A strong push of moisture took place during the overnight hours of the 24th into the morning of the 25th. The low level jet increased to 60 kts, bringing a return of moisture to the area.
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.
A strong push of moisture took place during the overnight hours of the 24th into the morning of the 25th. The low level jet increased to 60 kts, bringing a return of moisture to the area. Precipitable water values increased to just under 2 inches by morning. An MCS developed the previous night over South Dakota and Nebraska. It pushed east during the night and consolidated over Nebraska. The airmass was unstable to the south of the developing MCS, with CAPE values around 2000 J/kg and lifted indices around -5 C. Strong convection developed in a band ahead of the approaching MCS in the warm air advection wing. A narrow line of thunderstorms formed from eastern Nebraska, through southwest into south central Iowa. Rainfall was extremely heavy with rainfall rates approaching 2 inches per hour. A band of 2 to 6 inch rainfall occurred from southwest Cass County, through Adams, Union, Clarke, into Wayne and Appanoose Counties. Flash flooding occurred in the town of Creston with numerous intersections impassable due to to fast flowing water. Roads were also closed by fast flowing water in Adams and Clarke Counties. U.S. Highway 69 was closed for a period of time just south of Osceola by flooding. Flooding closed streets in a low water crossing area of Promise City briefly.
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 25, 2:48 AM CST, 4 hours 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 348 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 .SHORT TERM /TODAY/... DOUBLE MCS/S MOVING THRU SD AND NEB ARE SHIFTING SWD THIS MRNG AS COMPLEX OVR SRN NEBRASKA TAKES OVER ON THE NOSE OF THE LLJ AND MOISTURE INFLOW. EXPECT TO SEE THIS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP EWD ALONG THE SHEAR AXIS PRESENT FROM SRN NEBRASKA INTO NRN MO AS LLJ VEERS TWD SNRS. STRONGEST STORMS LIKELY TO REMAIN SOUTH OF THE CWA...BUT EXPECT TO SEE A LARGE AREA OF MOD TO OCNLY HEAVY RAFL THIS MRNG OVR THE SWWN THIRD TO HALF OF THE CWA. WILL CONT THE MNTN OF LOCALLY +RA FOR THIS AREA AS WELL. TSRA WILL WEAKEN LATER THIS MRNG AND AFFECT MAINLY THE SERN ZNS. WOULD SEE SCT DVLPT ABOUT ANYWHERE THIS AFTN...BUT NOT LOOKING FOR AN ORGANIZED SYSTEM. TEMPS ARE TRICKY WITH THE CLOUDS AND RAIN. LOWERED MAX TEMPS...ESPECIALLY ACRS THE SOUTH...DUE TO CLOUDS AND LIKELIHOOD THAT MOST OF THE DAY WILL HAVE AT LAST SCT-BKN AREA OF TSRA OVR IT. .LONG TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... BEGINNING OF PERIOD VERY TRICKY WITH LIKELY DEVELOPMENT OF YET ANOTHER MCS ACROSS CENTRAL NE...WITH TRACK EASTWARD DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE. COULD SEE MCS INTO CENTRAL IOWA BEFORE PULLING SOUTH. HOWEVER...FEEL MOST LIKELY SCENARIO WILL SEE MCS TRACK NEAR LLJ WHICH WILL BE FURTHER SOUTH INTO KS/MO. HAVE INCLUDED CHANCE POPS THROUGHOUT OVERNIGHT...WITH LIKELY ALONG SOUTH. WITH ADDITIONAL MOISTURE IN OVERNIGHT...WILL LIKELY SEE FOG ACROSS THE REGION...WITH DENSE FOG POSSIBLE IN SPOTS. LATE SUNDAY A FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH LOW PRESSURE IN SOUTHERN KS WILL LIFT NORTHWARD ACROSS IOWA. THIS WILL LIKELY BE FOCUS FOR STORM DEVELOPMENT. COULD SEE SOME STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS OVERNIGHT...WITH STRONG SHEAR AND CAPES OVER 1000 J/KG...HOWEVER APPEARS MOST LIKELY THREAT WILL BE HEAVY RAIN. SYSTEM WILL PULL AWAY BY LATE MONDAY. COULD AGAIN SEE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG STORMS LATE MONDAY...HOWEVER...MODELS ARE BECOMING MORE PROGRESSIVE WITH FRONT...TRYING TO SWEEP IT CLEAR OF IOWA WITH SEVERE POTENTIAL FOCUSED ALONG BOUNDARY. WILL HAVE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THIS SYSTEM. HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD IN BENEATH UPPER LEVEL RIDGE FOR MOST OF REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. ANOTHER QUICK SHOT FOR SOME PRECIPITATION WEDNESDAY WITH APPROACHING WAA. AS RIDGE BUILD...THIS WILL LEAD TO HOT AND MUGGY CONDITIONS FOR THE WEEKEND WITH H850 TEMPS APPROACHING 30 BY END OF WEEK. && .AVIATION...25/06Z THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX OVER SD AND NEBRASKA SHOULD MOVE INTO CNTRL IA LATE TONIGHT. IN ADDITION TO REDUCED VSBYS WITH PRECIPITATION...LOCALIZED MVFR CIGS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON ON SATURDAY. CIGS ARE EXPECTED TO LOWER THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH WIDESPREAD MVFR CONDITIONS BY LATE AFTERNOON. THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD END TOWARD EARLY EVENING. THOUGH LIGHT PRECIPITATION AND SOME FOG LIKELY WILL DEVELOP AFTER 00Z. && .HYDROLOGY... POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL IS A CONCERN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. INITIAL COMPLEX TODAY MAY BRING LOCALLY HEAVY RAFL TO THE SRN AND SWRN PART OF THE STATE. FFG VALUES HAVE INCREASED OVR THE SOUTH THIS WEEK WITH MOST AREAS IN THE 1.5 INCH RANGE FOR 1 HR AND AROUND 2 INCHES OR MORE FOR 3 HOUR SUGGEST POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING IS LOW...BUR RISES IN AREAS STREAMS IS QUITE LKLY. HIGH PWAT VALUES...APPROACHING 2 INCHES ALNG THE MO BORDER NEED TO BE MONITORED. NEXT ROUND ON MON LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE OVR THE NERN ZONES...WHERE FLASH FLOODING POTENTIAL IS LOWER. AGAIN...MAINSTEM STREAM RISES ARE LKLY BUT FF POT IS NOT ALL THAT GREAT. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM/HYDROLOGY...MS JUN 11 LONG TERM...WILKINS AVIATION...DONAVON
