Alert archive / Iowa / River Flood Warnings in 2019
River Flood Warning 48, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this river flood warning at May 24, 2019, 6:26 AM CDT for Polk County, Iowa. It was in force for 8 days.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 24, 2019, 6:26 AM CDT (11:26 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 1, 2019, 11:47 AM CDT
- In force
- 8 days
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- Minor
County Polk County, IA
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 13 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:31 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.
The river
Written for the forecast point Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr (DEMI4). The gauge peaked at 17.42 ft at May 29, 2019, 10:00 AM CDT.
- Action stage
- 8 ft
- Minor stage
- 12 ft
- Moderate stage
- 16 ft
- Major stage
- 25 ft
This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests
Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 05484900, one reading an hour, from a day before the product to a day after it ended. Flood stages are today's.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this river flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this river flood warning went out at May 24, 6:14 AM CDT, 12 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 24, 6:14 AM CDT, 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 614 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 .DISCUSSION.../Today through Thursday/ Issued at 613 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 Convective trends remain the primary forecast focus and will remain so through the Memorial Day weekend into at least the middle of next week. Overall the models are in decent agreement through that time with a continued active pattern. Southwest flow aloft will transition to minor ridging late in the weekend and then back to southwest flow again early next week allowing for only brief breaks from convection. At onset, the situation is volatile with tremendous 0-1km shear/SRH across southern Iowa just north of a northern MO warm front. Objective analysis suggests the instability environment is marginal, but radar trends suggests otherwise with a very healthy QLCS advancing into the forecast area in strong effective shear. Thus expect the MCS to maintain itself for a while at least with all modes of severe weather possible. The only thing holding the severe potential back for now seems to be the lack of cold pool generation and/or getting rooted low enough. Later today the warm front and weak surface low over eastern NE are expected to advance northward through IA with a considerable airmass changes across the state. It will be humid with MLCAPEs reaching around 2K j/kg with 40-50kts of 0-6km shear. The surface flow will be broad southwesterly, with little convergence, but the lingering thermal discontinuity across NE/KS early this morning should advance into the state and potentially aid convective initiation. This will combine with any remnant MCVs from overnight convection upstream and other weak synoptic waves in the southwest flow to trigger additional convection over central and southeast IA with severe weather possible, This will likely transition into a heavy rain threat into the night south and east. There will be strong 850MB moisture transport into the convection and with the mean wind parallel to the convective axis, and opposite the low level inflow, the convection may train over similar areas with minimal Corfidi Vectors as well. Precipitation waters will be approaching 2 inches with 3.5km warm cloud depths so 1-3 inch rains are certainly possible, with locally higher amounts much like occurred this morning. Thus have issued a Flash Flood Watch to account for this possibility. The convection should exit to the south and east and weaken into Saturday morning, but a weak synoptic front will linger SW to NE across the state again Saturday. The thermodynamic environment will be even greater by peak heating with MLCAPEs pushing 3K j/kg and 50kts of deep shear. Thus additional severe weather with large hail and damaging winds are possible. Low level winds appear too weak and veered for much tornado potential. The heavy rain threat does not appear as great with this round however as the deeper moisture will be pushed just to the south and east with the low level jet into the night veering to WNW into the early morning hours and staying south. This should lead into a break Sunday before a more coherent short wave lifts into the MO Valley Sunday Night into Monday. We will then see another repeat cycle of nocturnal, possibly severe, MCS and then potentially additional peak heating severe convection into Monday. The tornado potential will be in or near Iowa, but dependent on where the warm front lays out. This will likely transition into yet another round of nocturnal convection Monday Night with more heavy rain potential. Large scale forcing attendant to the long wave trough is expected to produce significant convective into Tuesday and Tuesday Night before there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel toward drying out and a flip to NW flow into the end of the next work week. && .AVIATION.../For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday night/ Issued at 1151 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019 Showers and thunderstorms moving into TAF locations from the west. Expect cigs to drop to MVFR with local IFR cigs in heavier showers. MVFR vsbys will accompany tsra with local IFR vsbys in stronger storms. Latest models suggest a break in precip during the day though isold shra may linger then redevelopment south and east aft 25/00Z. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch from this afternoon through Saturday morning for IAZ050-061-062-072>075-081>086-092>097. && DISCUSSION...Small AVIATION...FAB
Hazardous weather outlook, May 24, 4:21 AM CDT, 2 hours 5 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 421 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 IAZ050-061-062-072>075-081>086-092>097-250930- Tama-Jasper-Poweshiek-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union- Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne- Appanoose-Davis- 421 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for this area. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. Thunderstorms are expected throughout today. A few storms may be strong to severe, with large hail and damaging winds the primary threat. Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding and river flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Outside of a brief break around Sunday, periodic thunderstorm chances are expected into early next week, including Memorial Day. Severe weather primarily in the form of large hail, damaging wind gusts, and moderate to heavy rainfall will be possible at times. Flash flooding and river flooding risks will increase through the weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be needed off and on through the Memorial Day weekend, especially today, Saturday, and Monday. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>049-057>060-070-071-250930- Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene- Boone-Story-Marshall-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Cass-Adair- 421 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight Thunderstorms are possible today, especially towards central and to southeastern Iowa. A few storms may be strong to possibly severe, with large hail and damaging winds the main threats. Heavy rainfall may also increase flash flooding and river flooding risks. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Outside of a brief break around Sunday, periodic thunderstorm chances are expected into early next week, including Memorial Day. A few storms may be strong to possibly severe. Flash flooding and river flooding risks will increase through the weekend. A River Flood Warning remains in effect for the West Fork Des Moines River near Estherville for the foreseeable future. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters may be needed off and on through the Memorial Day weekend, especially today, Saturday, and Monday. Kotenberg
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 24, 1:07 AM CDT, 5 hours 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
107 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019
IAZ071-072-082-240630-
Adair IA-Union IA-Madison IA-
107 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019
...Line of Storms May Produce Dime to Nickel Size Hail and
Strong Winds..
