Flooding in Iowa, April 7 to 12, 1998

Name: Flooding in Iowa, April 7 to 12, 1998
Start: 1998-04-07T12:00
End: 1998-04-12T06:00
Location: Iowa

April 7 to 12, 1998 · NWS DMX · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

The heavy rains and subsequent minor flooding experienced in March continued through much of April. 83 inches above normal.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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: $150,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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.

The heavy rains and subsequent minor flooding experienced in March continued through much of April. Data from the Iowa State Climatologist indicated statewide precipitation in April was 3.99 inches, or .83 inches above normal. The period from 01 January through 30 April 1998 was the 5th wettest first four months of the year on record. The rain fell at intervals about a week apart. This kept flooding fairly minor. The most significant event occurred during the first episode of the month. Flooding occurred along the North Raccoon, Chariton, Des Moines, and South Skunk River Basins. The flooding was relatively minor with crests less than 3 feet above flood stage in most areas.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Calhoun

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Carroll

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Dallas

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 41.685, -94.040 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Greene

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hamilton

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Lucas

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Mahaska

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Marion

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Wapello

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Webster

When: April 7, 12:00 PM CST to April 12, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (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 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, April 1998

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: 5640158, 5640159, 5640160, 5640161, 5640162, 5640163, 5640164, 5640165, 5640166, 5640167.