Iowa, 1998

Flooding in Iowa, May 7 to 8, 1998

May 7 to 8, 1998 · NWS DMX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

After a fairly extended period of dry weather across Iowa, the rains returned to the state. The rainfall for the month was near normal, however isolated pockets of heavy rainfall occurred resulting in isolated river flooding.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$175,000
Crop damage
$70,000
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.

After a fairly extended period of dry weather across Iowa, the rains returned to the state. The rainfall for the month was near normal, however isolated pockets of heavy rainfall occurred resulting in isolated river flooding. The heaviest rain events occurred on the 6th, 15th-16th, and the 23rd-24th. Much of the flooding was agricultural flooding and flooding to low lying areas. Dollar damage was therefore minimized. The rain event of the 6th resulted in flooding along parts of the Chariton and Skunk River Basins. Once again, this flooding was restricted to low lying and agricultural areas.

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, Clarke

When
May 7, 1:00 AM CST to May 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Clarke forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Coordinates
41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Appanoose

When
May 7, 1:00 AM CST to May 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Appanoose forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Coordinates
40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Jasper

When
May 7, 1:00 AM CST to May 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Jasper forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Coordinates
41.686, -93.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Lucas

When
May 7, 1:00 AM CST to May 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Lucas forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Coordinates
41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Mahaska

When
May 7, 1:00 AM CST to May 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Mahaska forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Coordinates
41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Wayne

When
May 7, 1:00 AM CST to May 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Coordinates
40.740, -93.327 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Marion

When
May 7, 1:00 AM CST to May 8, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Marion forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Coordinates
41.334, -93.099 (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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, May 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: 5647089, 5647090, 5647091, 5647092, 5647093, 5647094, 5647095.