Flooding in Iowa, April 7 to 17, 2001

Name: Flooding in Iowa, April 7 to 17, 2001
Start: 2001-04-07T21:00
End: 2001-04-17T03:00
Location: Iowa

April 7 to 17, 2001 · NWS DMX · 31 events in 31 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 31 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: $4.7 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 31

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 first significant rainfall of the month affected much of the Des Moines Hydrologic Service Area (HSA) on the 5th as scattered showers and the seasons's first thunderstorms moved across the area. The 24-hour isohyetal map showed a chaotic pattern as 0.50 to 0.75 inches fell across west central Iowa, mainly in the North Raccoon River basin. Rains in excess of a half-inch fell along the southern border of Iowa. Less than 0.10 of an inch fell over northwest and south central parts of the HSA, while a broad area of around 0.25 inches fell from just north of Des Moines northeast into the Cedar basin. Early on the 6th a few severe storms developed over west central Iowa and moved just north of Des Moines. Hail and brief heavy rain (0.68") accompanied the storms as they passed over the Des Moines WFO in Johnston. Numerous Flood Statements and several Flood Warnings were issued on the 7th in response to pervious rains and the forecast rainfall for the next 24 hours. Heavy rains did develop across much of Iowa on the 8th, with the highest amounts over the southwest and central portions of the HSA: The cooperative observer at Blockton picked up 2.45", Beaconsfield 2.07", and the Des Moines Airport ASOS 1.59". Widespread severe weather also occurred on the 8th into the early morning hours of the 9th and this was combined with heavy rainfall. Flash Flood Warnings were issued for eight counties, including Ringgold, Decatur, Taylor, Wayne, Dallas, Polk, Marshall and Story counties as radar and satellite estimated rain of up to 4 inches fell in parts of the affected counties. Renewed rains developed on the 10th and began an extraordinarily wet period, especially for northwestern parts of the HSA. At Estherville, in the upper Des Moines River basin, a 2-day total of 2.79" fell on the 10th and 11th. These rains drove the West Fork Des Moines River well above Flood Stage from the Minnesota River downstream to its confluence with the mainstem Des Moines River at Humboldt. Estherville (ESVI4) crested at 13.38 feet on the 12th, which was the highest level since 1993 (15.38 ft.) and the 8th highest on record. At Emmetsburg, the river crested on the 14th at 12.31 feet, also its highest level since 1993 and 10th highest on record. Snowmelt flooding in the Cedar and Iowa basins peaked about mid-month, with the Cedar at Waterloo (FS = 12) reaching 16.59 feet on the 15th and Iowa at Marshalltown (FS = 15) 15.86 feet on the 17th. None of the flooding was particularly serious. The second half of April saw a much drier weather pattern over much of central Iowa, although moderate to heavy rains fell across much of the region from April 21-22. The heaviest rains were again over the northwest sections of the HSA, which maintained high river levels, but not reaching the levels seen a week earlier. River levels fell through the rest of the month.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Des Moines, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 7, 7:15 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 7, 7:15 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
815 PM CDT SAT APR 7 2001

WILL LET WIND ADVSRY EXPIRE.  SFC LO IN UPPER GREAT LAKES ATTM.
WINDS DIMINISHING RAPIDLY ;AND ONLY A FEW LOCATIONS ABOVE CRITERIA
ATTM.

.DSM...NONE

FORSTER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 7, 4:36 PM CST, 4 hours 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
536 PM CDT SAT APR 07 2001

...EVENT SUMMARY FOR GRADIENT HIGH WIND EVENT 04-07-2001...

TIME(LST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0515 AM    CARROLL NEU ARPT          IA   61 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   CARROLL                        CARROLL AWOS OBSERVATION

0545 AM    CARROLL NEU ARPT          IA   58 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   CARROLL                        CARROLL AWOS OBSERVATION

0600 AM    JOHNSTON                  IA   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/01   POLK                           REPORTED BY OFF DUTY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE. NON
                                          THUNDERSTORM WINDS.
                                          ROOF BLOWN OFF OUT
                                          BUILDING NEAR JESTER
                                          PARK ON NW BEAVER DR.

0625 AM    CARROLL NEU ARPT          IA   58 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   CARROLL                        CARROLL AWOS OBSERVATION.

0645 AM    WEBSTER CITY ARPT         IA   59 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   HAMILTON                       WEBSTER CITY AWOS
                                          OBSERVATION.

0700 AM    ESTHERVILLE               IA   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/01   EMMET                          REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.  NON
                                          THUNDERSTORM WINDS.
                                          ROOF BLOWN OFF CITY
                                          BUILDING. 2 FOOT
                                          DIAMETER TREE BLOWN
                                          OVER AND BLOCKING ROAD.
                                          POWER POLES SNAPPED.

