Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 18, NWS Des Moines, IA

June 15, 2011Monroe County, Wapello County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 15, 2011, 12:12 AM CDT for Monroe County, Wapello County, Iowa. It was in force for 6 hr. 1 report 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 15, 2011, 12:12 AM CDT (05:12 UTC)
Expired
Jun 15, 2011, 6:00 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Monroe County, IA, Wapello County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:15 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 15, 1:00 AM CDTFLASH FLOODOttumwa, IAHARROWS CREEK OUT OF ITS BANK AND FLOWING ACROSS WEST SECOND STREET. CARS STRANDED ON NORTH JEFFERSON STREET. PORTION OF THE 1600 BLOCK OF EAST MAIN STREET WASHED OUT BY FLOOD WATERS. THESE ROADS WERE CLOSED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Davenport, (KDVN), launched 00:00Z, 5.2 hours before the alert went out and 180 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, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2011-06-15Temperature 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°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Davenport, at 00:00Z on 2011-06-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 42 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1429 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
42 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
238 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

414 
WGUS53 KDMX 150512
FFWDMX
IAC135-179-151100-
/O.NEW.KDMX.FF.W.0018.110615T0512Z-110615T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1212 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN MONROE COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  WAPELLO COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST IOWA...

* UNTIL 600 AM CDT

* AT 1208 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE      
  WARNED AREA. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRAINED SPOTTERS ALSO       
  REPORTED LOCALIZED STREET FLOODING IN THE OTTUMWA AREA...WITH LOW  
  LYING STREETS UNDER AS MUCH AS THREE FEET OF STANDING WATER.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...     
  OTTUMWA AND ALBIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4092 9221 4090 9297 4114 9289 4116 9217

$$

SKOW
6 follow-up statements
068 
WGUS73 KDMX 150550
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1250 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

IAC135-179-151100-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110615T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WAPELLO IA-MONROE IA-
1250 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN MONROE AND
WAPELLO COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM CDT...

AT 1236 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT 
HARROWS CREEK IN OTTUMWA HAD RISEN OUT OF ITS BANKS AND WAS FLOWING 
OVER WEST SECOND STREET. OFFICIALS ALSO REPORTED CARS STRANDED IN 
FLOODWATERS ALONG NORTH JEFFERSON STREET IN OTTUMWA. THESE SECTIONS 
OF ROADS HAVE BEEN CLOSED. DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE 
STRONGEST STORMS HAD WEAKENED AND MOVED OUT OF THE OTTUMWA 
AREA...BUT MORE STORMS WERE DEVELOPING BEHIND THIS LINE AND COULD 
BRING ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OVERNIGHT. FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO 
CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH  FLOODING INCLUDE...
OTTUMWA AND ALBIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE CITY OF OTTUMWA. PLEASE BE 
CAUTIOUS IF YOU MUST DRIVE IN THE CITY TONIGHT.

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 4092 9221 4090 9297 4114 9289 4116 9217

$$

SKOW
147 
WGUS73 KDMX 150618
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
118 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

IAC135-179-151100-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110615T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WAPELLO IA-MONROE IA-
118 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN MONROE AND
WAPELLO COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM CDT...

AT 112 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT LOW 
LYING AREAS OF MANY ROADS IN TOWN WERE COVERED IN WATER. HARROWS 
CREEK IN OTTUMWA HAS RISEN OUT OF ITS BANKS AND IS FLOWING OVER 
WEST SECOND STREET. OFFICIALS ALSO REPORTED CARS STRANDED IN 
FLOODWATERS ALONG NORTH JEFFERSON STREET AND A PORTION OF THE 1600 
BLOCK OF EAST MAIN STREET WASHED OUT BY FLOODWATERS. THESE THREE 
SECTIONS OF ROAD HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE STRONGEST STORMS HAD WEAKENED AND 
MOVED OUT OF THE OTTUMWA AREA...BUT MORE STORMS WERE DEVELOPING 
BEHIND THIS LINE AND COULD BRING ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OVERNIGHT. 
FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH  FLOODING INCLUDE...
OTTUMWA AND ALBIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE CITY OF OTTUMWA. PLEASE BE 
CAUTIOUS IF YOU MUST DRIVE IN THE CITY TONIGHT.

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 4092 9221 4090 9297 4114 9289 4116 9217

$$

SKOW
124 
WGUS73 KDMX 150728
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
228 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

IAC135-179-151100-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110615T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WAPELLO IA-MONROE IA-
228 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN MONROE AND
WAPELLO COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM CDT...

