Flash Flood, Cass
- When
- April 24, 7:00 PM CST to April 25, 1:30 AM CST
- Where
- Cass County, 0.52 mi E of Cumberland
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 41.270, -94.870
Flash Flooding in Iowa, April 24 to 25, 2007
A strong low pressure developed over eastern Colorado and moved southeast into northern Oklahoma. Deep moisture was pulled north ahead of the low with surface dew points in the low 70s reaching northern Oklahoma.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $150,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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 strong low pressure developed over eastern Colorado and moved southeast into northern Oklahoma. Deep moisture was pulled north ahead of the low with surface dew points in the low 70s reaching northern Oklahoma. Strong isentropic lift took place over the Des Moines CWA and resulted in a large and sustained area of rain and embedded thunderstorms. Rainfall of two to over four inches was reported in many areas from this system. Southwest into central Iowa had a round of heavy thunderstorms during the evening with two to three inches of rain falling within a couple hours in Cass, Adair, and Guthrie Counties. This produced flash flooding in these areas. A county road collapsed near Cumberland in Cass County. Roads were under water in Adair and Guthrie Counties between Adair and Casey.
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 24, 2:43 PM CST, 4 hours 17 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 24, 2:43 PM CST, 4 hours 17 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 343 PM CDT TUE APR 24 2007 .DISCUSSION... MAIN FORECAST CONCERN IS THE HEAVY RAIN/FLOODING POTENTIAL WITH PRECIP FROM THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN PLAINS STORM SYSTEM. GFS HAD PRECIP AREA PEGGED YESTERDAY WITH LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN T0DAYS GFS AND NAM RUNS. THE FIRST SHOT OF RAIN NOW EXITING THE CWA AS THE GFS INDICATED. THIS WAS TRIGGERED BY WAA AND A LARGE AREA OF THETA-E ADVECTION ALONG WITH MODEST MOISTURE TRANSPORT. MOST LOCATIONS GOT .75-1.25 INCHES OF RAIN. 60-70 DEW POINTS IN KS/MO RACING TOWARDS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY SET UP OVER NRN/CENT MO ALONG WITH ONGOING CONVECTION TO OUR WEST WHICH IS TRIGGERED BY THE DRY LINE WILL BE MOVING INTO OUR WRN CWA TONIGHT. AMPLE MOISTURE ALONG WITH STRONG OVERRUNNING WILL POSE ANOTHER THREAT FOR HEAVY RAINFALL OVER THE CWA TONIGHT. GFS QPF AMOUNTS IN THE 2-3 INCH RANGE ACROSS THE SOUTH WITH AN INCH TO 2 INCHES ACROSS THE NORTH THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. A FLOOD WATCH WAS ISSUED FOR MUCH OF THE CWA FOR RIVER FLOODING POTENTIAL THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON. A THIRD ROUND OF RAIN IS LIKELY AGAIN WEDNESDAY MORNING AS A VORT MAX ROTATES UP INTO NORTHERN IOWA ONCE AGAIN. THE BULK OF THE RAIN SHOULD END BETWEEN 18Z AND 00Z TOMORROW BUT WITH THE UPPER LOW SLOW TO MOVE AND STILL OVER WESTERN/CENTRAL MO BY 00Z THURSDAY WE WILL STILL HAVE OCCASIONAL LIGHT PRECIP OVER THE CWA OFF AND ON THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY. THE SEVERE POTENTIAL IS WANING BUT IS STILL POSSIBLE OVER THE FAR SW CWA THROUGH THE EVENING. WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN NICKEL HAIL IF THAT. AFTER THE SYSTEM PUSHES EAST THE REST OF THE FORECAST IS DRY THROUGH THE EXTENDED WITH WARM TEMPS OVER THE WEEKEND AS AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE AMPLIFIES OVER THE CENTRAL CONUS. THE ONLY FLY IN THE OINTMENT IS A WEAK SHORTWAVE THAT BREAKS THE RIDGE DOWN A LITTLE ON TUESDAY. THE OPERATIONAL GFS PRINTS OUT LIGHT QPF DURING THIS PERIOD BUT THE PARALLEL RUN IS DRY. WITH THESE DISCREPANCIES WITHIN THE MODEL AND THE EUROPEAN NOT SHOWING MUCH I WENT DRY FOR TUESDAY AT THIS POINT. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR ADAIR-ADAMS-AUDUBON-BLACK HAWK-BOONE-BREMER-BUTLER- CALHOUN-CARROLL-CASS-CERRO GORDO-CRAWFORD-DALLAS-FRANKLIN-GREENE- GRUNDY-GUTHRIE-HAMILTON-HANCOCK-HARDIN-HUMBOLDT-JASPER-MADISON- MARSHALL-POCAHONTAS-POLK-POWESHIEK-RINGGOLD-SAC-STORY-TAMA- TAYLOR-UNION-WARREN-WEBSTER-WRIGHT. && FAB
