Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2013

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 29, 2013Howard County, Winneshiek County, Iowa

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this flash flood warning at May 29, 2013, 4:08 PM CDT for Howard County, Winneshiek County, Iowa. It was in force for 7 hr. 9 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: May 29, 2013, 4:08 PM CDT (21:08 UTC)
Expired: May 29, 2013, 11:00 PM CDT
In force: 7 hr
Issued by: NWS La Crosse, WI
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Howard County, IA, Winneshiek County, IA

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:11 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
May 29, 4:49 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Protivin, IA	SAND BAG OPERATIONS UNDERWAY TO PROTECT AGAINST BOHEMIAN CREEK.
May 29, 5:25 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	1 Sw Fort Atkinson, IA	WATER HALF WAY OVER HIGHWAY 24 NEAR TOWN
May 29, 5:32 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Decorah, IA	WIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING IN TOWN.
May 29, 5:37 PM CDT	FLASH FLOOD	Decorah, IA	WIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING. HIGHWAYS B32 AND 24 HAVE WATER OVER THEM.
May 29, 5:38 PM CDT	HEAVY RAIN 3.5	Fort Atkinson, IA	PEA SIZED HAIL
May 29, 6:00 PM CDT	HEAVY RAIN 1.48	Decorah, IA
May 29, 6:00 PM CDT	HEAVY RAIN 3.43	Calmar, IA
May 29, 6:26 PM CDT	HEAVY RAIN 3.43	Calmar, IA	STREET FLOODING AND SOME HOUSE FLOODING...WATER OVER SEVERAL COUNTY ROADS AND STATE HIGHWAY 24.
May 29, 6:44 PM CDT	HEAVY RAIN 3.5	Decorah, IA

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

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 214 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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 795 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -11 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 9 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

935 
WGUS53 KARX 292108
FFWARX
IAC089-191-300400-
/O.NEW.KARX.FF.W.0004.130529T2108Z-130530T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
408 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN HOWARD COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...
  WINNESHIEK COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...

* UNTIL 1100 PM CDT

* AT 406 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE
  WARNED AREA. RADAR INDICATED THAT BETWEEN 1 AND 1.5 INCHES HAS
  ALREADY FALLEN IN AN HOUR...AND ADDITIONAL RAIN AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2
  INCHES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH 7 PM. 

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  CRESCO...DECORAH...CALMAR...FORT ATKINSON...PROTIVIN...RIDGEWAY AND
  SPILLVILLE.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS
FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW INCHES OF
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9207 4350 9161 4308 9188 4308 9207
      4321 9208 4321 9226 4322 9228

$$

MW

4 follow-up statements

577 
WGUS73 KARX 292159
FFSARX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
459 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

IAC089-191-300400-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-130530T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HOWARD IA-WINNESHIEK IA-
459 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WINNESHIEK AND
SOUTHEASTERN HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM CDT...

AT 449 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT 
SANDBAG OPERATIONS WERE UNDERWAY IN PROTIVIN IN SOUTHEAST HOWARD 
COUNTY. BOHEMIAN CREEK WAS RISING RAPIDLY. RADAR INDICATED THAT 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUED IN A LINE FROM NEAR 
PROTIVIN UP THROUGH WINNESHIEK COUNTY...WITH ESTIMATES BETWEEN 2 AND 
2.5 INCHES OF RAINFALL. ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF UP TO AN INCH WILL BE 
POSSIBLE THROUGH 6 PM. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
CRESCO...DECORAH...CALMAR...FORT ATKINSON...PROTIVIN...RIDGEWAY AND
SPILLVILLE.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOOD WATERS ARE MOVING DOWN BOHEMIAN CREEK...AND WILL ALSO AFFECT 
OTHER SMALLER TRIBUTARIES TO THE TURKEY RIVER FROM CRESCO TO FORT 
ATKINSON AND EL DORADO. 

IN HILLY TERRAIN...THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH
ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL
ACROSS FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW
INCHES OF SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9207 4350 9161 4308 9188 4308 9207
      4321 9208 4321 9226 4322 9228

$$

MW

475 
WGUS73 KARX 292230
FFSARX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
530 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

IAC089-191-300400-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-130530T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HOWARD IA-WINNESHIEK IA-
530 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WINNESHIEK AND
SOUTHEASTERN HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM CDT...