AT 215 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT LOW 
LYING AREAS OF MANY ROADS IN TOWN WERE COVERED IN WATER. HARROWS 
CREEK IN OTTUMWA HAS RISEN OUT OF ITS BANKS AND IS FLOWING OVER WEST 
SECOND STREET. OFFICIALS ALSO REPORTED CARS STRANDED IN FLOODWATERS 
ALONG NORTH JEFFERSON STREET AND A PORTION OF THE 1600 BLOCK OF EAST 
MAIN STREET WASHED OUT BY FLOODWATERS. THESE THREE SECTIONS OF ROAD 
HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE STRONGEST STORMS HAD WEAKENED AND 
MOVED OUT OF THE OTTUMWA AREA.  ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS 
FORMED AND IS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA.  THE RAIN HAS ENDED IN MONROE 
COUNTY...BUT WILL LAST UNTIL 300 TO 330 IN WAPELLO COUNTY.  AN 
ADDITIONAL ONE HALF TO ONE INCH OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE.  FLASH FLOODING 
IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH  FLOODING INCLUDE...
OTTUMWA AND ALBIA.

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 4092 9221 4090 9297 4114 9289 4116 9217

$$
081 
WGUS73 KDMX 150831
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
331 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

IAC135-179-151100-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110615T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WAPELLO IA-MONROE IA-
331 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN MONROE AND
WAPELLO COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM CDT...

AT 315 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT LOW 
LYING AREAS OF MANY ROADS IN TOWN WERE COVERED IN WATER. HARROWS 
CREEK IN OTTUMWA HAD RISEN OUT OF ITS BANKS AND WAS FLOWING OVER 
WEST SECOND STREET. OFFICIALS ALSO REPORTED CARS STRANDED IN 
FLOODWATERS ALONG NORTH JEFFERSON STREET AND A PORTION OF THE 1600 
BLOCK OF EAST MAIN STREET WASHED OUT BY FLOODWATERS. THESE THREE 
SECTIONS OF ROAD HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE STRONGEST STORMS HAD MOVED OUT OF 
THE AREA.  THE RAINFALL HAS ENDED AND NO ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS 
EXPECTED.  FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE 
OVERNIGHT HOURS.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH  FLOODING INCLUDE...
OTTUMWA AND ALBIA.

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.

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 4092 9221 4090 9297 4114 9289 4116 9217

$$
225 
WGUS73 KDMX 150923
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
423 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

IAC135-179-151100-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110615T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WAPELLO IA-MONROE IA-
423 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN MONROE AND
WAPELLO COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM CDT...

AT 410 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT THE 
WATER IN OTTUMWA WAS RECEDING AND THAT ALL STREETS WERE NOW BEEN 
REOPENED. SOME PONDING OF WATER WAS STILL REPORTED IN THE AREA 
HOWEVER. 

DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT PRODUCED THE 
HEAVY RAINFALL HAD MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.  THE RAINFALL HAS ENDED 
AND NO ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS EXPECTED.  FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED 
TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH  FLOODING INCLUDE...
OTTUMWA AND ALBIA.

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.

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 4092 9221 4090 9297 4114 9289 4116 9217

$$
140 
WGUS73 KDMX 151056
FFSDMX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
556 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

IAC135-179-151108-
/O.EXP.KDMX.FF.W.0018.000000T0000Z-110615T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WAPELLO IA-MONROE IA-
556 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN MONROE AND
WAPELLO COUNTIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 600 AM CDT...

EXCESS RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN HAS ENDED OVER THE WARNED AREA. LOCAL 
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED THAT WATER HAD RECEDED IN MOST AREAS.  SOME 
PONDING IS STILL POSSIBLE IN LOW LYING AREAS AND PEOPLE SHOULD 
REMAIN ATTENTIVE.  IF FLOODING HAS BEEN OBSERVED...PLEASE REPORT IT 
TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

LAT...LON 4092 9221 4090 9297 4114 9289 4116 9217

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 14, 8:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXAppanoose, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne49 min
Jun 14, 9:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClarke, Lucas, Marion, Warren48 min
Jun 14, 10:10 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningDMXEmmet45 days
Jun 14, 10:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXClarke, Decatur, Lucas, Wayne60 min
Jun 15, 11:02 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningDMXMahaska, Marion10 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2011Every 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.