Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Iowa, July 27, 2015

Name: Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Iowa, July 27, 2015
Start: 2015-07-27T09:35
End: 2015-07-27T20:40
Location: Iowa

July 27, 2015 · NWS DMX · 18 events in 11 counties and zones

Another morning and early afternoon MCS rolled through Iowa, producing heavy rainfall, a couple of wind damage reports, and a handfull of flash flood reports. Flash flooding reports were restricted to southern Iowa, while the heavy rain ranged from as far north and west as Webster County and down to Appanoose.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $223,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 18

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.

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 Jul 27, 5:47 AM CST, 3 hours 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 5:47 AM CST, 3 hours 48 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
647 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

.UPDATE...
ISSUED AT 629 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

SINCE THE ISSUANCE OF THE MORNING FORECAST THE LATEST MESOANALYSIS
SHOWED THE INSTABILITY AXIS THAT WAS OVER THE MISSOURI VALLEY HAS
BECOME ORIENTED MORE NW/SE IN THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE CWA.
WITH SUNRISE THERE WAS ENOUGH INSTABILITY ALONG THE GRADIENT FOR
ISOLATED STORMS TO DEVELOP. THEY ARE DRIFTING EAST/NORTHEAST AND
AS THEY MOVE INTO A LESS FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT THEY WILL DIMINISH.
STORMS SHOULD BE NORTH OF DES MOINES BUT THERE IS AT LEAST A
COUPLE OF HI-RES MODELS THAT WANT TO DEVELOP SOME STORMS IN A
CORRIDOR FROM DSM TO FOD SO SLIGHT CHANCE POPS WERE ADDED TO
ROUGHLY THAT CORRIDOR THROUGH MID MORNING AND THAT SHOULD BE MORE
THAN GENEROUS BASED ON CURRENT RADAR TRENDS...WHICH SHOW STORMS
FALLING APART AT THIS TIME.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TODAY/...
ISSUED AT 341 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

ONCE AGAIN SHORT TERM MODELS ARE NOT VERY GOOD MAKING THE
FORECAST FOR TODAY DIFFICULT. THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF
INSTABILITY TODAY BUT LITTLE TO WEAK FORCING AND NO BOUNDARIES
AROUND SO THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING FOR A FOCUS TO GET
CONVECTION GOING YET THE MODELS ARE FORECASTING CONVECTION TO BE
ALREADY ONGOING ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA THEN WEAKEN IT THROUGH
MORNING. WITH THE POOR INITIALIZATION POPS WILL BE IN ERROR AS
WILL CLOUD COVER AND TEMPS.

PRESENTLY THE INSTABILITY AXIS LIES FROM NW MO ACROSS EASTERN
NEBRASKA INTO SE SOUTH DAKOTA. THE LOW LEVEL JET IS A LITTLE
FURTHER WEST AND GOES FROM SOUTH EVENTUALLY POINTING INTO THE
INSTABILITY AXIS HOWEVER...CONVECTION THAT WAS ONGOING IN THAT
AREA HAS WANED OVERNIGHT. SOME REDEVELOPMENT IS NOTED IN NE
NEBRASKA BUT WILL LIKELY FOLLOW THAT INSTABILITY AXIS AND SHOULD
REMAIN WEST OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING.

FOR THIS AFTERNOON...A TROUGH WILL PUSH ACROSS THE NORTHERN
PLAINS AN A SHORTWAVE WILL EJECT OUT OF THE BASE OF THIS TROUGH
AND RIDE UP THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH IN PLACE OVER THE UPPER
MIDWEST. THIS WILL BE WHEN OUR PRECIP CHANCES WILL INCREASE BUT
WILL NOT LIKELY OCCUR UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON OR MORE LIKELY IN THE
EVENING.

THERE SHOULD BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF MID/HIGH LEVEL CLOUD COVER
THROUGH THE DAY MAKING FOR AT LEAST PARTLY SUNNY SKIES WHICH
SHOULD HOLD TEMPS BACK A BIT BUT EVEN WITH CLOUD COVER TEMPS
SHOULD EASILY MAKE IT INTO THE MID TO UPPER 80S AND WITH 70+
DEWPOINTS...IT WILL BE A MUGGY DAY TODAY. AFTER RUNNING MY
APPARENT TEMPS THERE APPEARS TO BE A COUPLE HOUR WINDOW IN THE
AFTERNOON WITH HEAT INDICES AROUND 100 BUT EVERYWHERE ELSE ACROSS
THE FORECAST AREA IS WELL BELOW 100. AT THIS POINT A HEAT ADVISORY
IS NOT ANTICIPATED FOR TODAY BECAUSE I MAY BE A LITTLE OVER
ZEALOUS ON TEMPS ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST. WE WILL MONITOR THIS AREA
TO SEE IF CLOUD COVER BREAKS MORE THAN EXPECTED.

