Alert archive / Iowa / River Flood Warnings in 2026

River Flood Warning 53, NWS Quad Cities, IA

July 3, 2026Cedar County, Jones County, Linn County, Iowa

NWS Quad Cities, IA issued this river flood warning at Jul 3, 2026, 8:37 PM CDT for Cedar County, Jones County, Linn County, Iowa. It took effect at Jul 4, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 3 days.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 3, 2026, 8:37 PM CDT (01:37 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 4, 2026, 7:00 PM CDT
Expired
Jul 7, 2026, 9:00 PM CDT
In force
3 days
Issued by
NWS Quad Cities, IA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
Minor

Counties Cedar County, IA, Jones County, IA, Linn County, IA

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:39 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 Wapsipinicon River at Anamosa Shaw Rd (ANSI4). The gauge peaked at 14.04 ft at Jul 6, 2026, 12:00 PM CDT.

actionminormoderate101507/0407/0507/0607/0707/0807/09
Action stage
13 ft
Minor stage
14.5 ft
Moderate stage
18 ft
Major stage
21.5 ft

This gauge today: stage, forecast and historic crests

Stage from the USGS instantaneous record for site 05421740, 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 Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this river flood warning went out at Jul 3, 6:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Extreme Heat Warning continues through this evening for the south, the other areas cloud debris and lingering precip should keep heat index readings below headline criteria. Still very humid and uncomfortable. Not as hot early next week with more seasonable temps.
  • Messy storm pattern through the weekend with several rounds of storms possible. But many dry hours embedded in with the storm chances as well.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 6:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
652 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

-  Extreme Heat Warning continues through this evening for the south,
   the other areas cloud debris and lingering precip should
   keep heat index readings below headline criteria. Still very
   humid and uncomfortable. Not as hot early next week with more
   seasonable temps.

-  Messy storm pattern through the weekend with several rounds
   of storms possible. But many dry hours embedded in with the
   storm chances as well.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Issued at 243 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

The outflow boundary from last nights storm complex is now moving
back north and allowing the atmosphere to recover. The heat
headlines will remain in place with the 10 PM expiration time
looking reasonable.

The flood watch has been expanded in areal coverage down to Highway
34 in southeast Iowa and extended through 7 AM Saturday morning.

As the boundary moves back north, it will collide the other
boundaries across the area. Each boundary and the intersection of
boundaries will provide numerous foci for diurnal convection
development any time after 4 PM. Overall coverage will be isolated
to scattered (10-35%) through sunset with said convection slowly
decaying through midnight.

Late this afternoon storms will fire in eastern Nebraska and grow
upscale into another organized storm complex. The storm complex will
then move generally east across Iowa and arrive in eastern Iowa at
after midnight.

Thus rain chances will be low through 4 PM followed by an uptick
through sunset and then perhaps another lull. Depending upon where
the storm complex forms and moves tonight, there should be a general
uptick with rain chances after midnight.

Moisture levels in the atmosphere remain quite high so storms will
have plenty of moisture available to produce rain. Warm rain
processes have a 50-70% probability of coming into play so rainfall
rates in the stronger storms will potentially be high. Corfidi
vectors become perpendicular to each other and at times are opposed
to each other. This raises the potential for storms to repeat over
the same areas or move very slowly. If this occurs then rainfall
would have a high probability of being excessive.

As for the severe risk tonight, the better risk is the western half
of Iowa. Storms should be in a decaying mode when they arrive in
eastern Iowa. An isolated severe storm cannot be ruled out with
damaging winds and hail being the primary risks.

Saturday will likely be similar to Friday morning; a decaying storm
complex entering or over eastern Iowa that has new convection
developing along outflow boundaries. This scenario will likely be
seen through mid-morning followed by convection dissipating in the
late morning. Boundaries left over from the nocturnal convection
will provide numerous foci for diurnal development mid to late
afternoon Saturday. Like Friday, coverage will be low at 10-30
percent. There may be a couple of severe storms Saturday with
damaging wind and hail being the primary risks.

Heat and humidity will continue across the area on Saturday but peak
afternoon heat indices along/south of Highway 30 look to be 95 to
100. North of Highway 30, peak heat indices look to be 90 to 95.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Issued at 300 AM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

Saturday night...there are signs of short wave energy and mid
level jet flux starting to angle the steering flow acrs the
upper Midwest more northwesterly. this process may form
nocturnal thunderstorms right overhead, just off to the
southwest, or north to northeast of the local CWA into Sunday
morning. Several models and ensembles support all three of these
scenarios and makes for high uncertainty at this juncture in
time. Will have to cover these chances with decent POPs and
await further runs for any changes.

Sunday...Not as hot and with a northwest flow upper wave overhead,
there will be the chance for isolated to widely sctrd showers and
storms popping up in the afternoon heating. High CAPE-low shear type
of scenario.

