Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2017

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Des Moines, IA

September 21, 2017Wapello County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Sep 21, 2017, 3:40 AM CDT for Wapello County, Iowa. It was in force for 6 hr. 3 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 21, 2017, 3:40 AM CDT (08:40 UTC)
Expired
Sep 21, 2017, 9:30 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Wapello County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 136 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:40 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 21, 4:28 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 5.32 Sw Ottumwa, IAFROM PERSONAL WEATHER STATION ON SW SIDE OF OTTUMWA.
Sep 21, 6:20 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 5.621 Sse Ottumwa, IAMEASURED AT DES MOINES RIVER GAGE IN TOWN.
Sep 21, 6:33 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 6.082 Sw Ottumwa, IAPERSONAL WEATHER STATION IN SW OTTUMWA.

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, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 179 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 2017-09-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1710 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 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 2017-09-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 63 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
1710 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-12 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1531 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
63 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
139 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

747 
WGUS53 KDMX 210840
FFWDMX
IAC179-211430-
/O.NEW.KDMX.FF.W.0009.170921T0840Z-170921T1430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
340 AM CDT THU SEP 21 2017

The National Weather Service in Des Moines  has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Wapello County in southeastern Iowa...

* Until 930 AM CDT.

* At 336 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. An 
  automated gage on the south side of Ottumwa indicated that 4.26 
  inches of rain had fallen since midnight with doppler radar 
  estimates of higher amounts, possibly close to six inches, farther 
  east along Highway 34. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Ottumwa, Eldon, Agency and Blakesburg. 

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 inch per hour will likely 
continue through 430am.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 4090 9264 4099 9264 4115 9218 4090 9218

$$

Small
3 follow-up statements
644 
WGUS73 KDMX 210956
FFSDMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
456 AM CDT THU SEP 21 2017

IAC179-211430-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-170921T1430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Wapello IA-
456 AM CDT THU SEP 21 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 AM CDT FOR
WAPELLO COUNTY...

At 450 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the warned area. 5.33 inches 
of rain has fallen on the SW side of Ottumwa with radar estimates of 
around 7 inches possible east of town toward Agency and along 
Highway 34. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly.

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Ottumwa, Eldon, Agency and Blakesburg as well as Buckeye and Honey 
Creeks.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 4090 9264 4099 9264 4115 9218 4090 9218

$$

Small
814 
WGUS73 KDMX 211223
FFSDMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
723 AM CDT THU SEP 21 2017

IAC179-211430-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-170921T1430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Wapello IA-
723 AM CDT THU SEP 21 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 AM CDT FOR
WAPELLO COUNTY...

At 720 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
thunderstorms producing heavy rain continued over the warned area. 
6.39 inches of rain was already recorded at a home weather station 
on the southwest side of Ottumwa. Flash flooding is expected to 
begin shortly.

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Ottumwa, Eldon, Agency and Blakesburg as well as Buckeye and Honey 
Creek. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying
spots.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 4090 9264 4099 9264 4115 9218 4090 9218

$$

Small
736 
WGUS73 KDMX 211429
FFSDMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
929 AM CDT THU SEP 21 2017

IAC179-211434-
/O.EXP.KDMX.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-170921T1430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Wapello IA-
929 AM CDT THU SEP 21 2017

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR WAPELLO COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 930 AM
CDT...

The Wapello County Sheriff and Emergency Management have indicated 
the much of the water has receded in and around Ottuwma.  There may 
be some additional rainfall this morning, but the persistent heavy 
rain has subsided.  Rural areas south of Ottumwa may see creeks that 
or near or in flood, however conditions are expected to improve for 
the remainder of the day.  Please continue to heed any remaining 
road closures.

LAT...LON 4090 9264 4099 9264 4115 9218 4090 9218

$$

Cogil

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 21, 3:03 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDMXWapello57 min
Sep 21, 4:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDMXMahaska, Poweshiek52 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2017Every flash flood warning in 2017

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.