Iowa, 1996

Flooding in Iowa, May 10 to 11, 1996

May 10 to 11, 1996 · NWS DMX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

Heavy rainfall from the previous few days, and especially of the previous night created the most significant flooding in Iowa in the past two years. Two day rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches were common, with some unofficial reports in excess of 8 inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.

Heavy rainfall from the previous few days, and especially of the previous night created the most significant flooding in Iowa in the past two years. Two day rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches were common, with some unofficial reports in excess of 8 inches. The soil became saturated by three days of heavy rainfall causing rivers to rise. Flooding was reported along the Raccoon, Middle, North, Thompson, and Chariton River Basins for example. Most of the flooding was minor with rivers only a couple feet over flood stage. The Smaller streams like the North River topped out about 6 feet over flood stage. Several county roads were overtopped by the flood waters, however no major damage was reported from the flooding.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Dallas

When
May 10, 4:00 AM CST to May 11, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Dallas forecast zone
Coordinates
41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Polk

When
May 10, 4:00 AM CST to May 11, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Polk forecast zone
Coordinates
41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Madison

When
May 10, 4:00 AM CST to May 11, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Coordinates
41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Warren

When
May 10, 4:00 AM CST to May 11, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Warren forecast zone
Coordinates
41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Marion

When
May 10, 4:00 AM CST to May 11, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Marion forecast zone
Coordinates
41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Lucas

When
May 10, 4:00 AM CST to May 11, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lucas forecast zone
Coordinates
41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Taylor

When
May 10, 4:00 AM CST to May 11, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Taylor forecast zone
Coordinates
40.737, -94.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Decatur

When
May 10, 4:00 AM CST to May 11, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Decatur forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Coordinates
40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Iowa in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, May 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5544262, 5544263, 5544264, 5544265, 5544266, 5544267, 5544268, 5544269.