Quick look at next week, appears to be large/broad ridging regime
developing acrs much of the upper mid CONUS, meaning mainly dry and
seasonable for the home team through at least mid week.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 637 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

A line of thunderstorms is exiting KCID and KDBQ to start the
TAF period with the line of storms expected to move into KMLI by
1 UTC. A period of MVFR to possible IFR ceilings and
visibilities is possible with this line of storms. There is
lower confidence that this will make it to KBRL so left a prob30
there for that. Another line of storms is possible. Gusts of 40
knots are possible with storms this evening. Another line of
storms is forecast to move across the area after 09 UTC. Outside
of storms VFR conditions are expected.

&&

.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...Flood Watch through Saturday morning for IAZ040>042-051>053-
     063>065-067-076>078-087>089.
     Extreme Heat Warning until 10 PM CDT this evening for
     IAZ087>089-098-099.
IL...Extreme Heat Warning until 10 PM CDT this evening for ILZ025-
     026-034-035.
MO...Extreme Heat Warning until 10 PM CDT this evening for MOZ009-
     010.

&&

SHORT TERM...08
LONG TERM...12/08
AVIATION...Cousins
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 2:54 PM CDT, 5 hours 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
254 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007-
009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-042000-
Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson-
Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson-
Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll-
Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson-
Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark-
254 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east
central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

The Extreme Heat Warning will continue through this evening
for areas generally along and south of an Ottumwa, Iowa to
Galesburg, Illinois line. Peak heat indices just over 100 are
expected.

The entire Outlook Area will be susceptible to rounds of
thunderstorms tonight. The potential for strong to severe storms
and flash flooding will also continue through this period. Most of
the area is in Slight Risk(Level 2 out of 5) tonight with
damaging winds the primary concern. Repeated storms producing
heavy rainfall at high rates will also have the capability to
produce flash flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

There is a Marginal Risk(Level 1 out of 5) for severe weather on
Saturday for areas generally south and east of a Mount Pleasant
Iowa, to Quad Cities, to Princeton Illinois line.

Locally heavy rain and flash flooding will also continue to be a
threat on Saturday. The repeated rounds of heavy rain will produce
rises on some area creeks and tributary rivers, with a few
potentially reaching bankfull or even approach the flood stage
through early next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed at times today through Saturday.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 3, 5:13 PM CDT, 3 hours 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
513 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

IAZ040>042-051>054-066-ILZ001-002-032330-
Jo Daviess IL-Stephenson IL-Clinton IA-Linn IA-Buchanan IA-
Delaware IA-Benton IA-Jackson IA-Dubuque IA-Jones IA-
513 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Jo Daviess,
Stephenson, northwestern Clinton, Linn, southeastern Buchanan,
Delaware, northeastern Benton, Jackson, Dubuque and Jones Counties
through 630 PM CDT...

At 512 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking scattered strong
thunderstorms across the U.S. Highway 30 to U.S. Highway 20
corridors in eastern Iowa and far northwest Illinois. Movement was
east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and minor flooding.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could cause minor tree limb damage and blow
         around unsecured objects. Slowing or redirecting of traffic
         due to ponding or flowing water. Closure of waterfront
         access due to flooding.

Locations impacted include...
Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Freeport, Anamosa, Vinton, Manchester, Galena,
Marion, Hiawatha, Mount Vernon, Asbury, Dyersville, Monticello,
Robins, Lena, Center Point, Bellevue, Cascade, Lisbon, and Fairfax.

This includes Interstate 380 between mile markers 12 and 45.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring and may lead to localized flooding.
Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4265 9077 4263 9070 4252 9064 4251 9064
      4250 8940 4220 8940 4219 9031 4218 9033
      4186 9162 4186 9174 4214 9209 4265 9136
      4265 9090 4268 9090
TIME...MOT...LOC 2212Z 255DEG 29KT 4216 9136 4193 9164

MAX HAIL SIZE...<0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Friedlein
Local storm report, Jul 3, 5:55 PM CDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
555 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0538 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SE Scioto Mills       42.33N 89.64W
07/03/2026                   Stephenson         IL   Law Enforcement

            Tree fell and took down power lines.

&&

ALE
Special weather statement, Jul 3, 6:15 PM CDT, 2 hours 22 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
615 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

IAZ042-053-054-064>066-068-ILZ001-002-007-040000-
Carroll IL-Jo Daviess IL-Stephenson IL-Scott IA-Clinton IA-
Jackson IA-Dubuque IA-Cedar IA-Jones IA-Johnson IA-
615 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern Carroll,
Jo Daviess, western Stephenson, northwestern Scott, Clinton, Jackson,
southeastern Dubuque, Cedar, southeastern Jones and northern Johnson
Counties through 700 PM CDT...

At 614 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near St. Donatus to Canton to near Olin to near
Tiffin. Movement was east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph, minor flooding and penny size
         hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could cause minor tree limb damage and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects
         is possible. Slowing or redirecting of traffic due to
         ponding or flowing water. Closure of waterfront access due
         to flooding.

