A complex weather situation was in place during the overnight hours of the 2nd into the morning of the 3rd. A warm front was positioned to the south of Iowa.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.
A complex weather situation was in place during the overnight hours of the 2nd into the morning of the 3rd. A warm front was positioned to the south of Iowa. Meanwhile, a secondary cold front dropped into the north central U.S. and stretched from eastern Montana into southern Minnesota. The upper flow was northwest and quite conducive for MCS development as considerable moisture transport took place over Iowa. Initially, an area of thunderstorms formed over south central Iowa. The storms remained below severe limits as they tracked east-southeast out of the CWA. A strong thunderstorm complex developed over western South Dakota during the night and propagated southeast, along with the upper air northwest flow, into Iowa. The MCS became linear in nature as it moved out of northwest Iowa into the central sections of the state. Very heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding in several counties, with urban street flooding along the length of the line. Rainfall rates of one to two inches in one half hour or less were reported. A few areas received 2 to 3 inches of rain. Appanoose County was quite hard hit with water flowing over the roads two feet deep. The main severe mode of the system was the high winds. There were numerous reports of 60 to 70 MPH winds. The entire length of the line produced 40 to 50 MPH winds however. Hail was somewhat limited as the freezing level was over 14,000 feet. Following the passage of the line, high winds became a problem as a wake low developed. Winds gusted to 58 MPH in Story County at Colo and wind damage was reported in Polk County at Bondurant.
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 Jun 1, 5:44 AM CST, 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 644 AM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 .DISCUSSION... CONVECTION ACROSS NEBRASKA IS WEAKENING QUICKLY EARLY THIS MORNING AND DRY AND WARM CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE DAY. 850 MOISTURE TRANSPORT POINTS INTO WESTERN IOWA OVERNIGHT AND WILL LIKELY HAVE SOME STORMS DEVELOP DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. DURING THE DAY MONDAY...A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT NORTH TO NEAR THE IOWA MISSOURI BORDER AND WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR STRONG/POTENTIALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. DEEP LAYER SHEAR AND INSTABILITY WILL BE MOST FAVORABLE ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA...WHICH IS IN THE DAY 2 SLIGHT RISK AREA. STORMS SHOULD CONTINUE ROLLING EASTWARD...ALONG AND NORTH OF THE FRONT MONDAY NIGHT. WILL HAVE TO WATCH THE HYDRO SITUATION CLOSELY GIVEN THE ONGOING PROBLEMS AND RECENT HEAVY RAINS. STORM CHANCES WILL INCREASE AGAIN WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT AS A FRONT SAGS INTO IOWA ACCOMPANIED BY SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. THE LATEST ECMWF/GFS ARE COMING INTO BETTER AGREEMENT REGARDING THE SPEED OF THE FRONT AND UPPER LEVEL TROUGH. THE HIGHEST STORM COVERAGE...ALONG WITH SEVERE/HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL...LOOKS TO BE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THURSDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING COULD BE ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK. && .AVIATION...01/12Z WK PRES GRAD OVR THE STATE TODAY WITH GUD VFR CONDS EXPECTED. TSRA CHCS LOOK TO REMAIN TO THE S OF THE AREA THRU THIS TAF PD. LGT WLY WINDS TDA WILL BCM LVR TNGT AND EVENTUALLY SELY BY LATE IN THE PD. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM/AVIATION...MS JUN 08 LONG TERM...KINNEY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 535 AM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 IAZ070>075-081>086-092>097-021100- CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS- MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 535 AM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN IOWA...SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED NON-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT...MAINLY WEST OF INTERSTATE 35. A RIVER FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE SOUTH SKUNK RIVER AT OSKALOOSA. FOR MORE RIVER INFORMATION...REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE WILL BE SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE PERIOD...MOST WIDESPREAD MONDAY INTO TUESDAY...THEN AGAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. A FEW SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WITH LARGE HAIL THE MAIN THREAT. A POTENT STORM SYSTEM WILL LIKELY IMPACT THE AREA THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...WITH ALL MODES OF SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE...INCLUDING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. IN ADDITION...SOME LOCATIONS MAY RECEIVE ENOUGH RAINFALL TO AGGRAVATE THE ONGOING RIVER FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-021100- 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- 535 AM CDT SUN JUN 1 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN IOWA...NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED NON-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT WEST OF INTERSTATE 35. RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS CONTINUE FOR NUMEROUS POINTS IN THE OUTLOOK AREA. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RIVER FLOODING PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE WILL BE SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE PERIOD...MOST WIDESPREAD MONDAY INTO TUESDAY...THEN AGAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. A FEW SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WITH LARGE HAIL THE MAIN THREAT. A POTENT STORM SYSTEM WILL LIKELY IMPACT THE AREA THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...WITH ALL MODES OF SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE...INCLUDING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. IN ADDITION...SOME LOCATIONS MAY RECEIVE ENOUGH RAINFALL TO AGGRAVATE THE ONGOING RIVER FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT. KINNEY
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 29 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:16 UTC.
14 thunderstorm wind, 11 flash flood, 4 hail, 3 high wind, 2 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
The Raccoon River was flooding over Highway 169.
All roads in and out of Chelsea were impassible due to flooding along the Iowa River.
Tree damage was reported with 10 to 12 inch limbs down.
The EM reported 60 MPH winds from Ogden to Berkley.
Eight to 10 inch tree blown down with additional smaller limbs down.
Fifty to 60 MPH winds were reported with minor tree damage.
Water from a creek flooded 493rd street. Also 176th ave four miles northeast of Centerville was flooded.
Numerous secondary roads were under water from flooded creeks.
Winds were estimated at 60 MPH.
Report received from KCCI television.
Four inch diameter limbs down.
Street flooding was reported with stalled cars. Water was running in fields near the Boone Story county border.
Large tree reportedly downed in Mingo by KCCI TV.
Hartford Law Enforcement reported 60 MPH winds and heavy rain.
Street flooding was reported in Ottumwa. A number of intersections and low lying areas were under water, including the intersection of Jefferson and Main.
Flash flooding was reported at Hickman and Merle Hay Rd, and on MLK near Douglas and Euclid avenues. The roads were flooded from curb to curb.
One to two feet of water was reported over Interstate 35 near mile marker 106.
Flooding was reported on 5th St south of Court Avenue.
Several county gravel roads were under water across southeast Boone County.
Six inches of water was over County Road 57.
Highway 117 was closed and street flooding was reported in Colfax.
Street flooding was reported in Oskaloosa between 2nd and 3rd streets.
Large tree downed and tree limb damage caused by high winds in Windsor Heights.
Tree limbs were downed in Ottumwa.
Power poles were downed due to high winds in the Bondurant area.
A 58 MPH wind was measured by a mesonet site in Colo.
Roads were closed at McKimber Drive and 170th with water running over the road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, June 2008
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: 92172, 92173, 92179, 92174, 92184, 92180, 92181, 92161, 92162, 92185, 92175, 92196, 92186, 92163, 92182, 92176, 92177, 92187, 92178, 92164, 92165, 92166, 92167, 92168, 92188, 92189, 92190, 92169, 92170, 92192, 92193, 92183, 92194, 92195, 92171.