Iowa, 2001

Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Iowa, August 3, 2001

August 3, 2001 · NWS DMX · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

A very weak cold became stationary to the south of Iowa during the late afternoon of the 2nd and early morning of the 3rd. Once again, elevated convection developed in Iowa as the low level jet brought moisture northeast into Iowa.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
$250,000
Crop damage
$118,000
Events
6

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.

A very weak cold became stationary to the south of Iowa during the late afternoon of the 2nd and early morning of the 3rd. Once again, elevated convection developed in Iowa as the low level jet brought moisture northeast into Iowa. The 00 UTC upper air analysis indicated 850 mb dew point temperatures near 20 degrees C. being drawn into the state. Low level jet stream winds increased to 30 to 40 kts during the night, helping fuel thunderstorm development. A band of thunderstorms developed from northwest into south central Iowa during the night. Rainfall was heavy with several reports of 3 to 6 inches of rain in a short period of time. With the hot and dry weather that Iowa had experienced for the past month prior to this event, actual flooding was limited. Several gravel roads were washed out in Davis County, where some of the heavier rainfall of over 6 inches occurred. Water was over roads for a few hours in several locations of Wapello, Monroe, Appanoose, and Decatur Counties. Overall, damage was not real significant due to previous dry weather however. Severe weather was limited with this event. One report of high winds of 60 to 65 MPH was received east of Bloomfield in Davis County. Several trees were toppled in the area.

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 Aug 3, 2:05 AM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 3, 2:05 AM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
305 AM CDT FRI AUG 3 2001

WL KEEP SCTD/ISOLLD TSMT IN ERY TDA AS MID DECK HINT OF THINGS TO
DVLP.  INSTABILITY ALOFT GREAT AS ARE OTHER NUMBERS.  MODELS ETA AND
RUC HAVE PICKED UP ON THIS AND PCPN ATTM COMING OUT OF SD INTO NW
IA.  XPCT PCPN TO DVLP ALG CONVERGENT LN NW-SE THIS MRNG.  TNGT
NOTHING THERE DYNAMCIALLY SO WILL DROP MENTION OF POPS.  OTHERWISE
FCST REMAINS MUCH OF THE AS RIDGE IN PLACE AND SW FLO RETURNS.  GUID
TEMPS CLOSE WITH MINOR ADJSTMNTS FOR CLDS.

.DSM...NONE

FORSTER

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Flash Flood, Davis

When
August 3, 4:00 AM CST to 7:30 AM CST
Where
Davis County, Northeast Portion
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$25,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.748, -92.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Wapello

When
August 3, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Wapello County, Countywide
Property damage
$150,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Decatur

When
August 3, 5:00 AM CST to 6:30 AM CST
Where
Decatur County, Northeast Portion
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.738, -93.786 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Monroe

When
August 3, 6:00 AM CST to 7:30 AM CST
Where
Monroe County, South Portion
Property damage
$15,000
Crop damage
$15,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
41.030, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Appanoose

When
August 3, 6:00 AM CST to 7:30 AM CST
Where
Appanoose County, North Portion
Property damage
$15,000
Crop damage
$15,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Davis

When
August 3, 6:15 AM CST
Where
Davis County, 1 mi E of Bloomfield
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$3,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.750, -92.400

What these are

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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Iowa in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, August 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: 5260655, 5260656, 5260659, 5260657, 5260658, 5260660.