Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2019

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Des Moines, IA

March 17, 2019Hardin County, Iowa

NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Mar 17, 2019, 8:23 PM CDT for Hardin 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
Mar 17, 2019, 8:23 PM CDT (01:23 UTC)
Expired
Mar 18, 2019, 2:15 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Des Moines, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Hardin County, IA

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:21 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
Mar 17, 8:25 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Ese Iowa Falls, IAICE JAM IN IOWA FALLS HAS CAUSED RAPID RISES IN ALONG THE IOWA RIVER. AT ONE POINT THERE WAS AN 8 FOOT RISE IN 15 MINUTES.

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, 1.4 hours before the alert went out and 249 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 2019-03-18Temperature 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 2019-03-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -2 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
1003 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
73 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
3 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

168 
WGUS53 KDMX 180123
FFWDMX
IAC083-180715-
/O.NEW.KDMX.FF.W.0002.190318T0123Z-190318T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
823 PM CDT SUN MAR 17 2019

The National Weather Service in Des Moines  has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  North central Hardin County in central Iowa...

* Until 215 AM CDT.

* At 820 PM CDT, emergency management reported an ice jam in Iowa 
  Falls that is causing rapid rises along the Iowa River. At one 
  point, there was nearly an 8 foot rise in 15 minutes. Between 8 PM 
  and 815 PM, the water had rose nearly another foot. Sand bagging 
  efforts are underway in Iowa Falls. 

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Iowa Falls.

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.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.

&&

LAT...LON 4254 9324 4249 9324 4249 9330 4254 9330

$$

Krull
4 follow-up statements
413 
WGUS73 KDMX 180245
FFSDMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
945 PM CDT SUN MAR 17 2019

IAC083-180715-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-190318T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Hardin IA-
945 PM CDT SUN MAR 17 2019

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM CDT FOR
NORTH CENTRAL HARDIN COUNTY...

At 940 PM CDT, local law enforcement reported flash flooding in Iowa 
Falls along the Iowa River. This is due to an ice jam.

Flash Flooding has prompted several road closures in Iowa Falls. 
Sandbagging efforts continue in Iowa Falls. Iowa Falls police report 
the water has spread in the last hour associated with this flash 
flooding. Dangerous rapid rises are still possible along the Iowa 
River with the ice jam in place. 

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Iowa Falls.

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.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 4254 9324 4249 9324 4249 9330 4254 9330

$$

Krull
612 
WGUS73 KDMX 180348
FFSDMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
1048 PM CDT SUN MAR 17 2019

IAC083-180715-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-190318T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Hardin IA-
1048 PM CDT SUN MAR 17 2019

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM CDT FOR
NORTH CENTRAL HARDIN COUNTY...

At 1045 PM CDT, local law enforcement reported flash flooding along 
the Iowa River in Iowa Falls. Sandbagging efforts are still ongoing, 
and several roads remain closed in Iowa Falls. 

Drastic water level rises along the Iowa River are still possible 
with the ice jam in place in Iowa Falls. 

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Iowa Falls.

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.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 4254 9324 4249 9324 4249 9330 4254 9330

$$

Krull
897 
WGUS73 KDMX 180452
FFSDMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
1152 PM CDT SUN MAR 17 2019

IAC083-180715-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-190318T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Hardin IA-
1152 PM CDT SUN MAR 17 2019

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM CDT FOR
NORTH CENTRAL HARDIN COUNTY...

At 1150 PM CDT, local law enforcement reported flash flooding along 
the Iowa River in Iowa Falls. This is due to an ice jam.

Sandbagging efforts will continue this evening. Rapid rises in the 
water level along the Iowa River through Iowa Falls are still 
possible. The water may also continue to spread overnight.  

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Iowa Falls.

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.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring.
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately.
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 4254 9324 4249 9324 4249 9330 4254 9330

$$

Krull
204 
WGUS73 KDMX 180723
FFSDMX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
223 AM CDT MON MAR 18 2019

IAC083-180726-
/O.EXP.KDMX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-190318T0715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Hardin IA-
223 AM CDT MON MAR 18 2019

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL HARDIN COUNTY HAS
EXPIRED...

The Flash Flood threat has ended. At 215 AM Local law enforcement 
reported the flash flood threat has ended. Additionally, there are 
still roads in town that are flooded, so please exercise caution if 
traveling in the area, heed all road closures, and turn around, 
don't drown.

LAT...LON 4254 9324 4249 9324 4249 9330 4254 9330

$$

Kotenberg

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 17, 8:01 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningDMXHumboldt, Webster11 hr
Mar 18, 3:09 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningDMXKossuth7 hr
Mar 18, 3:46 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningDMXFranklin, Hardin22 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2019Every flash flood warning in 2019

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.