTIES UNTIL 230 AM
CDT...

AT 125 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HIGH RAINFALL RATES ACROSS THE 
WARNED AREA. AN ADDITION INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO 
OCCUR...ESPECIALLY IN THE DES MOINES METRO AREA. SOME LOCATIONS THAT 
WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH  FLOODING INCLUDE...DES MOINES...ALTOONA... 
ANKENY...BONDURANT...CARLISLE...CLIVE...GRIMES...JOHNSTON... 
NORWALK...PLEASANT HILL...POLK CITY...URBANDALE...WAUKEE...WEST DES 
MOINES AND WINDSOR HEIGHTS.

AT 119 AM CDT...LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED WATER COVERING THE SOUTH 
BOUND ENTRANCE RAMP ON HWY 65 FROM VANDALIA RD.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4184 9389 4182 9335 4160 9335 4160 9333
      4154 9333 4146 9333 4146 9393

$$

BEITLICH

198 
WGUS73 KDMX 100735
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
235 AM CDT FRI JUN 10 2011

IAC049-121-153-181-100749-
/O.EXP.KDMX.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-110610T0730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WARREN IA-POLK IA-MADISON IA-DALLAS IA-
235 AM CDT FRI JUN 10 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN DALLAS...
NORTHEASTERN MADISON...POLK AND NORTHERN WARREN COUNTIES HAS BEEN
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE...

EXCESS RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED OVER THE WARNED AREA. STREAMS
AND CREEKS IN THE WARNED AREA MAY STILL BE HIGH...BUT WERE BEGINNING 
TO RECEDE...ENDING THE FLOOD THREAT. IF FLOODING HAS BEEN 
OBSERVED...PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

LAT...LON 4184 9389 4182 9335 4160 9335 4160 9333
      4154 9333 4146 9333 4146 9393

$$

BEITLICH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 9, 7:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Winnebago, Wright	50 min
Jun 9, 7:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Worth	37 min
Jun 9, 8:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Webster	41 min
Jun 9, 8:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Polk, Story, Warren	47 min
Jun 9, 8:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Wright	26 min
Jun 9, 8:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Greene, Webster	38 min
Jun 9, 8:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Greene	21 min
Jun 9, 8:47 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Story	43 min
Jun 9, 8:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Polk	50 min
Jun 9, 8:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Marshall, Story	47 min
Jun 9, 9:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Story	28 min
Jun 9, 9:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Polk	34 min
Jun 9, 9:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Hamilton, Hardin, Story	20 min
Jun 9, 9:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Boone, Polk, Story	22 min
Jun 9, 9:30 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	Boone, Polk, Story	4 hr
Jun 9, 10:04 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Marion, Polk, Warren	41 min
Jun 9, 10:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Adams, Taylor	31 min
Jun 9, 10:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Polk, Warren	26 min
Jun 9, 10:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Dallas, Polk	31 min
Jun 9, 10:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Jasper, Mahaska, Marion	41 min
Jun 9, 10:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Madison, Warren	34 min
Jun 9, 11:11 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	Jasper, Madison, Marion, Warren	6 hr
Jun 9, 11:14 PM CDT	High Wind Warning	DMX	Marshall, Tama	106 min
Jun 9, 11:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Adair, Audubon, Cass	46 min
Jun 9, 11:36 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	Adair, Audubon, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison	4 hr
Jun 10, 12:07 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	Polk	6 hr
Jun 10, 1:59 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	DMX	Adams, Ringgold, Union	46 min
Jun 10, 2:21 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	DMX	Mahaska, Marion, Monroe	6 hr
Jun 10, 5:05 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	DMX	Marion, Warren	24 hr
Jun 10, 7:20 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	Polk	20 hr
Jun 10, 7:20 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	DMX	Polk	20 hr
Jun 10, 8:29 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	DMX	Mahaska, Marion	24 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2011 Every flash flood warning in 2011

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.