At 107 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Green Valley Lake, or 8 miles north of Creston, moving northeast at
50 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Creston, Winterset, Green Valley Lake, Orient, Lorimor, Macksburg,
Green Valley Lake State Park, Creston Municipal Airport and
Winterset-Madison County Airport.
LAT...LON 4126 9444 4146 9400 4116 9397 4116 9401
4110 9402 4098 9445
TIME...MOT...LOC 0607Z 239DEG 43KT 4118 9440
KotenbergSpecial weather statement, May 24, 2:04 AM CDT, 4 hours 22 minutes before
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</html>Special weather statement, May 24, 2:34 AM CDT, 3 hours 52 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
234 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019
IAZ038-039-049-050-061-062-240800-
Black Hawk IA-Tama IA-Poweshiek IA-Grundy IA-Jasper IA-Marshall IA-
234 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019
...Line of Storms May Produce Strong Winds of 40 to 50 mph...
At 234 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles northwest of Marshalltown to near Rock
Creek Lake. Movement was northeast at 55 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Marshalltown, Toledo, Tama, Traer, Reinbeck, Conrad, Meskwaki Casino,
Rock Creek Lake, Gladbrook, Le Grand, Garwin, Gilman, Albion,
Chelsea, Montour, Laurel, Clutier, Elberon, Beaman and Haverhill.
LAT...LON 4192 9230 4173 9295 4212 9310 4245 9254
4205 9230
TIME...MOT...LOC 0734Z 232DEG 51KT 4208 9304 4176 9288
KotenbergSpecial weather statement, May 24, 3:07 AM CDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Des Moines IA 307 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 IAZ060-061-073-074-240845- Marion IA-Jasper IA-Polk IA-Warren IA- 307 AM CDT Fri May 24 2019 ...Line of Storms May Produce Brief Winds in Excesss of 40 mph... At 305 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Iowa State Fairgrounds to 9 miles southeast of Avenue Of The Saints Event Center. Movement was east at 40 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Des Moines, Newton, Indianola, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Knoxville, Carlisle, Bondurant, Mitchellville, Colfax, Monroe, Pleasantville, Prairie City, Adventureland Amusement Park, Iowa Speedway, Prairie Meadows, Iowa State Fairgrounds, Knoxville Raceway, Lake Red Rock and Milo. LAT...LON 4175 9292 4126 9301 4122 9363 4167 9355 TIME...MOT...LOC 0805Z 265DEG 34KT 4162 9352 4119 9369 Kotenberg
Local storm report, May 24, 3:59 AM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
359 AM CDT FRI MAY 24 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0359 AM HEAVY RAIN 9 SW CUMBERLAND 41.17N 94.97W
05/24/2019 M4.18 INCH CASS IA PUBLIC
MEASURED BY HOME WEATHER STATION.
0358 AM HEAVY RAIN 6 NNE CARBON 41.13N 94.79W
05/24/2019 M4.22 INCH ADAMS IA PUBLIC
MEASURED BY HOME WEATHER STATION.
&&Local storm report, May 24, 4:27 AM CDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 8:06 PM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Davis, Wapello | 14 hr |
| May 23, 11:53 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Adams | 37 min |
| May 24, 12:40 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Adair | 35 min |
| May 24, 1:07 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Madison | 23 min |
| May 24, 2:04 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Jasper, Marion | 41 min |
| May 24, 2:34 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Marshall, Tama | 26 min |
| May 24, 3:07 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Jasper, Marion, Warren | 38 min |
| May 24, 3:51 AM CDT | Flash Flood Watch | DMX | Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Clarke, Davis, Decatur and 16 more | 23 hr |
| May 24, 4:17 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Cass | 6 hr |
| May 24, 4:27 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Polk | 10 days |
| May 24, 5:20 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Cass, Ringgold, Taylor, Union | 40 min |
| May 24, 5:57 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Ringgold, Union and 1 more | 48 min |
| May 24, 6:24 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Humboldt | 17 days |
| May 24, 6:46 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Lucas, Marion, Warren, Wayne | 44 min |
| May 24, 7:07 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Warren | 38 min |
| May 24, 7:21 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Dallas, Polk | 13 hr |
| May 24, 7:23 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Appanoose, Davis, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Wapello | 67 min |
| May 24, 7:40 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Poweshiek | 35 min |
| May 24, 7:44 AM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | DMX | Story | 6 hr |
| May 24, 7:46 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Marshall, Tama | 31 min |
| May 24, 7:54 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Poweshiek, Tama | 21 min |
| May 24, 9:50 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Polk | 24 hr |
| May 24, 10:16 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Adair | 3 hr |
| May 24, 10:33 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Davis, Wapello | 47 days |
| May 24, 10:35 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Black Hawk | 23 hr |
| May 24, 10:35 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Black Hawk | 34 hr |
| May 24, 10:36 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Tama | 6 days |
| May 24, 10:36 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Black Hawk | 8 days |
| May 24, 10:36 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Webster | 11 days |
| May 24, 10:36 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Boone, Hamilton, Webster | 3 days |
| May 24, 10:36 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Dallas, Greene | 7 days |
Nearby
River Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2019Every river 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.