Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2016

Flash Flood Warning 51, NWS La Crosse, WI

September 22, 2016Howard County, Mitchell County, Winneshiek County, Iowa

NWS La Crosse, WI issued this flash flood warning at Sep 22, 2016, 1:00 AM CDT for Howard County, Mitchell County, Winneshiek County, Iowa. It was in force for 6 hr. 18 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
Sep 22, 2016, 1:00 AM CDT (06:00 UTC)
Expired
Sep 22, 2016, 7:00 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS La Crosse, WI
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Howard County, IA, Mitchell County, IA, Winneshiek County, IA

The radar

The La Crosse radar (KARX), 110 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:03 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
Sep 22, 1:32 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 2.164 Ne Riceville, IAMESONET STATION 3 NE RICEVILLE /E4652/.
Sep 22, 1:47 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 2.424 Ne Riceville, IAMESONET STATION 3 NE RICEVILLE /E4652/.
Sep 22, 1:47 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 2.424 Ne Riceville, IAMESONET STATION 3 NE RICEVILLE /E4652/. THE DURATION OF THE HEAVY RAIN EVENT WAS 1 HOUR.
Sep 22, 2:05 AM CDTFLASH FLOODDecorah, IACITY STREETS FLOODED.
Sep 22, 2:07 AM CDTFLASH FLOODBluffton, IAWATER OVER THE ROAD IN THE BLUFFTON AREA.
Sep 22, 4:39 AM CDTFLASH FLOODCarpenter, IAWATER OVER ROADS IN CARPENTER.
Sep 22, 6:30 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3.64Saint Ansgar, IACO-OP OBSERVER STATION ST ANSGAR /SANI4/.
Sep 22, 6:34 AM CDTFLOOD3 Wnw Vernon Springs, IAA FEW LOCATIONS OUT OF TOWN WITH WATER OVER THEM STILL.
Sep 22, 6:34 AM CDTFLOOD4 W Cresco, IAA FEW LOCATIONS OUT OF TOWN WITH WATER OVER THEM STILL
Sep 22, 6:34 AM CDTFLASH FLOODCarpenter, IAWATER OVER ROADS NEAR TOWN. 3 OTHER SECONDARY ROADS NEARBY ALSO STILL UNDER WATER.
Sep 22, 6:34 AM CDTFLASH FLOODStacyville, IAWATER OVER ROADS NEAR TOWN
Sep 22, 6:34 AM CDTFLASH FLOODStacyville, IAWATER OVER ROADS NEAR TOWN.
Sep 22, 7:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3.23Calmar, IACO-OP OBSERVER STATION CALMAR NE /CMRI4/.
Sep 22, 7:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3.34Elma, IACO-OP OBSERVER STATION ELMA /ELMI4/.
Sep 22, 7:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3.4Fort Atkinson, IACOCORAHS STATION FORT ATKINSON /IA-WH-4/.
Sep 22, 7:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3.44Osage, IACO-OP OBSERVER STATION OSAGE /OSAI4/.
Sep 22, 7:03 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3.4Osage, IA.
Sep 22, 7:04 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3Saint Ansgar, 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 00:00Z, 6.0 hours before the alert went out and 199 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2016-09-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 144 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2016-09-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 428 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
144 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-361 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
641 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
428 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
596 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
11.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

563 
WGUS53 KARX 220600
FFWARX
IAC089-131-191-221200-
/O.NEW.KARX.FF.W.0051.160922T0600Z-160922T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
100 AM CDT THU SEP 22 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LA CROSSE HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  HOWARD COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN IOWA...
  MITCHELL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL IOWA...
  WINNESHIEK COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN IOWA...

* UNTIL 700 AM CDT THURSDAY

* AT 1256 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING
  HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO
  BEGIN SHORTLY.

* THIS COULD TURN INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION. 

* THUNDERSTORMS NOW OVER NORTHEAST IOWA AND THE WARNED AREA PRODUCED
  2 INCH PER HOUR RAINFALL RATES IN MINNESOTA. IF THIS LINE OF
  STORMS SLOWS AT ALL...3-5 INCHES OF RAIN COULD FALL RAPIDLY. 

* SOILS ARE EXTREMELY SATURATED AND WATER WILL RUNOFF INTO RIVERS
  CREEKS AND STREAMS. 

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  DECORAH...CRESCO...OSAGE...ST. ANSGAR...CALMAR...OSSIAN...
  RICEVILLE...LYLE...ELMA...LIME SPRINGS...STACYVILLE...SPILLVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD
DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9303 4350 9161 4308 9161 4308 9208
      4321 9208 4321 9302

$$

DAB
3 follow-up statements
847 
WGUS73 KARX 220643
FFSARX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
143 AM CDT THU SEP 22 2016

IAC089-131-191-221200-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0051.000000T0000Z-160922T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HOWARD IA-MITCHELL IA-WINNESHIEK IA-
143 AM CDT THU SEP 22 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM CDT FOR
HOWARD...MITCHELL AND WINNESHIEK COUNTIES...

AT 138 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS HAD BECOME
STATIONARY OVER EXTREME NORTHERN IOWA ALONG A LINE FROM OSAGE TO
DECORAH. THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING 2 INCHES OF RAIN PER HOUR. THIS
IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR FLASH FLOODING. 

* BECAUSE OF THE STALLED STORMS...FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO
  RAPIDLY INCREASE THROUGH 3 AM.

* THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION...TRAVEL IS NOT ADVISED TONIGHT. 

* BASEMENTS WILL BE FLOODED AND ROADS WASHED OUT. MANY ROADS
  WILL BE WATER COVERED WITHIN A FEW HOURS. 

* CREEKS AND STREAMS WILL RISE RAPIDLY OUT OF THEIR BANKS...AND
  POSSIBLY OVER ROADS.
  
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
DECORAH...CRESCO...OSAGE...ST. ANSGAR...CALMAR...OSSIAN...
RICEVILLE...LYLE...ELMA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. DRIVE SLOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9303 4350 9161 4308 9161 4308 9208
      4321 9208 4321 9302

$$

BAUMGARDT
076 
WGUS73 KARX 220947
FFSARX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
447 AM CDT THU SEP 22 2016

IAC089-131-191-221200-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0051.000000T0000Z-160922T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HOWARD IA-MITCHELL IA-WINNESHIEK IA-
447 AM CDT THU SEP 22 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM CDT FOR
HOWARD...MITCHELL AND WINNESHIEK COUNTIES...

AT 440 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LIGHTER RAIN CONTINUED
ACROSS FAR NORTHERN IOWA. 1 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN
OVERNIGHT.

* SOME IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER THE PAST HOURS AND URBAN
  WATER LEVELS ARE RECEDING. 

* LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS SOME ROADS DO HAVE WATER OVER THEM.  

* RIVERS CREEKS AND STREAMS ARE ALL RISING. SOME MAY BE FLOODING. 
* THE CEDAR RIVER AT OSAGE IS EXPECTED TO REACH A RECORD CREST
  LEVEL. 

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  DECORAH...CRESCO...OSAGE...ST. ANSGAR...CALMAR...OSSIAN...
  RICEVILLE...LYLE...ELMA...LIME SPRINGS...STACYVILLE...SPILLVILLE...
  FORT ATKINSON...RIDGEWAY...PROTIVIN...CASTALIA...MITCHELL...
  CHESTER...MCINTIRE AND CARPENTER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9303 4350 9161 4308 9161 4308 9208
      4321 9208 4321 9302

$$

DAB
655 
WGUS73 KARX 221140
FFSARX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
640 AM CDT THU SEP 22 2016

IAC089-131-191-221200-
/O.CON.KARX.FF.W.0051.000000T0000Z-160922T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HOWARD IA-MITCHELL IA-WINNESHIEK IA-
640 AM CDT THU SEP 22 2016

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM CDT FOR
HOWARD...MITCHELL AND WINNESHIEK COUNTIES...

AT 630 AM...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED SEVERAL ROADS STILL
UNDERWATER NEAR SOME COMMUNITIES AND IN RURAL AREAS AROUND THE
COUNTIES. 

IN MITCHELL COUNTY THE WORST WAS NEAR STACYVILLE AND CARPENTER...
WHILE HOWARD COUNTY STILL HAD A FEW LOCATIONS UNDER WATER.

AS THE HEAVIEST RAIN SHIFTS OUT OF THIS AREA...THE FLASH FLOOD
WARNING WILL BE CONVERTED TO AN AREAL FLOOD WARNING WHEN IT EXPIRES
AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TURN AROUND...DON'T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST
FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. EXPECT SOME ROAD CLOSURES AND IMPACT
TO YOUR MORNING DRIVE. USE EXTREME CAUTION.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL
CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...FARMLAND...AND OTHER LOW LYING
SPOTS.

&&

LAT...LON 4350 9303 4350 9161 4308 9161 4308 9208
      4321 9208 4321 9302

$$

SHEA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 21, 7:05 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXChickasaw5 hr
Sep 21, 7:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningARXFloyd49 min
Sep 21, 7:34 PM CDTTornado WarningARXFloyd41 min
Sep 21, 8:11 PM CDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyARXFloyd8 hr
Sep 21, 8:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXAllamakee, Winneshiek46 min
Sep 21, 9:19 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXClayton, Fayette56 min
Sep 21, 10:13 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXClayton, Fayette62 min
Sep 22, 12:04 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXChickasaw4 hr
Sep 22, 12:13 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementARXAllamakee, Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell, Winneshiek2 hr
Sep 22, 12:48 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXAllamakee6 hr
Sep 22, 2:20 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXChickasaw, Fayette, Floyd6 hr
Sep 22, 3:55 AM CDTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyARXChickasaw, Floyd4 hr
Sep 22, 4:09 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXClayton6 hr
Sep 22, 4:53 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXMitchell3 days
Sep 22, 4:53 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXFloyd4 days
Sep 22, 5:39 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXAllamakee70 hr
Sep 22, 6:51 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXAllamakee3 hr
Sep 22, 7:00 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningARXHoward, Mitchell, Winneshiek6 hr
Sep 22, 8:02 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXChickasaw, Fayette, Floyd5 hr
Sep 22, 9:00 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXClayton5 days
Sep 22, 9:00 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXClayton4 days
Sep 22, 9:38 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXAllamakee3 hr
Sep 22, 10:19 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningARXClayton3 hr
Sep 22, 11:20 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXAllamakee, Clayton10 days
Sep 22, 11:20 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningARXClayton9 days
Sep 22, 12:58 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningARXAllamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd, Howard and 2 more21 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2016Every flash flood warning in 2016

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.