Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Des Moines, IA
NWS Des Moines, IA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 11, 2026, 7:13 AM CDT for 4 counties in Iowa. It was in force for 3 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
- Jun 11, 2026, 7:13 AM CDT (12:13 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 11, 2026, 10:02 AM CDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Des Moines, IA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Adair County, IA, Adams County, IA, Madison County, IA, Union County, IA
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:13 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11, 8:00 AM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | Creston, IA | Approx 6 inches of rapidly flowing water going through the intersection of W Mills St and N Oak St and approaching residential structures. Time estimated. Via social media. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 47 minutes after it went out.
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
Topeka, KS (KTOP), launched 12:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 253 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
- 1963 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -266 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 838 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 218 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -541 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 2125 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 28.0
The text
As transmitted.
525
WGUS53 KDMX 111213
FFWDMX
IAC001-003-121-175-111815-
/O.NEW.KDMX.FF.W.0009.260611T1213Z-260611T1815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
713 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026
The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southwestern Madison County in south central Iowa...
Union County in south central Iowa...
Southeastern Adair County in southwestern Iowa...
Eastern Adams County in southwestern Iowa...
* Until 115 PM CDT Thursday.
* At 713 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 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...
Creston, Corning, Lenox, Green Valley Lake, Lake Icaria, Afton,
Orient, Lorimor, Prescott, Macksburg, Cromwell, Arispe, Shannon
City, Kent, Green Valley Lake State Park, Creston Municipal
Airport and Lake Icaria State Park.
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 4134 9429 4125 9396 4116 9402 4090 9419
4090 9421 4090 9424 4090 9427 4090 9446
4090 9447 4090 9459 4104 9482 4116 9461
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
Zogg2 follow-up statements
495
WGUS73 KDMX 111446
FFSDMX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
946 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026
IAC001-003-121-175-111815-
/O.CON.KDMX.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260611T1815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Adair IA-Adams IA-Madison IA-Union IA-
946 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 PM CDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN MADISON, UNION, SOUTHEASTERN ADAIR AND
EASTERN ADAMS COUNTIES...
At 946 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain have
fallen. The public reported flash flooding in the Creston area
around 8 am.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Creston, Corning, Lenox, Green Valley Lake, Lake Icaria, Afton,
Orient, Lorimor, Prescott, Macksburg, Cromwell, Arispe, Shannon
City, Kent, Green Valley Lake State Park, Creston Municipal
Airport and Lake Icaria State Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For the latest stream observations and forecasts refer to
weather.gov/desmoines/water.
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
&&
LAT...LON 4134 9429 4125 9396 4116 9402 4090 9419
4090 9421 4090 9424 4090 9427 4090 9446
4090 9447 4090 9459 4104 9482 4116 9461
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
Zogg205
WGUS73 KDMX 111502
FFSDMX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
1002 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026
IAC001-003-121-175-111512-
/O.CAN.KDMX.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260611T1815Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Adair IA-Adams IA-Madison IA-Union IA-
1002 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWESTERN MADISON, UNION,
SOUTHEASTERN ADAIR AND EASTERN ADAMS COUNTIES...
Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1100 AM CDT for portions of
central, south central, and southeast Iowa.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1100 AM CDT for portions of
central, south central, southwest, and west central Iowa.
&&
LAT...LON 4134 9429 4125 9396 4116 9402 4090 9419
4090 9421 4090 9424 4090 9427 4090 9446
4090 9447 4090 9459 4104 9482 4116 9461
$$
ZoggWhat 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 Jun 11, 6:15 AM CDT, 58 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Severe storms are expected this morning and are possible again from midday into the early evening. All severe hazards are possible including damaging winds (potentially up to 80 mph early this morning), large hail, and tornadoes, as well as heavy rain bringing a threat for Flash Flooding.
- Gusty winds behind the storms may have 30-40 mph gusts, with 50 mph gusts not out of the question from late morning into late afternoon west to east respectively.
- Cooler, drier conditions develop on Friday.