0705 AM    ALGONA MUNI ARPT          IA   62 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   KOSSUTH                        ALGONA AWOS OBSERVATION.

0725 AM    CARROLL NEU ARPT          IA   59 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   CARROLL                        CARROLL AWOS OBSERVATION

0752 AM    ESTHERVILLE ARPT          IA   69 NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   EMMET                          ESTHERVILLE ASOS
                                          OBSERVATION

0743 AM    (MCW)MASON CITY MUNI ARPT IA   59 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   CERRO GORDO                    AUTOMATED ASOS
                                          OBSERVATION.

0900 AM    WESLEY                    IA   70 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   KOSSUTH                        TREE LIMBS DOWN.
                                          UNOFFICIAL WIND
                                          MEASUREMENT REPORTED BY
                                          COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.

0900 AM    NORTHWOOD                 IA   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/01   WORTH                          REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE
                                          OBSERVER. ESTIMATED 60
                                          TO 70 MPH WIND GUSTS. 3
                                          FEET DIAMETER TREE
                                          SNAPPED AND FELL ON
                                          POLICE CAR.

0900 AM    EAGLE GROVE ARPT          IA   74 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   WRIGHT                         REPORTED BY LAW
                                          ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL
                                          AND AIRPORT MANAGER.
                                          SECTION OF HANGAR ROOF
                                          BLOWN OFF.

0905 AM    CLARION ARPT              IA   63 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   WRIGHT                         AUTOMATED AWOS
                                          OBSERVATION.

0905 AM    ALGONA MUNI ARPT          IA   70 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   KOSSUTH                        AUTOMATED AWOS
                                          OBSERVATION.

0910 AM    WALLINGFORD               IA   80 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   EMMET                          40 FT. TALL 1 TO 2 FT.
                                          DIAMETER TREES
                                          UPROOTED. POWER LINES
                                          DOWN... ROOF DAMAGE...
                                          NUMEROUS GRAIN BINS
                                          BLOWN OVER.  REPORTED
                                          BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

0945 AM    RUNNELLS                  IA   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/01   POLK                           ROOF TAKEN OFF MACHINE
                                          SHED. REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER... POLK COUNTY
                                          ENGINEERS OFFICE.

1000 AM    BOONE                     IA   WIND DAMAGE
04/07/01   BOONE                          ROAD SIGN SNAPPED,
                                          HORSE SHED ROLLED OVER,
                                          18 INCH TREE BLOWN
                                          OVER. REPORTED BY OFF
                                          DUTY NWS EMPLOYEE.

1010 AM    AMES ARPT                 IA   60 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   STORY                          AUTOMATED ASOS
                                          OBSERVATION.

1100 AM    WEBSTER CITY ARPT         IA   60 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   HAMILTON                       AWOS AUTOMATED
                                          OBSERVATION.

1100 AM    MASON CITY                IA   83 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01   CERRO GORDO                    55 MPH SUSTAINED WINDS
                                          AND 83 MPH GUSTS HAVE
                                          BLOWN OVER STREET
                                          SIGNS... A 25 FEET TALL
                                          TREE... AND TORN
                                          SHINGLES OFF ROOFS.
                                          REPORTED BY MEDIA.

1225 AM    NEWTON MUNI ARPT          IA   60 MPH NON TSTM WINDS
04/07/01 Z  JASPER                         AWOS AUTOMATED
                                          OBSERVATION SYSTEM.

SEARCY

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

31 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Black Hawk

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Black Hawk forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.470, -92.309 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Bremer

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Bremer forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.775, -92.318 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Butler

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Butler forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.732, -92.790 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Calhoun

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Carroll

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.861 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Cerro Gordo

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Cerro Gordo forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Clarke

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Decatur

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Decatur forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Emmet

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Franklin

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Greene

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hamilton

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hancock

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hardin

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Hardin forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Humboldt

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Kossuth

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.204, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Lucas

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Mahaska

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.335, -92.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Marion

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Marshall

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Marshall forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.036, -92.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Monroe

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Palo Alto

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.082, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Pocahontas

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.734, -94.679 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Sac

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.386, -95.105 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Story

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Story forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.036, -93.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Wapello

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Wayne

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Wayne forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.740, -93.327 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Webster

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.428, -94.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Winnebago

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Worth

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.377, -93.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Wright

When: April 7, 9:00 PM CST to April 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.733, -93.735 (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 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, April 2001

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: 5237605, 5237606, 5237607, 5237608, 5237719, 5237720, 5237721, 5237722, 5237723, 5237724, 5237725, 5237726, 5237727, 5237728, 5237729, 5237730, 5237731, 5237732, 5237733, 5237734, 5237735, 5237736, 5237737, 5237738, 5237739, 5237740, 5237741, 5237742, 5237743, 5237744, 5237745.