AT 527 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN WINNESHIEK COUNTY 
REPORT THAT WATER WAS OVER HIGHWAY 24 JUST WEST OF FORT ATKINSON 
FROM KRUMM CREEK. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT 2.5 TO 3.5 INCHES OF RAIN 
FELL IN THAT AREA IN THE PAST 3 HOURS. LIGHT RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR 
THE NEXT FEW HOURS...WITH ANOTHER HALF INCH POSSIBLE THROUGH 7 PM. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING 
INCLUDE...DECORAH...CALMAR...FORT ATKINSON...PROTIVIN...RIDGEWAY AND 
SPILLVILLE.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF 
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE. IF HIGH 
WATER IS ENCOUNTERED...TAKE THE EXTRA TIME AND FIND ANOTHER SAFE 
ROUTE. TURN AROUND DONT DROWN!!

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9207 4350 9161 4308 9188 4308 9207
      4321 9208 4321 9226 4322 9228

$$

MW

054 
WGUS73 KARX 300022
FFSARX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
722 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

IAC089-191-300400-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-130530T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HOWARD IA-WINNESHIEK IA-
722 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WINNESHIEK AND
SOUTHEASTERN HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM CDT...

AT 710 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT FLASH 
FLOODING WAS OCCURRING IN HOWARD AND WINNESHIEK COUNTIES. SANDBAG 
EFFORTS ARE STILL UNDERWAY IN PROTIVIN DUE TO FLOODING ALONG 
BOHEMIAN CREEK. WATER IS OVER CENTRAL STREET...WEST STREET...AND 
HIGH STREET IN PROTIVIN. 

OFFICIALS IN WINNESHIEK COUNTY REPORT ROADS UNDER WATER AND SOME 
ROAD WASHOUTS. WATER WAS OVER HIGHWAY 24 NEAR FORT ATKINSON REDUCING 
THE HIGHWAY TO ONE LANE. WASHOUTS WERE REPORTED ALONG RIVER ROAD 
JUST EAST OF DECORAH...AS WELL AS ON BLUFFTON ROAD NEAR 253RD 
STREET. WATER WAS ALSO OVER HIGHWAY 24 NEAR LAWLER. BASEMENTS WERE 
ALSO FLOODED IN LAWLER. 

ANOTHER ROUND OF RAIN IS NOW MOVING THROUGH THE AREA...AND UP TO 
ANOTHER INCH OF RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE THROUGH 9 PM. 

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...CRESCO...
DECORAH...CALMAR...FORT ATKINSON...PROTIVIN...RIDGEWAY AND
SPILLVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF 
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE. IF YOU 
ENCOUNTER A WASHOUT OR WATER OVER THE ROADWAY...PLAY IT SAFE!  TURN 
AROUND...DONT DROWN!!

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9207 4350 9161 4308 9188 4308 9207
      4321 9208 4321 9226 4322 9228

$$

MW

501 
WGUS73 KARX 300250
FFSARX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
950 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

IAC089-191-300400-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-130530T0400Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HOWARD IA-WINNESHIEK IA-
950 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WINNESHIEK AND
SOUTHEASTERN HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM CDT...

AT 947 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED FLOODING 
CONTINUES ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. REPORTS INDICATE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF 
RAIN HAS FALLEN.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IS CAUSING FLASH FLOODING TO 
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING 
INCLUDE...CRESCO...DECORAH...CALMAR...FORT 
ATKINSON...PROTIVIN...RIDGEWAY AND SPILLVILLE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUE TO INDICATE NUMEROUS ROADWAYS ACROSS 
SOUTHEASTERN HOWARD COUNTY...AND MUCH OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY...HAVING 
WATER ISSUES. 

ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS COULD BRING 1 TO 2 INCHES OVERNIGHT. 

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.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9207 4350 9161 4308 9188 4308 9207
      4321 9208 4321 9226 4322 9228

$$

ZT

The office that day

Everything else NWS La Crosse, WI issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 29, 11:44 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	ARX	Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd, Howard and 2 more	32 hr
May 29, 2:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell	35 min
May 29, 2:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Winneshiek	25 min
May 29, 3:41 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ARX	Chickasaw	6 hr
May 29, 4:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Fayette	38 min
May 29, 5:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Allamakee, Clayton	58 min
May 29, 5:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ARX	Allamakee	45 min
May 29, 5:42 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ARX	Allamakee, Winneshiek	7 hr
May 29, 6:12 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	ARX	Fayette	9 hr
May 29, 6:33 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	ARX	Clayton	6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2013 Every flash flood warning in 2013

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.