- Thunderstorm chances return Saturday, some of which may be severe.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 11, 6:15 AM CDT, 58 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 615 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026 ...Updated for the 12z Aviation Discussion... .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe storms are expected this morning and are possible again from midday into the early evening. All severe hazards are possible including damaging winds (potentially up to 80 mph early this morning), large hail, and tornadoes, as well as heavy rain bringing a threat for Flash Flooding. - Gusty winds behind the storms may have 30-40 mph gusts, with 50 mph gusts not out of the question from late morning into late afternoon west to east respectively. - Cooler, drier conditions develop on Friday. - Thunderstorm chances return Saturday, some of which may be severe. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Issued at 315 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026 Upper level trough crosses through the Central Plains this morning before swinging through the Upper Midwest this afternoon into tonight and then arriving in the Great Lakes region late tonight. At the surface, a low over western Kansas early overnight is expected to move towards and then into Iowa this morning as it heads for the southern Great Lakes area into tonight. Additionally, the boundary is stalled out around central Iowa that will later on today continue to progress eastward as a cold front while the warm front/modifying outflow has begun to activate in central Nebraska early this morning and will continue to lift back northward. With ample forcing as noted already aided further by a 40-50+ knot LLJ we're looking at another round of severe storms this morning with some chance for additional development along the eventually progressing cold front/any lingering boundary from this morning's activity from around midday through this afternoon. We've already coordinated a Severe Thunderstorm watch with SPC and surrounding offices for this first round early this morning with the risk of large hail, some very large hail possible early, with all guidance and expectation in the clusters of storms growing upscale into a severe MCS as they progress eastward across Iowa bringing the threat for damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, potentially even destructive and up to 80 mph. Although early storms are generally expected to be elevated, a tornado could be possible early with supercell structures but certainly with time storms are expected to become surface based as moisture surges back in this morning sending instability values by mid morning back to 2000-4000 J/kg and with nearing 50 knots or more of 0-6 bulk shear. Thus, tornadoes along the line near and then after sunrise are possible as the storms cross through southern into portions of central Iowa. The bulk of this first round should be through by 15 or 16Z (10 or 11A) and is the highest severe risk of the day. Additional storms may be able to reactivate along the cold front as previously mentioned or any lingering outflow depending on our atmosphere recovery. This looks most likely in the far east/southeast but could also occur in portions of central to north central Iowa if this first round is able to push through quickly (south central), or with locations that stay dry in the first round (portions of central into north central Iowa) or further east altogether if morning storms hold on longer. All hazards are on the table again - damaging wind gusts, large hail, and tornadoes, with the tornado threat highest near the triple point into east central/northeast Iowa, but should not be discounted elsewhere given the environment. Showers have already started in northwest Iowa and showers, occasional storms, are expected to prevail a good portion of the day over northwest into northern Iowa where the severe risk is much lower (severe weather not expected in northwest Iowa). Behind these 2 rounds of storms, environmental winds on the back side of the low look to increase with gusts of 30-40 mph common, and 50 mph gusts not out of the question. Considered a wind headline but confidence in location and timing is not quite there to do so but this will be something we will watch closely into midday with these winds expected to move in west to east from mid morning west. through late afternoon to early evening in the east The Flood Watch also remains in effect this morning, see the hydro discussion for further details on the hydro threat with these storms today. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 301 PM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026 Behind the cold front on Thursday, conditions become cooler and drier through Friday. Thunderstorm chances then return again on Saturday, with severe storms possible once again Saturday afternoon. With so much ongoing in the short-term, will discuss this risk more thoroughly once we are through the current active period. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 559 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026 A complex of thunderstorms in southwest IA will continue to race east this morning, likely growing upscale with time. DSM and OTM are the most likely to take the brunt of this system within the next couple of hours. Strong westerly winds will coincide with the storms' arrival with gusts reaching 35-45 knots. These gusts may be too conservative of an estimate but we'll see how observations and radar trends evolve. IFR conditions are expected during storms with showers and MVFR cigs likely continuing afterwards for much of the region into this afternoon. CAMs suggest a another round of storms is possible this afternoon at OTM so have kept PROB30 while slightly adjusting timing. VFR conditions expected this evening onward as skies clear. Southeasterly winds flip to northwesterly after a cold frontal passage in the wake of the precip with speeds increasing to 15-20 knots this afternoon. Gusts will reach 30-35 knots. Winds turn westerly and slow to 5-10 knots this evening. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 1134 AM CDT Wed Jun 10 2026 Flash flood concerns exist through Thursday morning due to rainfall earlier today as well as additional rain later today into tonight. See the latest WPC Day1/Day2 Excessive Rainfall Outlooks (EROs) and Mesoscale Precipitation Discussions (MPDs), as well as NWC Flood Hazard Outlooks (FHOs) and Area Hydrologic Discussions (AHDs) for more details. We issued a flash flood watch up to I-80 to highlight the threat through Thursday morning. Greatest concern is potential flash flooding tonight in central and southern Iowa. Training storms may produce up to 3-4+ inches of rain in those areas. Flash flood threat in central Iowa would mainly involve urban areas including the Des Moines metro area. Higher end rainfall may lead to flooding of creeks and small streams. In southern Iowa, flash flood concerns involve more than urban areas, such as roads going through lower areas or near streams. Higher end rainfall there may lead to more significant flash flooding. With much of the potential flash flooding occurring during the night, floodwaters can be more difficult to see especially in areas that lack urban lighting. We would like to remind people to avoid driving into flooded areas, instead find an alternate route. Also people living in areas prone to flash flood impacts should plan in advance what to do if floodwaters threaten their areas tonight. Longer term, the risk of river flooding over the next several days is minimal (generally less than 15-25%), however minor to moderate within-bank rises are again possible in basins that receive heavier rainfall. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until 11 AM CDT this morning for IAZ057>062- 070>075-081>086-092>097. && SHORT TERM...05 LONG TERM...Dodson AVIATION... HYDROLOGY...Zogg
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 11, 3:43 AM CDT, 3 hours 30 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 343 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026 IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-120845- 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-Tama- 343 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight Severe storms are possible this morning in central Iowa and again from midday into the early evening in portions of central to eastern Iowa. All severe hazards are possible including damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes, as well as heavy rain bringing a threat for flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Thunderstorm chances return Saturday, some of which may be severe in especially southern Iowa. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters will be needed today. Rainfall reports are also appreciated. IAZ057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-120845- Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison- Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union-Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello- Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-Appanoose-Davis- 343 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight Severe storms are expected this morning and are possible again from midday into the early evening. All severe hazards are possible including damaging winds (potentially up to 80 mph early this morning), large hail, and tornadoes, as well as heavy rain bringing a threat for flash flooding. A Flood Watch is in effect for the area this morning. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Thunderstorm chances return Saturday, some of which may be severe in especially southern Iowa. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters will be needed today. Rainfall reports are also appreciated.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 11, 6:46 AM CDT, 27 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
646 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0618 AM Tstm Wnd Gst Griswold 41.23N 95.14W
06/11/2026 M65 MPH Cass IA Mesonet
Measured from personal weather station.