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 24, 2:58 PM CST, 4 hours 2 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 358 PM CDT TUE APR 24 2007 IAZ004>007-015-251100- EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO- 358 PM CDT TUE APR 24 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA NORTH OF A MASON CITY TO STORM LAKE LINE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR TONIGHT. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL PRODUCE SOME SMALL HAIL AND WINDS OF UP TO 40 MPH. RAINFALL OF ONE TO ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES MAY CAUSE SOME MINOR FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR WEDNESDAY. OTHERWISE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. IAZ016-017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>073-081-082-092- 093-251100- 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-ADAMS- UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD- 358 PM CDT TUE APR 24 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA SOUTH OF A MASON CITY TO STORM LAKE LINE...AND NORTH OF A MONTEZUMA TO LAMONI LINE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME NUMEROUS TONIGHT ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. A SEVERE STORM IS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING SOUTH OF U.S. HIGHWAY 34 WITH HAIL UP TO AN INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 60 MPH THE MAIN THREAT. ELSEWHERE SMALL HAIL...UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...IS POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED WITH SPOTTY AMOUNTS OF AS MUCH AS 3 TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE. THIS MAY CAUSE FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN LOW LYING AREAS. A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA FROM 7 PM TONIGHT THROUGH 1 PM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESTINES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR WEDNESDAY. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL REMAIN A THREAT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED SOUTH OF U.S. HIGHWAY 34 THIS EVENING. IAZ074-075-083>086-094>097-251100- MARION-MAHASKA-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-DECATUR-WAYNE- APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 358 PM CDT TUE APR 24 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA SOUTH OF A MONTEZUMA TO LAMONI LINE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME NUMEROUS THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED...HOWEVER STRONGER STORMS MAY PRODUCE SOME SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH. HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE...WHICH MAY RESULT IN MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR WEDNESDAY. OTHERWISE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED.
The radar
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:59 UTC.
Event by event
4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash Flood, Adair
- When
- April 24, 7:45 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Adair County, 0.52 mi E of Adair
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $25,000
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 41.500, -94.640
Flash Flood, Guthrie
- When
- April 24, 7:45 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Guthrie County, Casey
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $25,000
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 41.520, -94.530
Flash Flood, Cass
- When
- April 24, 9:30 PM CST to April 25, 1:30 AM CST
- Where
- Cass County, 1.25 mi ESE of Atlantic
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 41.390, -95.000
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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornado and Hail in Texas, April 24, 2007
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, April 24 to 25, 2007
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Missouri, April 24, 2007
- Flooding in Iowa, April 24 to 30, 2007
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 24 to 25, 2007
- Winter Storm in Colorado, April 24, 2007
- Heavy Rain in Nebraska, April 24, 2007
- Tornado in Arkansas, April 24, 2007
- Lightning Strikes in Nebraska, April 24, 2007
- Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, April 24, 2007
- Tornadoes and Flood in Colorado, April 24, 2007
- Flood and Hail in Arkansas, April 24, 2007
More
Every storm in Iowa in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, April 2007
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: 17574, 17575, 17577, 17576.