Flash Flooding and Flooding in Iowa, June 3 to 4, 2002

Name: Flash Flooding and Flooding in Iowa, June 3 to 4, 2002
Start: 2002-06-03T17:43
End: 2002-06-04T17:00
Location: Iowa

June 3 to 4, 2002 · NWS DVN · 47 events in 9 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 36 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 47

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.

Heavy rains which fell during the first week of June caused significant flash flooding rivaling that caused by storms during the summer of 1993. The counties hit hardest were Delaware and Dubuque where storm total rainfall amounts were as high as 8 to 11 inches. This heavy rain resulted in widespread and significant flash flooding and river flooding. The Rock River reached record flood levels near Joslin, while the Maquoketa and Wapsipinicon Rivers rose well above flood stage. In fact, the Maquoketa River and Rock River at Moline both experienced their second highest crest on record. Duck Creek went out of it's banks in the Iowa Quad Cities, swamping vehicles in streets and flooding houses, parks and apartment complexes all the way from Division Street in Davenport to the banks of the Mississippi River in Bettendorf. So many streets were flooded in Davenport that police were unable to close all of them. The Maquoketa River rose high enough to shut down the water treatment plant in Monticello, in Northeastern Jones County prompting many residents to compare the flooding to that of 1993. The Mayor of Monticello stated that in 1993 the water was 4 feet from the water treatment plant, yet by late afternoon on June 4th the fence was almost completely under water. Flash flooding caused significant property damage to homes and businesses. Damage was also significant to farm land and public property including roads, parks and utilities. President Bush declared 17 counties in Eastern Iowa as disaster areas, making them eligible for federal assistance. Counties declared in the Quad Cities National Weather Service area of responsibility included Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Scott, Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson and Muscatine. The flooding damaged an estimated 1,004 homes in 8 counties, and of those 22 had major damage and 8 were destroyed. Public property damage in Eastern Iowa due to flooding was atleast $7.2 million dollars. The greatest dollar figures of damage occurred in Linn County ($3.2 million), Dubuque County ($2.1 million), and Jones County ($1.3 million).

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 Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 3, 1:43 PM CST, 4 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 3, 1:43 PM CST, 4 hours before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
243 PM CDT MON JUN 3 2002

ELEVATED SHOWERS AND FEW TSRA ACROSS NORTHERN HALF CWFA HELPED ALONG
BY MID LEVEL VORT MAX SEEN ON 88D LOOPS MOVING INTO NE IA AT 18Z.
VISIBLE IMAGERY SHOWS LARGE AREA FULL SUNSHINE MOST OF DAY SO FAR
FROM I-80 SOUTH BUILDING HIGH SURFACE INSTABILITY. THIS HAS RESULTED
IN 30 DEGREE N TO S TEMPERATURE GRADIENT WITH RAIN COOLED...GREAT
LAKES AIRMASS IN 50S NORTH AND 90S WITH DEWPOINTS IN 70S IN FAR
SOUTH AT 18Z. KDVN SHOWS E-W OUTFLOW BOUNDARY...NOW LIKELY SYNOPTIC
FRONT...ABOUT 25 MI S OF RDA AND INCHING SLOWLY N. WITH BOUNDARY
CONTINUING TO BISECT AREA THROUGH TUESDAY...TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF
HIGHEST TSRA POTENTIAL AND TRYING TO GET CLOSE TO REALITY WITH LARGE
TEMPERATURE GRADIENT MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGES.

INITIAL CONCERN WILL BE LATE AFTERNOON SEVERE POTENTIAL AS H7 WAVE
SEEN ON PROFILER NETWORK PUSHES INTO SW...THEN CENTRAL IA AND MAY
INITIATE SURFACE BASED CONVECTION ALONG FRONT WHERE CAP WILL BE
WEAKEST IN E-SE IA. WILL LEAVE OUT SEVERE WORDING FOR NOW SINCE MUCH
UNCERTAINTY IN WHERE AND WHEN CONVECTION WILL INITIALIZE. MORE
WIDESPREAD MCS EXPECTED TO FORM WELL N OF FRONT AS HAPPENED PAST FEW
NIGHTS AND TRACK E THEN SE. WILL KEEP LIKELY POPS GOING IN NORTHERN
2/3RDS WITH MENTION OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND CHANCE TSRA FOR
FAR SOUTH OVERNIGHT. FORCING TO AID CONVECTION LOOKS BETTER TONIGHT
THAN PAST FEW DAYS WITH IMPRESSIVE SHORTWAVE SEEN ON WV IMAGERY
MOVING INTO SW KS UNDERPLAYED BY MODELS WILL LIKELY PLAY ROLE IN
LATE EVENING MCS DEVELOPMENT IN NE NEB/NW IA. MODELS SHOW H5 POS
VORTICITY CENTERS TAKING MORE SRLY PATH THAN LAST NIGHT AND
ANTICIPATE TRACK AT LEAST INTO NRN ZONES. HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL
CONTINUES...ESPECIALLY LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY WITH H85 FLOW
BECOMING PARALLEL TO LOW LEVEL BOUNDARY AND UPPER LEVEL FLOW.