&&Local storm report, Jun 11, 6:51 AM CDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
651 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0645 AM Hail Creston 41.06N 94.36W
06/11/2026 M1.00 Inch Union IA Trained Spotter
&&Local storm report, Jun 11, 6:56 AM CDT, 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
656 AM CDT Thu Jun 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0638 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNW Audubon 41.73N 94.94W
06/11/2026 M68 MPH Audubon IA Mesonet
Measured from personal weather station.
0647 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 NE Audubon 41.78N 94.84W
06/11/2026 M64 MPH Audubon IA Mesonet
Measured from personal weather station.
0653 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SW Adair 41.49N 94.66W
06/11/2026 M70 MPH Adair IA Mesonet
Measured from personal weather station.
0655 AM Tstm Wnd Gst Creston 41.06N 94.36W
06/11/2026 M70 MPH Union IA Emergency Mngr
Relayed via NWS Chat.
0655 AM Hail Afton 41.03N 94.20W
06/11/2026 M1.00 Inch Union IA Emergency Mngr
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Des Moines, IA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 7:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Jasper, Marion, Polk | 30 min |
| Jun 10, 7:03 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone, Hamilton, Story | 42 min |
| Jun 10, 7:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Butler, Cerro Gordo, Franklin | 51 min |
| Jun 10, 7:47 PM CDT | River Flood Warning | DMX | Appanoose, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne | 4 hr |
| Jun 10, 9:07 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | DMX | Lucas | 6 hr |
| Jun 10, 10:01 PM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | DMX | Marion | 35 hr |
| Jun 11, 5:26 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Appanoose, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne | 17 hr |
| Jun 11, 5:26 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adams, Taylor | 49 min |
| Jun 11, 5:59 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Cass, Ringgold, Taylor, Union | 61 min |
| Jun 11, 6:10 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Cass, Taylor | 35 min |
| Jun 11, 6:15 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adair, Audubon, Cass, Guthrie | 30 min |
| Jun 11, 6:29 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Decatur, Wayne | 20 min |
| Jun 11, 6:32 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Adair, Adams, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor, Union | 28 min |
| Jun 11, 6:34 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Audubon, Cass, Dallas, Guthrie | 41 min |
| Jun 11, 6:43 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Taylor, Union | 47 min |
| Jun 11, 6:52 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Audubon, Boone, Carroll, Greene, Guthrie | 53 min |
| Jun 11, 6:57 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison, Polk, Warren | 48 min |
| Jun 11, 7:03 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Dallas, Guthrie | 27 min |
| Jun 11, 7:15 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Wayne | 45 min |
| Jun 11, 7:20 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Boone, Story | 40 min |
| Jun 11, 7:22 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Boone, Dallas, Polk, Story | 23 min |
| Jun 11, 7:38 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Wapello, Warren | 52 min |
| Jun 11, 7:44 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Grundy, Hardin, Jasper, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall and 4 more | 46 min |
| Jun 11, 7:49 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Appanoose, Davis, Decatur, Lucas, Monroe, Ringgold and 2 more | 56 min |
| Jun 11, 7:55 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Grundy, Jasper, Marshall, Story, Tama | 50 min |
| Jun 11, 8:12 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello | 48 min |
| Jun 11, 8:15 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | DMX | Mahaska, Poweshiek | 30 min |
| Jun 11, 8:25 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Grundy, Hardin, Jasper, Mahaska, Marion and 3 more | 65 min |
| Jun 11, 8:38 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin | 67 min |
| Jun 11, 8:45 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | DMX | Appanoose, Davis, Wayne | 60 min |
| Jun 11, 9:07 AM CDT | Areal Flood Warning | DMX | Appanoose, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne | 24 hr |
| Jun 11, 9:37 AM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Taylor | 10 hr |
| Jun 11, 10:05 AM CDT | High Wind Warning | DMX | Black Hawk, Bremer, Tama | 55 min |
| Jun 11, 2:02 PM CDT | River Flood Watch | DMX | Decatur | 13 hr |
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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.