Alert archive / Iowa / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

August 14, 2026Woodbury County, Iowa

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this flash flood warning at Aug 14, 2026, 5:38 AM CDT for Woodbury 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 14, 2026, 5:38 AM CDT (10:38 UTC)
Expired
Aug 14, 2026, 8:18 AM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Woodbury County, IA

The radar

The Omaha radar (KOAX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:41 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, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 104 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, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-08-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1864 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Omaha, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-08-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 68 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1864 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-112 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
845 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
68 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
214 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.2
Supercell composite
12.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

794 
WGUS53 KFSD 141038
FFWFSD
IAC193-141345-
/O.NEW.KFSD.FF.W.0009.260814T1038Z-260814T1345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
538 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southwestern Woodbury County in west central Iowa...

* Until 845 AM CDT.

* At 538 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between
  1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate
  is 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1
  inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or
  expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

  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...
  Sloan and Hornick.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 4228 9636 4231 9621 4234 9597 4225 9594
      4221 9612 4221 9634 4222 9635 4222 9633
      4223 9632 4224 9633 4225 9633 4226 9633
      4227 9634

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

SG
2 follow-up statements
041 
WGUS73 KFSD 141148
FFSFSD

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
648 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

IAC193-141345-
/O.CON.KFSD.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260814T1345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Woodbury IA-
648 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 AM CDT THIS
MORNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN WOODBURY COUNTY...

At 648 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2
and 3 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 0.5
inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to
begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

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...
  Sloan and Hornick.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 4228 9636 4231 9621 4234 9597 4225 9594
      4221 9612 4221 9634 4222 9635 4222 9633
      4223 9632 4224 9633 4225 9633 4226 9633
      4227 9634

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...0.5 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

SG
120 
WGUS73 KFSD 141318
FFSFSD

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
818 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

IAC193-141328-
/O.CAN.KFSD.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260814T1345Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Woodbury IA-
818 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHWESTERN WOODBURY
COUNTY...

Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to
heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 4231 9621 4234 9597 4225 9594 4221 9611
      4221 9634 4222 9635 4222 9633 4223 9632
      4224 9633 4225 9633 4226 9633 4227 9634
      4228 9636

$$

Weisser

What 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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 14, 3:44 AM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue this morning over northeastern Nebraska into northwestern Iowa. Shower/storm chances expand north today/tonight, but better chances remain across northeastern Nebraska and northwestern Iowa. The main threat is locally heavy rain.
  • Patchy fog continues mainly over the higher elevations of southwest Minnesota and adjacent areas of eastern South Dakota this morning. Moderate (40-55%) chances of locally dense fog by daybreak.
  • Areas of low stratus expand from south to north this morning, with low confidence on how quickly this erodes into the afternoon. This may be a recurring phenomenon through the weekend.
  • Near to below normal temperatures through most of next week. Periodic showers and storms expected. Humidity lingers.&&
Area forecast discussion, Aug 14, 3:44 AM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
344 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue this morning over
  northeastern Nebraska into northwestern Iowa. Shower/storm
  chances expand north today/tonight, but better chances remain
  across northeastern Nebraska and northwestern Iowa. The main
  threat is locally heavy rain.

- Patchy fog continues mainly over the higher elevations of
  southwest Minnesota and adjacent areas of eastern South Dakota
  this morning. Moderate (40-55%) chances of locally dense fog
  by daybreak.

- Areas of low stratus expand from south to north this morning,
  with low confidence on how quickly this erodes into the
  afternoon. This may be a recurring phenomenon through the
  weekend.

- Near to below normal temperatures through most of next week.
  Periodic showers and storms expected. Humidity lingers.&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 343 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

Patchy fog lingers through mid morning near the Buffalo Ridge.
Probability of visibility below 1/4 mile has increased for this area
as well, so be prepared for changing conditions.

Showers/storms continue to bloom this morning near and south of US
Highway 20, where mesoanalysis indicates some WAA and increasing
vorticity with an elevated boundary, somewhere between 850mb and
700mb. CAMs remain too slow with the development of this activity
based on trends over the last hour. Development remains focused just
south of our area, but expect this to lift north through the morning
hours. Also some isolated showers north of I-90. Scattered showers
and storms continue today into tonight with the mid level wave and
as the surface low lifts north out of KS.