ALL MODELS AGREE ON BIG PICTURE WITH WESTERN H5 TROUGH MOVING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY PRECEDED BY SURFACE CYCLONE CURRENTLY OVER WESTERN
KS PASSING TO S EARLY WED TO END RAIN CHANCES. DO THINK ETA HAS
BETTER QPF PLACEMENT TONIGHT FURTHER N...WHEREAS AVN TOO FAR S INTO
CAPPED WARM SECTOR. THIS COULD SHIFT IF SIGNIFICANT EVENING
CONVECTION PUSHES SURFACE FRONT BACK SOUTH.

WILL KEEP LIKELY POPS GOING THROUGH TUESDAY EXCEPT IN FAR S...THEN
LIKELY ALL ZONES TUESDAY NIGHT AS MAIN LOW RIDES ALONG FRONT TO
SOUTH AND THEN SWEEPS IT EASTWARD. WARMER FWC HIGHS PREFERRED...
EXCEPT IN FAR N AND NE...WHERE CLOUDS AND REENFORCING E-NE SURFACE
FLOW TO KEEP TEMPS NEAR TO BELOW GUIDANCE.

EXTENDED...MODEL CONCENSUS IS SURFACE HIGH THURSDAY...THEN FLAT 500H
RIDGING/ZONAL FLOW FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY. MRF BRINGS SURFACE
AND UPPER LOWS ALONG US/CAN BORDER SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY WITH
FROPA FOR SHOWER CHANCES. WILL KEEP CHANCES GOING INTO MONDAY AS
TIMING OF UPPER WAVE PASSAGE TO NORTH MAY KEEP INSTABILITY SHOWERS
GOING. ONLY MINOR CHANGES MADE TO MOS TEMPERATURES.

.DVN...
IA...NONE.
IL...NONE.
MO...NONE.

DLS

The radar

The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 4 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

32 flash flood, 11 hail, 4 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Scott

When: June 3, 5:43 PM CST
Where: Scott County, Davenport
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.637, -90.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water several inches deep on portions of 53rd Street.

Hail, Dubuque

When: June 3, 9:29 PM CST
Where: Dubuque County, 1 mi N of Dubuque
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.517, -90.667

Flood, Buchanan

When: June 3, 9:54 PM CST
Where: Buchanan County, Independence
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 42.471, -91.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water ponding on Old Highway 20.

Flash Flood, Delaware

When: June 3, 10:46 PM CST to 11:15 PM CST
Where: Delaware County, 4 mi W of Manchester
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.471, -91.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

145th Avenue impassable due to high water.

Flash Flood, Dubuque

When: June 4, 4:25 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Dubuque County, Dubuque
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.469, -90.882 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several streets flooded with manhole covers off.

Flash Flood, Dubuque

When: June 4, 4:25 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Dubuque County, Durango
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.469, -90.882 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Little Maquoketa River out of it's banks with 4 feet of water over road.

Flash Flood, Dubuque

When: June 4, 5:04 AM CST to 7:30 AM CST
Where: Dubuque County, Durango
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.469, -90.882 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Streets and roads closed due to high water at Durango, Burtans Furnace and Hales Mills.

Flash Flood, Buchanan

When: June 4, 6:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Buchanan County, Winthrop
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.471, -91.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Buffalo Creek flooded with water inundating portions of County Road 939 East. 2.7 inches of rain was measured in about an hours time.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: June 4, 6:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Maquoketa
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.172, -90.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 61 at the bypass closed due to high water.

Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 6:07 AM CST to 7:30 AM CST
Where: Clinton County, Wheatland
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water ponding on roads, ditches full and water standing in some fields. Broadcast media reported 2.3 inches of rain had fallen in Calamus between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: June 4, 6:10 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Fulton
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.172, -90.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North Fork of the Maquoketa River rising rapidly. Deep Creek out of it's banks and over Highway 61.

Flash Flood, Jones

When: June 4, 6:45 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Jones County, Anamosa
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.121, -91.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Buffalo and Division Creeks out of their banks causing flooding of some streets.

Flash Flood, Dubuque

When: June 4, 7:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Dubuque County, Dyersville
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.469, -90.882 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Parts of the city evacuated due to high water. Trained spotter measured 5 inches of rain in 12 hours.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: June 4, 7:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Maquoketa
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.172, -90.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water on south Main Street 2 to 3 feet deep.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 7:03 AM CST to 9:30 AM CST
Where: Clinton County, Charlotte
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Rock Creek out of it's banks.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 7:20 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Clinton County, 1 mi NW of Dewitt
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Silver Creek out of it's banks. Off duty National Weather Service employee reported 3.5 inches of rain in 12 hours.

