Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2013

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS La Crosse, WI

May 29, 2013Clayton County, Iowa; Grant County, Wisconsin

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this flash flood warning at May 29, 2013, 6:33 PM CDT for Clayton County, Iowa; Grant County, Wisconsin. 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
May 29, 2013, 6:33 PM CDT (23:33 UTC)
Expired
May 30, 2013, 12:30 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Clayton County, IA, Grant County, WI

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:32 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
May 29, 6:46 PM CDTHEAVY RAIN 2.9Edgewood, IAPARTS OF HWY 3 EAST OF TOWN UNDER WATER
May 29, 8:09 PM CDTFLASH FLOODEdgewood, IAWIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING ACROSS SOUTHERN CLAYTON COUNTY. WATER RUNNING OVER ROADWAYS.
May 29, 9:00 PM CDTHEAVY RAIN 4.1Edgewood, IA
May 29, 9:41 PM CDTHEAVY RAIN 4.5Edgewood, IA
May 29, 11:36 PM CDTFLASH FLOODBagley, WIGRANT COUNTY EM REPORTS FLOODING CONTINUES IN BAGLEY...WITH HIGH WATER OVER NUMEROUS ROADWAYS. CREEKS ARE VERY HIGH AND THE CITY OF BAGLEY DRAINAGE SYSTEM UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH EXCESSIVE RAINFALL.

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 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 153 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 12:00Z on 2013-05-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3 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, Davenport, at 12:00Z on 2013-05-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -64 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
3 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-179 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1192 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
90 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.

162 
WGUS53 KARX 292333
FFWARX
IAC043-WIC043-300530-
/O.NEW.KARX.FF.W.0007.130529T2333Z-130530T0530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN CLAYTON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST IOWA...
  WESTERN GRANT COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN...

* UNTIL 1230 AM CDT

* AT 632 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE 
  WARNED AREA. RADAR INDICATES THAT BETWEEN 1.5 AND 2 INCHES OF RAIN
  HAS ALREADY FALLEN...AND ANOTHER INCH OF RAIN IS EXPECTED THROUGH
  9 PM. 

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  GUTTENBERG...BLOOMINGTON...CASSVILLE...AND GARNAVILLO POINT.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4271 9161 4299 9125 4300 9110 4299 9106
      4303 9099 4303 9097 4306 9094 4309 9082
      4305 9068 4265 9090 4264 9161

$$
2 follow-up statements
197 
WGUS73 KARX 300111
FFSARX

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

IAC043-WIC043-300530-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-130530T0530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CLAYTON IA-GRANT WI-
811 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN GRANT AND
SOUTHEASTERN CLAYTON COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 AM CDT...

AT 809 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT FLASH 
FLOODING WAS OCCURRING IN CLAYTON COUNTY. SEVERAL ROADS ARE CLOSED 
OVER THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY FROM EDGEWOOD AND STRAWBERRY 
POINT TO NEAR GARBER. 

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...ELKADER...
GUTTENBERG...BLOOMINGTON...CASSVILLE...EDGEWOOD...GARNAVILLO AND
STRAWBERRY POINT.

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 4271 9161 4299 9125 4300 9110 4299 9106
      4303 9099 4303 9097 4306 9094 4309 9082
      4305 9068 4265 9090 4264 9161

$$

MW
957 
WGUS73 KARX 300243
FFSARX

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

IAC043-WIC043-300530-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-130530T0530Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CLAYTON IA-GRANT WI-
943 PM CDT WED MAY 29 2013

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN GRANT AND
SOUTHEASTERN CLAYTON COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 AM CDT...

AT 941 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. A 
COOPERATIVE OBSERVER IN EDGEWOOD REPORTED 4.5 INCHES SO FAR.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
ELKADER...GUTTENBERG...BLOOMINGTON...CASSVILLE...EDGEWOOD...
GARNAVILLO AND STRAWBERRY POINT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED WASHED OUT GRAVEL ROADS IN EDGEWOOD...WITH 
2 FEET OR MORE OF WATER RUNNING OVER. WIDESPREAD FLOODED ROADWAYS 
ARE REPORTED ACROSS SOUTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY...FROM EDGEWOOD TO 
STRAWBERRY POINT. 

THERE ARE REPORTS OF EVACUATIONS OF RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG BEAR 
CREEK.

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 4271 9161 4299 9125 4300 9110 4299 9106
      4303 9099 4303 9097 4306 9094 4309 9082
      4305 9068 4265 9090 4264 9161

$$

ZT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 29, 11:44 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchARXAllamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd, Howard and 2 more32 hr
May 29, 2:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXChickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell35 min
May 29, 2:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXWinneshiek25 min
May 29, 3:41 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXChickasaw6 hr
May 29, 4:08 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXHoward, Winneshiek7 hr
May 29, 4:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFayette38 min
May 29, 5:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXAllamakee, Clayton58 min
May 29, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXAllamakee45 min
May 29, 5:42 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXAllamakee, Winneshiek7 hr
May 29, 6:12 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningARXFayette9 hr
May 29, 3:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXBuffalo, Trempealeau43 min
May 29, 4:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXJackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau52 min
May 29, 4:26 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXLa Crosse7 hr
May 29, 4:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXClark65 min
May 29, 5:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXCrawford, Grant, Richland51 min
May 29, 6:08 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedARXCrawford, Grant22 min
May 29, 6:30 PM CDTTornado WarningARXGrant30 min
May 29, 6:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXMonroe, Richland, Vernon40 min
May 29, 6:46 PM CDTTornado WarningARXRichland29 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2013Flash Flood Warnings in Wisconsin, 2013Every 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.