Flooding in Iowa, May 13 to 17, 2005

Name: Flooding in Iowa, May 13 to 17, 2005
Start: 2005-05-13T02:00
End: 2005-05-17T12:00
Location: Iowa

May 13 to 17, 2005 · NWS DMX · 32 events in 32 counties and zones

Another round of heavy rainfall occurred during the middle part of the month. 42 inches of rain fell across the state.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 15 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: $960,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 32

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.

Another round of heavy rainfall occurred during the middle part of the month. The month's most widespread rainfall occurred from late on the 10th until early on the 13th when an average of 2.42 inches of rain fell across the state. Nearly all of Iowa recorded at least an inch of rain during this 60 hour period with Adair reporting the most with 6.70 inches. Rain fell frequently during the last half of the month but amounts were on the light side with a state average of only 0.84 inches after the 14th. As was the case in April, precipitation was generally well below normal in eastern Iowa and near to above normal elsewhere. Preliminary monthly totals vary from 1.45 inches at Washington, their driest May since 1992, to 8.50 inches at Estherville, their highest May total since 1965. Streamflow was elevated throughout the month of May across nearly all of Iowa. Heavy rain occurring in the middle of May brought numerous rivers across the Des Moines HAS to bankfull levels and some places would experience flooding. Flooding was by far the worst across northern Iowa, where inflow into the upper Des Moines basin would bring significant flooding to the areas near Estherville and Algona and points immediately downstream. Elevated river conditions would then persist through the end of the month. The flooding did cause some damage around the state, however most of the flooding was in agricultural lands. The actual amount of property damage was relatively limited.

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 May 12, 2:00 PM CST, 12 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 12, 2:00 PM CST, 12 hours before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
300 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2005

.DISCUSSION...
CONCERNS MAINLY IN THE SHORT TERM AS SEVERE WX AND FLOODING EXPECTED
OVER SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE THIS WITH FLOODING LAT5E
TONIGHT.  LOOKING AT SVR THREAT FIRST BOUNDARY JUST SOUTH OF THE
AREA HOWEVER AS STRONG S/W COMES OUT ALONG WITH SEVERAL MINOR WAVES
INTO AREA OF SHARP CONTRAST GOOD LIFT IMPRESSIVE DYNAMICAL FIELDS
RESULT IN CATEGORICAL POPS.  LOW FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE AND LAST
SEVERAL DAYS OF HEAVY RAINS IN MANY AREAS BRING LIKELIHOOD OF
FLOODING LATER TONIGHT. TEMPERATURES ONCE AGAIN DIFFICULT AS VERY
COOL AIRMASS BRING SHARP CONTRAST IN THE STATE FROM NORTHEAST TO
SOUTH.  RAIN SHOULD BE ENDING BY FRIDAY AFTN AS SUPPORT LEAVES THE
STATE WITH A PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM IAW WITH ALL THE MODELS.  LITTLE
LARGE MODERATION IN TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S AS UPPER TROF
STILL INVOF IOWA AND UPPER MIDWEST..  LOOKING INTO THE EARLY PORTION
OF THE WEEKEND EXPECT DRY WEATHER THOUGH RAIN WILL NOT BE FAR JUST
TO OUR SOUTH AND EAST OUTSIDE CWA.

IN LONGER TERM SUNDAY ANOTHER DAY OF 60S THOUGH DRY.  UPPER RIDGE
FINALLY MOVES INTO THE AREA LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.  TEMPERATURES BEGIN
TO MODERATE INTO THE 70S DURING EXTENDED FORECAST.  MAIN CONCERN IN
LONGER TERM IS SYSTEM THAT MOVES INTO THE STATE AND MODEL TREND IS
SLOWING BEGINNING OF RAIN.  HAVE LEFT VERY LOW POPS NW HWVR BELIEVE
MAIN THREAT WILL BE TUESDAY THEN SYSTEM WILL BE OUT OF THE AREA.
HAVE LEFT REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST DRY ATTM.

IN LONGER TERM
&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...FLASH FLOOD WATCH OVERNIGHT
(6PM-6AM) FM DENISON TO AMES TO WATERLOO

&&

$$FORSTER

Hazardous weather outlook, May 12, 5:54 AM CST, 20 hours 6 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
654 AM CDT THU MAY 12 2005

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-
081>086-092>097-131115-
EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-
WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-
BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-
POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-
CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-
APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
654 AM CDT THU MAY 12 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL THIRD OF IOWA
INCLUDING PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL IOWA .

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ANTICIPATED TODAY. A FEW STORMS MAYBE
SEVERE SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 AFTER 5 PM...WITH LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WIND THE MOST LIKELY EXTREMES. HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY SOUTH
OF HIGHWAY 20...AND EAST OF A LINE FROM FORT DODGE TO CRESTON.
AMOUNTS OF TWO TO FOUR INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

SHOWERS WILL BE PREVALENT ON FRIDAY WITH SOME THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH
OF INTERSTATE 80...BUT THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE LOW.
THE NEXT CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER MAY OCCUR LATE TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY LATER TODAY IN SOUTHERN IOWA.

MYERS

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

32 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Adair

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.750, -95.450

Flood, Appanoose

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Appanoose forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Audubon

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Audubon forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.933, -91.183

Flood, Boone

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Boone forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.050, -95.350

Flood, Calhoun

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.385, -94.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Carroll

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.883, -90.583

Flood, Clarke

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.383, -93.233

Flood, Crawford

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Crawford forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.037, -95.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Dallas

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.383, -95.133

Flood, Davis

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Davis forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.217, -90.650

Flood, Emmet

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Emmet forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.378, -94.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Greene

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.036, -94.397 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Guthrie

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Guthrie forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.684, -94.501 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hamilton

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.384, -93.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hancock

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.082, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Humboldt

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.777, -94.207 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Jasper

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.533, -90.917

Flood, Kossuth

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Kossuth forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.283, -91.433

Flood, Lucas

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Lucas forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.029, -93.328 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Madison

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.331, -94.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Mahaska

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Mahaska forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.467, -92.733

Flood, Marion

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.334, -93.099 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Monroe

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.683, -95.783

Flood, Palo Alto

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Alto forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.100, -93.933

Flood, Pocahontas

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Pocahontas forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.667, -92.733

Flood, Polk

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.686, -93.573 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Sac

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Sac forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.100, -93.233

Flood, Wapello

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Wapello forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.031, -92.409 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Warren

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Warren forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.117, -94.383

Flood, Webster

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Webster forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.750, -95.600

Flood, Winnebago

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Winnebago forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 43.378, -93.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Wright

When: May 13, 2:00 AM CST to May 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.483, -94.617

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 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, May 2005

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: 5446466, 5446467, 5446468, 5446469, 5446470, 5446471, 5446472, 5446473, 5446474, 5446475, 5446541, 5446542, 5446543, 5446544, 5446545, 5446546, 5446547, 5446548, 5446549, 5446550, 5446551, 5446552, 5446553, 5446554, 5446555, 5446556, 5446557, 5446558, 5446559, 5446560, 5446561, 5446562.