Flooding in Iowa, May 7 to 8, 1997

Name: Flooding in Iowa, May 7 to 8, 1997
Start: 1997-05-07T18:00
End: 1997-05-08T22:00
Location: Iowa

May 7 to 8, 1997 · NWS DMX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Much of the raihnfall in Iowa during the month of May occurred during the first week of the month. A significant rainfall event occured on the 7th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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.

Much of the raihnfall in Iowa during the month of May occurred during the first week of the month. A significant rainfall event occured on the 7th. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches were common east and south of Des Moines, with some spotty amounts to 4 inchs. This in combination with above normal streamflow from the last of the spring snow melt resulted in minor flooding over parts of southern Iowa. Once again, damage was quite minor.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Warren

When: May 7, 6:00 PM CST to May 8, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Marion

When: May 7, 6:00 PM CST to May 8, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Mahaska

When: May 7, 6:00 PM CST to May 8, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Clarke

When: May 7, 6:00 PM CST to May 8, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Lucas

When: May 7, 6:00 PM CST to May 8, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Monroe

When: May 7, 6:00 PM CST to May 8, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Wapello

When: May 7, 6:00 PM CST to May 8, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (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

Every storm in Iowa in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, May 1997

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: 5613758, 5613759, 5613760, 5613761, 5613762, 5613763, 5613764.