Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 24, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Aug 9, 2026, 5:48 AM CDT for Webster County, Iowa. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 9, 2026, 5:48 AM CDT (10:48 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 9, 2026, 8:33 AM CDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Webster County, IA
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:52 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 219 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1317 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -316 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2053 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 63 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 151 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 196 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.7
The text
As transmitted.
722
WGUS53 KDMX 091048
FFWDMX
IAC187-091700-
/O.NEW.KDMX.FF.W.0024.260809T1048Z-260809T1700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
548 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026
The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northwestern Webster County in central Iowa...
* Until noon CDT Sunday.
* At 548 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 4 inches of rain
have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Western portions of Fort Dodge, Lizard Creek, and Clare.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For the latest stream observations and forecasts refer to
weather.gov/desmoines/water.
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 4251 9432 4255 9439 4264 9436 4260 9421
4247 9418
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
Lee1 follow-up statement
183
WGUS73 KDMX 091333
FFSDMX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
833 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026
IAC187-091343-
/O.CAN.KDMX.FF.W.0024.000000T0000Z-260809T1700Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Webster IA-
833 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR NORTHWESTERN WEBSTER
COUNTY...
Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to
heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 4251 9432 4255 9439 4264 9436 4260 9421
4247 9418
$$
LeeWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash 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 flash flood warning went out at Aug 9, 3:24 AM CDT, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Scattered thunderstorms ongoing early this morning. A few strong storms with large hail could occur. Localized heavy rain could lead to isolated flash flooding should it occur over an urban area. Some gusty winds around 35-45 mph may develop this morning behind the storms as well.
- Additional storms could move into portions of northern to eastern Iowa later this morning and may bring a risk for strong to even damaging wind gusts.
- Warm and humid today with heat indices near 100 in southern Iowa.
- Active weather persists through much of next week with periodic chances for thunderstorms along with the potential for a few strong storms and heavy rainfall.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 9, 3:24 AM CDT, 2 hours 24 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 324 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered thunderstorms ongoing early this morning. A few strong storms with large hail could occur. Localized heavy rain could lead to isolated flash flooding should it occur over an urban area. Some gusty winds around 35-45 mph may develop this morning behind the storms as well. - Additional storms could move into portions of northern to eastern Iowa later this morning and may bring a risk for strong to even damaging wind gusts. - Warm and humid today with heat indices near 100 in southern Iowa. - Active weather persists through much of next week with periodic chances for thunderstorms along with the potential for a few strong storms and heavy rainfall. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Issued at 319 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026 Showers and thunderstorms have been festering initially in west/southwest Iowa but in the last couple hours additional convection has begun to develop further north on the nose of the strengthening low level jet. Although initially pointed more northerly nearabouts the Missouri River, this jet is expected to arc northeast to point through central Iowa as we get into this morning. With ample moisture pointed into the area, convection is expected to continue to develop and move through the area through the rest of the overnight hours with steep lapse rates and MUCAPE values of up to around 1000-2000 J/kg. CAMs have been having a very difficult time keeping up with current radar observations and overall not reliable for timing shower/storms out in terms of locations or overall coverage. However, expectations from this time last night are being achieved (scattered storms developing on the nose of the low level jet) but started earlier and further west. This ultimately leads to more folks seeing what is likely welcome rain. However, MRMS estimates of 1-1.5" of rain has already fallen with storms previously west of Jefferson indicating that rain totals are starting to add up quickly and rain rates of 1-2" per hour may be achieved at times. This could lead to instances of isolated flash flooding should these rain rates occur over an urban area. In addition to the heavy rain threat, will also be watching for large hail. Many of the storms this morning have likely had, or at least capable of, small hail, but storms that are able to maintain long enough to grow tall enough may result in instances of isolated large hail and this is the main severe threat we'll be monitoring through much of the overnight hours. Beyond that, we'll be watching the storms that are developing over the Dakotas as they look to grow upscale as they track across Minnesota and ultimately into portions of northern and eastern Iowa. These storms could then pose a damaging wind threat as they move across portions of the area later this morning, generally clearing