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Iowa City, Galena, Stanwood, Coralville, North Liberty, University
  Heights, Oxford Junction, La Motte, Monmouth, and St. Donatus
  around 620 PM CDT.
  Fulton and Nashville around 625 PM CDT.
  Tipton, West Branch, Lost Nation, Andrew, and Hurstville around
  630 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of these storms include Maquoketa,
Bellevue, Lowden, Toronto, Springbrook, Elizabeth and Schapville.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 237 and 279.
 Interstate 380 near mile marker 1.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4250 8993 4236 8992 4211 9010 4190 9033
      4160 9095 4160 9136 4163 9181 4196 9115
      4251 9054
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 275DEG 24KT 4239 9057 4217 9087 4196 9110 4167
9168

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Gross
Special weather statement, Jul 3, 6:54 PM CDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
654 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

IAZ054-064>068-078-ILZ007-009-015>017-040100-
Whiteside IL-Carroll IL-Rock Island IL-Bureau IL-Henry IL-Scott IA-
Clinton IA-Jackson IA-Muscatine IA-Cedar IA-Louisa IA-Johnson IA-
654 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of western Whiteside,
south central Carroll, southeastern Rock Island, northwestern Bureau,
northern Henry, Scott, Clinton, southeastern Jackson, Muscatine,
southeastern Cedar, northwestern Louisa and southeastern Johnson
Counties through 800 PM CDT...

At 653 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Andrew to Rochester. Movement was east at
30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph, minor flooding and penny size
         hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could cause minor tree limb damage and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects
         is possible. Slowing or redirecting of traffic due to
         ponding or flowing water. Closure of waterfront access due
         to flooding.

Locations impacted include...
Davenport, Moline, Rock Island, Bettendorf, Clinton, Muscatine, East
Moline, Morrison, Durant, Silvis, Geneseo, Eldridge, DeWitt, Milan,
Colona, Camanche, Le Claire, Coal Valley, West Liberty, and Fulton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
north central and northwestern Illinois...and southeastern and east
central Iowa.

&&

LAT...LON 4141 9137 4145 9137 4159 9125 4208 9048
      4207 8986 4145 8986
TIME...MOT...LOC 2353Z 261DEG 27KT 4213 9054 4164 9117

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Friedlein
Special weather statement, Jul 3, 7:08 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL
708 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

IAZ063-064-067-076>078-087-040100-
Keokuk IA-Iowa IA-Washington IA-Muscatine IA-Louisa IA-Jefferson IA-
Johnson IA-
708 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Keokuk, southern
Iowa, Washington, west central Muscatine, northwestern Louisa,
northwestern Jefferson and southern Johnson Counties through 800 PM
CDT...

At 707 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Hills to near Hayesville. Movement was
east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and minor flooding.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Strong winds could break small tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Slowing or redirecting of traffic due to
         ponding or flowing water. Closure of waterfront access due
         to flooding.

Locations impacted include...
Washington, Sigourney, Williamsburg, Kalona, Tiffin, Wellman, Lone
Tree, North English, Riverside, Oxford, Hedrick, Hills, What Cheer,
Richland, Ainsworth, Conesville, Delta, Keswick, South English, and
Packwood.

This includes Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 216 and 237.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring and may lead to localized flooding.
Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
southeastern and east central Iowa.

&&

LAT...LON 4151 9241 4151 9230 4159 9230 4181 9183
      4140 9127 4108 9214 4111 9218 4116 9218
      4116 9227 4125 9241
TIME...MOT...LOC 0007Z 291DEG 15KT 4153 9150 4123 9224

MAX HAIL SIZE...<0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

DC
Special weather statement, Jul 3, 8:14 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Quad Cities, IA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 3, 7:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNIowa, Keokuk, Washington52 min
Jul 3, 7:32 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCedar, Muscatine, Scott58 min
Jul 3, 7:50 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNScott3 hr
Jul 3, 9:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNDes Moines, Henry, Lee59 min
Jul 4, 3:29 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNIowa, Keokuk61 min
Jul 4, 4:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCedar, Iowa, Johnson, Linn65 min
Jul 4, 5:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNClinton, Scott48 min
Jul 4, 9:38 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNBenton, Iowa6 days
Jul 4, 10:35 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningDVNClinton, Scott7 days
Jul 4, 6:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNDubuque46 min
Jul 3, 7:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCarroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson56 min
Jul 3, 7:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningDVNCarroll, Whiteside39 min
Jul 3, 8:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNWhiteside46 min
Jul 3, 8:55 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNBureau, Putnam65 min
Jul 4, 5:07 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNBureau, Putnam38 min
Jul 4, 2:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementDVNPutnam45 min
Jul 4, 2:58 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningDVNBureau, Putnam5 hr

Nearby

River Flood Warnings in Iowa, 2026Every river 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive; the gauge from the NWS water service and the USGS.