Flash Flood, Jones

When: June 4, 7:35 AM CST to 9:15 AM CST
Where: Jones County, Scotch Grove
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.121, -91.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Prairie Creek out of it's banks between Scotch Grove and Monticello.

Flood, Scott

When: June 4, 7:40 AM CST to 10:40 AM CST
Where: Scott County, 1 mi NE of Gambrill
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.637, -90.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wapsipinicon River nearing bankful at Fairyland Park.

Hail, Buchanan

When: June 4, 7:44 AM CST
Where: Buchanan County, Independence
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.467, -91.883

Flash Flood, Jones

When: June 4, 7:44 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Jones County, Monticello
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.121, -91.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 38 closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Scott

When: June 4, 7:45 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Scott County, Davenport
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 41.637, -90.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Duck Creek out of it's banks between Harrison and Dubuque Streets. Water covering Locust Street near St. Ambrose University. Division street impassible in several locations due to high water.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 8:07 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, Charlotte
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several houses and basements flooded.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 8:07 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, Toronto
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wapsipinicon River out of it's banks.

Flash Flood, Scott

When: June 4, 8:12 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Scott County, Bettendorf
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.637, -90.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

River Drive and Middle Road at 53rd Street closed due to flooding.

Hail, Delaware

When: June 4, 8:15 AM CST
Where: Delaware County, Manchester
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.483, -91.450

Hail, Delaware

When: June 4, 8:15 AM CST
Where: Delaware County, Delaware
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.467, -91.350

Flash Flood, Scott

When: June 4, 8:30 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Scott County, Mt Joy
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.637, -90.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water inundated 2 mobile homes east of Highway 61.

Hail, Delaware

When: June 4, 8:32 AM CST
Where: Delaware County, Masonville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.483, -91.583

Hail, Delaware

When: June 4, 8:41 AM CST
Where: Delaware County, Dundee
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.583, -91.550

Hail, Benton

When: June 4, 8:50 AM CST
Where: Benton County, Newhall
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.983, -91.983

Hail, Delaware

When: June 4, 8:52 AM CST
Where: Delaware County, 4 mi NW of Greeley
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.617, -91.400

Hail, Linn

When: June 4, 8:57 AM CST
Where: Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.000, -91.650

Hail, Linn

When: June 4, 9:14 AM CST
Where: Linn County, Palo
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.067, -91.783

Hail, Benton

When: June 4, 9:15 AM CST
Where: Benton County, Shellsburg
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.100, -91.867

Flash Flood, Scott

When: June 4, 9:55 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Scott County, Bettendorf
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 41.637, -90.623 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A driver was rescued from a stranded van before the van was swept away by flood waters.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 10:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, Dewitt
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Park under 1 to 3 feet of water. Storm total rainfall 4.57 inches.

Flash Flood, Dubuque

When: June 4, 10:30 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Dubuque County, Cascade
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.469, -90.882 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 151 closed between Cascade and Monticello. Water reported to be up to the fuel tanks on semi trucks.

Flash Flood, Jones

When: June 4, 10:30 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Wyoming
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.121, -91.131 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Bear Creek near Highway 64 out of it's banks with water over the road.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 12:30 PM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, Charlotte
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 136 partially closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 12:45 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, Dewitt
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Silver Creek out of it's banks with water estimated to be about 8 feet deep in some locations. Entire park near the McDonalds Restaurant was under water. Some residents evacuated.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: June 4, 1:30 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Monmouth
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.172, -90.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Monmouth Post Office and City Hall workers had to evacuate due to high water surrounding the building.

Flash Flood, Linn

When: June 4, 1:30 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Northeast Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.079, -91.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several bridges along the Wapsipinicon River closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Linn

When: June 4, 1:30 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Springville
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.079, -91.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 151 between Route 13 and Highway 1 was closed to east bound traffic. The bridge west of Springville was washed out by flood waters on the eastbound side.

Flash Flood, Linn

When: June 4, 1:30 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Robins
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.079, -91.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Main Street bridge closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Linn

When: June 4, 1:30 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Linn County, Cedar Rapids
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 42.079, -91.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winslow and Austin roads along Indian Creek closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 2:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, Malone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 30 covered with water up to a half foot deep.

Flash Flood, Clinton

When: June 4, 2:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Clinton County, Bleidorn
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 41.898, -90.532 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous dirt and gravel roads washed out.

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

Every storm in Iowa in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, June 2002

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: 5300430, 5300431, 5300432, 5300433, 5300434, 5300435, 5300436, 5300437, 5300438, 5300439, 5300440, 5300441, 5300442, 5300443, 5300444, 5300445, 5300446, 5300448, 5300447, 5300449, 5300521, 5300522, 5300523, 5300524, 5300525, 5300526, 5300527, 5300528, 5300529, 5300530, 5300531, 5300532, 5300533, 5300534, 5300535, 5300536, 5300537, 5300538, 5300539, 5300540, and more.