the area prior to midday. These storms will be more progressive but could also bring quick bout of heavy rainfall. Beyond the storms this morning (both rounds just noted), still seeing signals for some gusty around 35-45 mph winds developing on the backside of the storms so will continue to monitor for those. Then, warmer and humid conditions are on tap today. Forecast highs are in the low 80s in the north to low 90s in the south but dew points in the 70s will send heat indices towards the 100 degree mark if not over in portions of southern Iowa. Heat headlines were considered, but several failure modes are in place that may keep conditions from reaching the 105F degree criteria. First is the lingering convective debris from this overnight activity which will likely delay heating. Second is the wildfire smoke aloft which already kept temperatures down a degree or so yesterday and could certainly do so again. Third is NBM dew points are on the higher end of guidance so in lessening those a degree or so, heat indices fell enough to preclude the need for a widespread heat headline in mainly southern Iowa. Some amount of clearing and atmosphere recovery is expected and should conditions overachieve, a heat headline may still be needed, but overall expectation is for conditions to remain below a widespread 105F needed for a Heat Advisory, though again conditions will still be hot and humid. With the boundary discussed the last several days still across the state, some redevelopment of storms remains possible but may hold off until later in the evening to overnight again with a strong cap in place thanks to very warm mid level temperatures of +12-14 at 700mb. The jet location is not as favorable tonight as it is this morning, but may still help storms develop in southern Iowa. Will also need to monitor upstream convection with some models hinting at a MCS moving into portions of the area early Monday morning. Confidence in overall evolution of activity remains lower with CAMs all over the place. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Issued at 235 PM CDT Sat Aug 8 2026 The predominant westerly flow aloft will keep the surface boundary in the vicinity of Iowa through much of next week. This will have a couple impacts. First the wildfire smoke listed above will persist at times. In addition, the active weather pattern will persist with periodic chances for thunderstorms. The storms will bring an attendant chance for severe weather and the potential for heavy rainfall. At this time, it appears that dryer air and Canadian High pressure may bring a brief reprieve of the active and humid weather but already there are hints that return flow and active weather could again return again sometime next weekend. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1159 PM CDT Sat Aug 8 2026 Main challenge in the near term will be shower and storm timing, as development has been ongoing over western Iowa and is slowly expanding in coverage. Given recent trends, have pushed up PROB30 mentions for storms at KDSM and KFOD around 06-07z. Shower and storm coverage is expected to increase in coverage through the next several hours, with highest chances near KMCW and KALO near sunrise as a line of storms arrives into Iowa. MVFR conditions are possible at times with this activity due to periods of lowered ceilings and/or visibility restrictions. VFR conditions across the terminals should return late morning and through the remainder of the period, with winds turning more variable as a boundary moves into the state. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...05 LONG TERM...Donavon AVIATION...Bury
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 9, 4:07 AM CDT, 1 hour 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
407 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026
IAZ023-024-090930-
Humboldt IA-Pocahontas IA-
407 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN POCAHONTAS AND WESTERN
HUMBOLDT COUNTIES THROUGH 430 AM CDT...
At 407 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles east of Pocahontas, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Pocahontas, Rolfe, Gilmore City, Palmer, Bradgate, Pioneer, and
Pocahontas Municipal Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4267 9426 4264 9438 4264 9444 4263 9444
4260 9457 4277 9471 4291 9444
TIME...MOT...LOC 0907Z 256DEG 18KT 4271 9456
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
05Special weather statement, Aug 9, 5:46 AM CDT, 2 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
546 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026
IAZ005-024-091115-
Humboldt IA-Kossuth IA-
546 AM CDT Sun Aug 9 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL KOSSUTH AND
NORTHERN HUMBOLDT COUNTIES THROUGH 615 AM CDT...
At 546 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles northwest of Humboldt, or 12 miles northwest of Dakota City,
moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Livermore, Bode, Lu Verne, St. Joseph, Ottosen, and Irvington.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4277 9437 4289 9442 4303 9420 4286 9402
TIME...MOT...LOC 1046Z 240DEG 12KT 4288 9431
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
05The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 4:07 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Pocahontas | 23 min |
| Aug 9, 4:34 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Emmet | 26 min |
| Aug 9, 4:39 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Humboldt, Kossuth, Pocahontas | 20 min |
| Aug 9, 4:58 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Emmet | 47 min |
| Aug 9, 5:17 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto | 23 min |
| Aug 9, 5:46 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Humboldt | 29 min |
| Aug 9, 5:56 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | DMX | Kossuth | 34 min |
| Aug 9, 6:15 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Hancock, Kossuth | 30 min |
| Aug 9, 8:20 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Franklin, Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster, Wright | 55 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.