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 451 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 IAZ006-007-016-017-023-025>028-033-034-037>039-044>046-048>050- 261100- WINNEBAGO-WORTH-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-POCAHONTAS-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN- BUTLER-BREMER-SAC-CALHOUN-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-CRAWFORD-CARROLL- GREENE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA- 451 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY SATURDAY AND INTO TONIGHT. STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE WILL BE INTERMITTENT CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS FROM SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. SEVERE WEATHER MAY BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES...PARTICULARLY SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY WITH ISOLATED ONE TO TWO INCH RAINFALL AMOUNTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FROM TIME TO TIME. IAZ004-005-015-024-035-036-047-261100- EMMET-KOSSUTH-PALO ALTO-HUMBOLDT-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-BOONE- 451 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY SATURDAY AND INTO TONIGHT. STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE. RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF THE UPPER DES MOINES RIVER BASIN. PLEASE REFER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/DESMOINES FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE WILL BE INTERMITTENT CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS FROM SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. SEVERE WEATHER MAY BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES...PARTICULARLY SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FROM TIME TO TIME. IAZ057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097-261100- AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON- WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR- RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 451 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY THROUGHOUT THE DAY SATURDAY AND INTO TONIGHT. STORMS MAY BE SEVERE...ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREAT. IN ADDITION...STORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE WILL BE INTERMITTENT CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS FROM SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. SEVERE WEATHER MAY BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES...PARTICULARLY SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY WITH ISOLATED ONE TO TWO INCH RAINFALL AMOUNTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND AGAIN FROM TIME TO TIME THROUGH THE WEEKEND. AW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 405 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 IAZ070>072-081>083-251000- ADAIR-ADAMS-CASS-CLARKE-MADISON-UNION- 405 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 ...THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN SOUTHWEST IOWA... AT 402 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM 38 MILES WEST OF CRESTON...DEVELOPING EASTWARD AT AROUND 55 MPH. PENNY SIZE HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... CUMBERLAND... MASSENA... CARBON... BRIDGEWATER... PRESCOTT... ORIENT... CROMWELL... CRESTON AIRPORT... CRESTON... MACKSBURG... AFTON... THAYER... LORIMOR... SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 501 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 IAZ070>072-081>083-093>095-251100- ADAIR-ADAMS-CASS-CLARKE-DECATUR-MADISON-RINGGOLD-UNION-WAYNE- 501 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 ...THUNDERSTORMS EXPANDING OVER SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA... AT 457 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 26 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRESTON TO 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAMONI...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ELLSTON... DAVIS CITY... BEACONSFIELD... CRESTON AIRPORT... CRESTON... BRIDGEWATER... ARISPE... GRAND RIVER... DECATUR CITY... AFTON... LEON... FONTANELLE... ORIENT... LINEVILLE... WELDON... SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 651 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 IAZ081>083-092>094-251245- ADAMS-CLARKE-DECATUR-RINGGOLD-TAYLOR-UNION- 651 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA.. AT 648 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES WEST OF CRESTON TO 42 MILES WEST OF LAMONI...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... KENT... CROMWELL... CLEARFIELD... BLOCKTON... ATHELSTAN... CRESTON AIRPORT... MALOY... CRESTON... REDDING... DIAGONAL... DELPHOS... BENTON... SHANNON CITY... ARISPE... AFTON... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL BRANCHES TO BE BLOWN DOWN...AND LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 652 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 IAZ081>083-092>094-251245- ADAMS-CLARKE-DECATUR-RINGGOLD-TAYLOR-UNION- 652 AM CDT SAT JUN 25 2011 ...THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA... AT 648 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES WEST OF CRESTON TO 42 MILES WEST OF LAMONI...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... KENT... CROMWELL... CLEARFIELD... BLOCKTON... ATHELSTAN... CRESTON AIRPORT... MALOY... CRESTON... REDDING... DIAGONAL... DELPHOS... BENTON... SHANNON CITY... ARISPE... AFTON... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL BRANCHES TO BE BLOWN DOWN...AND LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:11 UTC.
5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several road intersections impassable within the Creston city limits due to fast moving water.
Six to 8 inches of water flowing over a road at Union Ave just south of 150th St. Also occurring at Vanilla Ave and 150th St.
Closure of 160th Street due to water over road.
Closure of 120th Street due to water over road.
Several closures along U.S. Highway 69 south of Osceola due to water over the road.
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: 303535, 303537, 303539, 303541, 303543.