Iowa, 2000

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Iowa, May 8, 2000

May 8, 2000 · NWS DVN · 7 events in 4 counties and zones

A complex of storms which developed along a cold front from Southwest Minnesota into Northwest Iowa Sunday evening, moved across areas north of Interstate 80 during the morning. The storms packed a punch as strong winds of 60 to 70 mph downed trees and limbs from Vinton to Cedar Rapids and Belle Plaine.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
$14,000
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 DVN wrote it up.

A complex of storms which developed along a cold front from Southwest Minnesota into Northwest Iowa Sunday evening, moved across areas north of Interstate 80 during the morning. The storms packed a punch as strong winds of 60 to 70 mph downed trees and limbs from Vinton to Cedar Rapids and Belle Plaine. The high winds were also responsible for destroying a 3 car garage north of Anamosa. Heavy rain also accompanied the storms. Flash flooding was observed in Dubuque where water over a foot deep covered several city streets.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When
May 8, 5:15 AM CST
Where
Benton County, Belle Plaine
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.900, -92.283

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When
May 8, 5:20 AM CST
Where
Benton County, Vinton
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.167, -92.033

Thunderstorm Wind, Jones

When
May 8, 5:30 AM CST
Where
Jones County, 4 mi N of Anamosa
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.167, -91.283

Thunderstorm Wind, Linn

When
May 8, 5:30 AM CST
Where
Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
42.000, -91.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Linn

When
May 8, 5:35 AM CST
Where
Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.000, -91.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Linn

When
May 8, 5:40 AM CST
Where
Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.000, -91.650

Flash Flood, Dubuque

When
May 8, 6:41 AM CST
Where
Dubuque County, Dubuque
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.469, -90.882 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Iowa in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, May 2000

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: 5146603, 5146604, 5146605, 5146609, 5146606, 5146607, 5146608.