Heavy rainfall moved across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The rain resulted in rises along the upper reaches of the Des Moines River.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Heavy rainfall moved across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. The rain resulted in rises along the upper reaches of the Des Moines River. With the rain falling in the headwaters area of the river, the flooding lasted through the rest of the month. Much of the flooding was limited to agricultural lands.
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 14, 11:13 PM CST, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1213 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011 ...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/... AREA OF LOW PRESSURE CONTINUES OVER NORTHEAST KS LATE THIS AFTERNOON. WARM FRONT HAS MADE IT INTO SOUTHERN IA AND TEMPS HAVE RISEN INTO THE LOWER 80S. MLCAPE NOW 500 TO 1500 ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST IN THE WARM SECTOR...BUT CAP CONTINUES FOR NOW. MUCAPE ALSO 500 TO 2000 ACROSS THE REGION WITH STORMS FIRING ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OVER NORTHERN AREAS. THOUGH THE MCS NOW OVER MN SHOULD REMAIN TIED TO THE SFC TROUGH THERE...SOME CONCERNS THAT IT COULD BUILD ESE WITH TIME IF COLD POOL GETS GOING. THIS WOULD AFFECT NORTHERN IA WITH HEAVIER RAINFALL. THIS WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED THROUGH THE EVENING. FARTHER SOUTH...IT WILL TAKE A FEW HOURS YET...22Z TO 01Z FOR CAP TO ERODE BUT CONVECTION THAT SHOULD DEVELOP ALONG THE COLD FRONT IN EASTERN KS WILL BEGIN TO MOVE EAST INTO THE WARM SECTOR AND ALONG THE WARM FRONT OVER SOUTHERN IOWA AND NORTHERN MISSOURI. ONE NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE FROM LAST NIGHT IS THE H850 LOW LEVEL JET WHICH WILL SHIFT SLIGHTLY EAST LATER THIS EVENING AND FOCUS BEST MASS CONVERGENCE MORE EAST AND SOUTH OF THE AREA THAN LAST NIGHT. THIS MAY HELP KEEP THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL AWAY FROM AREAS THAT SAW THE WORST LAST NIGHT. LOWS TONIGHT WILL REMAIN IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S OVER THE REGION. .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... SHORT WAVE WILL PULL EASTWARD WITH PRECIPITATION QUICKLY DIMINISHING ACROSS THE CWA EARLY WEDNESDAY. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN BELOW A WEAK UPPER LEVEL RIDGE FOR WEDNESDAY WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR A BRIEF DRY SPELL BEFORE A WET PATTERN SETS UP FOR EXTENDED. A WEAK SHORTWAVE WILL PUSH ACROSS RIDGE SPARKING CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY...AND SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP IN SOUTHERN PLAINS. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR ADDITIONAL OFF AND ON PRECIPITATION ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD AS SHORTWAVES TRACK ACROSS RIDGE INTERACTING WITH FRONT ACROSS IOWA. EXPECT TO SEE A BREAK IN PRECIPITATION SUNDAY INTO MONDAY WITH LOW BEGINNING TO PULL NORTHWARD...BEFORE STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW PUSHES EASTWARD ACROSS NORTHERN PLAINS...BREAKING UPPER LEVEL RIDGE LATE IN THE PERIOD. ONCE AGAIN HIGH RAINFALL TOTALS ARE LIKELY ACROSS THE REGION WITH THESE PERIODS OR RAIN...ESPECIALLY IN THUNDERSTORMS. TEMPERATURES WILL GRADUALLY WARM...AND WILL REMAIN SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. EXPECT WINDY CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY WITH GOOD DAYTIME MIXING. ..HYDROLOGY... BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY IN INITIATION AND EVOLUTION...THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL BE CONTINUED DUE TO LOW FFG VALUES OVER MUCH OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL IOWA WHICH ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING AT 1 INCH OR LESS FOR ONE HOUR...AND 1 TO 2 INCHES FOR 3 HOUR VALUES. PWATS REMAIN IN THE 1.3 TO 1.5 INCH RANGE WHICH COULD BE CONVERTED INTO 1 TO 3 INCH RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN SOME OF THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. && .AVIATION...15/06Z SFC TROUGH ADVANCING EWD ACROSS THE AREA ATTM WILL MARK A WIND SHIFT FROM ESE TO WNW...AND WILL ALSO LARGELY MEAN THE END OF TSTMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AFFECTING OR NEAR ALL OF THE TERMINALS. EXPECT PDS OF TSRA AND/OR IFR/LOW MVFR CIGS/VSBYS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...THEN IMPROVING CONDS BEHIND THE TROUGH WITH MAYBE SOME LINGERING LOW CLDS/BR THROUGH SUNRISE THEN RAPID CLEARING LATER ON WED MORNING. VFR CONDS ANTICIPATED FROM 12Z THROUGH THE END OF THE TAF PD. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR ADAIR-ADAMS- APPANOOSE-AUDUBON-CASS-CLARKE-DALLAS-DAVIS-DECATUR-GUTHRIE- JASPER-LUCAS-MADISON-MAHASKA-MARION-MONROE-POLK-POWESHIEK- RINGGOLD-TAYLOR-UNION-WAPELLO-WARREN-WAYNE. && SHORT TERM/HYDROLOGY...REV LONG TERM...WILKINS AVIATION...LEE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1127 PM CDT TUE JUN 14 2011 IAZ057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-160430- AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON- WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR- RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 1127 PM CDT TUE JUN 14 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING...BUT A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA OVERNIGHT. NUMEROUS RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS ARE ALSO IN EFFECT. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST WEDNESDAY. ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE FORECAST THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY AND AGAIN SATURDAY NIGHT. A FEW SEVERE STORMS MAY OCCUR WITH THIS ACTIVITY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TONIGHT. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-160430- 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- 1127 PM CDT TUE JUN 14 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH ACROSS IOWA TONIGHT. A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST WEDNESDAY. ADDITIONAL STORMS ARE FORECAST THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY AND AGAIN SATURDAY NIGHT. A FEW SEVERE STORMS MAY OCCUR WITH THIS ACTIVITY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FROM TIME TO TIME THROUGH THIS WEEK. RAINFALL REPORTS ARE ALSO APPRECIATED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 915 PM CDT TUE JUN 14 2011 IAZ071>073-081>083-150315- ADAIR-ADAMS-CLARKE-MADISON-UNION-WARREN- 915 PM CDT TUE JUN 14 2011 ...HEAVY RAIN LIKELY PRODUCING SMALL STREAM FLOODING IN PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA... AT 908 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL FROM NEAR CORNING NORTHEAST TO THE INDIANOLA AREA. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT AROUND 25 MPH. HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH HAS FALLEN SINCE 700 PM ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS LIKELY PRODUCING SMALL STREAM FLOODING IN PARTS OF NORTHEAST ADAMS COUNTY AND SOUTHERN MADISON COUNTIES. THE MOST LIKELY LOCATION FOR SMALL STREAM FLOODING IS ALONG JONES AND CLANTON CREEKS ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WINTERSET. THIS AREA IS BEING CAREFULLY MONITORED AND IF HEAVY RAINFALL TRENDS CONTINUE...A FLASH WARNING MAY BE NEEDED. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT TONIGHT ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA. JOHNSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1029 PM CDT TUE JUN 14 2011 IAZ074-075-083>086-094>097-150500- MARION-MAHASKA-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-DECATUR-WAYNE- APPANOOSE-DAVIS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KNOXVILLE...OSKALOOSA...OSCEOLA... CHARITON...ALBIA...OTTUMWA...LEON...CORYDON...CENTERVILLE... BLOOMFIELD 1029 PM CDT TUE JUN 14 2011 ...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...AND HEAVY RAIN ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN IOWA... NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING SLOWLY TOWARD THE EAST NORTHEAST ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN IOWA SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 35. SOME OF THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING NICKEL SIZED HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 50 MPH...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MAY LEAD TO PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. LEE
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1059 PM CDT TUE JUN 14 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1055 PM HAIL 1 NNW OTTUMWA 41.03N 92.43W
06/14/2011 E0.75 INCH WAPELLO IA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
SKOWSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1230 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011 IAZ092-093-150600- RINGGOLD-TAYLOR- 1230 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011 ...THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS OVER PARTS OF TAYLOR AND RINGGOLD COUNTIES... AT 1228 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EAST CENTRAL TAYLOR COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH AND UP TO NICKEL SIZED HAIL. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... DIAGONAL... TINGLEY... MOUNT AYR... LEE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1233 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011 IAZ096-097-150630- APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 1233 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL OVER FAR SOUTHERN IOWA... AT 1219 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SOUTHWESTERN WAPELLO COUNTY TO EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL APPANOOSE COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. RAINFALL WILL BE QUITE HEAVY AT TIMES WITH THESE STORMS...WHICH COULD CAUSE SOME LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS. THESE STORMS COULD ALSO PRODUCE ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 30 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... DRAKESVILLE... BLOOMFIELD... FLORIS... PULASKI... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED. SKOW
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
110 AM CDT WED JUN 15 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0100 AM FLASH FLOOD OTTUMWA 41.02N 92.42W
06/15/2011 WAPELLO IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
HARROWS CREEK OUT OF ITS BANK AND FLOWING ACROSS WEST
SECOND STREET. CARS STRANDED ON NORTH JEFFERSON STREET.
PORTION OF THE 1600 BLOCK OF EAST MAIN STREET WASHED OUT
BY FLOOD WATERS. THESE ROADS WERE CLOSED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
&&
SKOWThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, June 2011
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: 311362, 311365.