Severe weather is not expected with soundings showing a deep warm
layer, relatively weak shear, and tall/skinny CAPE. Main threat
remains locally heavy rain through mid to late morning; activity so
far seems fairly progressive, so concern would be training storms
over areas near US Hwy 20 that received heavier rainfall yesterday.
Locally heavy rain remains the main threat later today as well,
especially over those aforementioned areas. Severe weather remains
unlikely later today into tonight with continued long/skinny CAPE
profiles and a deep warm layer, precluding hail threat and limiting
wind potential.

May see a break in the more widespread precipitation overnight
Friday into Saturday between waves. Confidence in precip
timing/coverage remains low for this time. Fog and stratus are
expected to develop once again.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 118 PM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026

Upper level flow becomes a bit more southwesterly tonight into
Friday, which will allow a weak wave to drift north into the area.
With an elevated 1000-1500 J/kg CAPE, a freezing level around 14 kft
and weak shear, locally heavy rain with slow moving storms will be
the main concern. This weak mid to upper level support lingers
into the afternoon and early evening, especially across parts of
northwest IA, and may allow for additional showers and isolated
thunderstorms. One note, the LLJ and 850 mb boundary looks to
remain just south of the area so the pockets of heavier rain may
stay just south as well. To the northwest of northwest IA weak
capping may keep the activity more limited. For now severe
weather very unlikely and flash flooding threats also look low.

Additional weak mid and upper level support moves through the area
later Friday night into Saturday and may bring additional showers
and isolated thunderstorms. Severe weather and flash flooding appear
very unlikely.

One common theme for Friday into the weekend will be persistent and
potentially difficult to dissipate stratus and patchy fog. Weak low
level flow and some residual boundary layer moisture from the latest
rainfall may help keep this stratus potential in place until a bit
stronger push of drier air can move into the area. Sunday does look
like the day with the lowest threat for any showers and storms.

Monday will see a west northwest jet max sag south into the area
which should allow for heating ahead with a weak cool front
trailing Monday night. This cool front could spark a few
thunderstorms Monday night with isolated severe storms possible. The
EC and Canadian are slower with this front than the GFS, so will
need to watch trends and for now low confidence on any storms.

West northwest flow aloft remains in place Tuesday through Thursday
with periodic weak waves expected to move through. This should keep
shower and thunderstorm chances in place during this time with near
to below normal temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1251 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

MVFR stratus has begun to develop south of US Highway 18 and
will continue to spread north through the early morning hours
and gradually lower to IFR and possibly LIFR in a some spots.
Patchy fog also remains possible mainly over the higher
elevations of southwest Minnesota and adjacent east-central
South Dakota through about 13z. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms will begin to move towards the Highway 20 corridor
early this morning and continue lifting north and weakening
through the daytime morning hours with northward extent.

Low stratus looks to linger through much of the daytime hours,
if not the whole day especially south of Highway 14. At the
same time, additional showers will develop through the afternoon
hours, along with a couple of thunderstorms if skies can clear.
Due to that uncertainty a PROB30 group for -TSRA this afternoon
for KSUX seems sufficient at this time. Any areas of stratus
that erode or lift through the day today will likely see it
expand again into Friday night.

Winds will be around 8-12 kts through the period, turning more
to the southeast throughout the day today. Winds then become
light and variable heading into Friday night.

&&

.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
MN...None.
IA...None.
NE...None.

&&

UPDATE...SG
DISCUSSION...08
AVIATION...Samet
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 14, 3:52 AM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
352 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-
098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-150900-
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-
Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory-
Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-
Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton-
Union-
352 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central
Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, central South
Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and
southeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms this morning mainly south of I-90. Scattered
storm chances continue into tonight, best chances near US Highway
20. A few stronger storms could produce wind gusts up to 45 mph and
locally heavy rainfall across northeast Nebraska and northwest Iowa.

Patchy fog through this morning mainly over the higher elevations of
southwest Minnesota. Locally dense fog is possible; widespread
issues are not expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

Periodic chances for showers and thunderstorms continue every night
through Wednesday. Although risk is low, few storms could become
strong to severe. Locally heavy rain remains possible.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed.

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.