.LONG TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
ISSUED AT 341 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERN IN THE LONG TERM PERIOD REMAINS THE UPPER
LEVEL CYCLONE SWINGING FROM THE NORTHERN ROCKIES UP INTO SOUTHERN
CANADA BETWEEN TONIGHT AND TUESDAY NIGHT...AND THE ATTENDANT
SURFACE COOL FRONT SET TO MOVE ACROSS OUR FORECAST AREA LATE
TUESDAY/TUESDAY NIGHT. TONIGHT A BROAD AREA OF ASCENT ON THE
LEADING FLANK OF THIS SYSTEM WILL OVERSPREAD MOIST AND UNSTABLE
AIR ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS...GENERATING AREAS OF THUNDERSTORMS
PRIMARILY ACROSS THE DAKOTAS AND MINNESOTA. FURTHER SOUTHEAST
ACROSS MUCH OF IOWA WE WILL BE FURTHER DISPLACED FROM THE UPPER
LEVEL SYSTEM AND A RELATIVE LACK OF FORCING AND SURFACE FOCI FOR
CONVECTION SHOULD LIMIT THUNDERSTORM CHANCES...EXCEPT IN OUR
NORTHWEST AND NORTH WHERE WE ARE LIKELY TO BE GRAZED BY THE
SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE AREAS OF THUNDERSTORMS SLIDING UP INTO
MINNESOTA. OF GREATER CONCERN IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH LATE NIGHT
STORMS AND CONVECTIVE DEBRIS MAY INFLUENCE THE FORECAST FOR
TUESDAY.

AS TUESDAY DAWNS THE AFOREMENTIONED SURFACE FRONT WILL STILL BE
DRAPED DOWN EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND NEBRASKA...AND WILL BE
RELATIVELY SLOW TO ADVANCE DURING THE DAY DUE TO THE UPPER LEVEL
SYSTEM DEPARTING NORTHEASTWARD INTO CANADA. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE
UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE DEGREE TO WHICH EARLY MORNING CONVECTION
ACROSS OUR AREA MAY BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITSELF THROUGH THE
DAY...AND TO WHAT SOUTHWARD EXTENT IT MAY EXIST...WHICH WILL HAVE
SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ON DAYTIME HEATING AND DESTABILIZATION. HAVE
NUDGED HIGH TEMPERATURES DOWN JUST A BIT...MAINLY ACROSS THE
NORTHWEST HALF...BUT AM HESITANT TO TAKE THEM LOWER AS CONDITIONS
WILL BE RIPE FOR A VERY HOT AND HUMID DAY IF CONVECTIVE DEBRIS
DOES NOT MATERIALIZE ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN AND EASTERN COUNTIES.
FORECAST HEAT INDEX VALUES STILL PEAK AT AROUND 105 DEGREES IN
THESE AREAS...BUT ANY CONSIDERATION OF A HEADLINE WILL NEED TO
WAIT UNTIL CONFIDENCE INCREASES. AT ANY RATE...BY PEAK HEATING
TIME TUESDAY EVENING THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY SHOULD BE LOCATED
SOMEWHERE ACROSS OUR NORTHWEST AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP RAPIDLY JUST AHEAD OF THE
BOUNDARY...LIKELY ACROSS CENTRAL/EASTERN/NORTHEASTERN IOWA. ANY
STORMS THAT DEVELOP IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING SEVERE WEATHER...AGAIN CONTINGENT ON ANY DAYTIME STORMS
ALLOWING DESTABILIZATION TO OCCUR...AND THIS THREAT IS WELL
OUTLINED BY SPC. THE STORMS WILL ALSO ACT TO ACCELERATE THE
SOUTHEASTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WHICH WILL CLEAR
OUT AREA BY AROUND SUNRISE WEDNESDAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY MOVE
SOUTHWARD ACROSS MISSOURI. THEREFORE HAVE MAINTAINED LIKELY POPS
AHEAD OF THE EXPECTED BOUNDARY LOCATION TUESDAY EVENING...BUT
CLEARED THEM OUT RAPIDLY TO THE SOUTHEAST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST IOWA WILL
LIE BENEATH NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT...ALLOWING FOR INITIALLY COOL
AND DRY CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY BUT THEN VARIABLE
TEMPERATURES AND INTERMITTENT THUNDERSTORM CHANCES BY THE END OF
THE WEEK AS GRADUAL AIRMASS MODIFICATION AND DESTABILIZATION OCCUR
AND A SERIES OF SUBTLE SHORTWAVES MOVE THROUGH THE FLOW. CHANCE
POPS REMAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR THE WEEKEND...BUT IT WILL BE
DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN TIMING/LOCATION/EFFECTS OF ANY STORMS DURING
THIS TIME UNTIL AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK OR LATER GIVEN THE
DIFFICULTY OF PROGNOSTIC MODELS IN PREDICTING SUCH SUBTLE IMPULSES
MOVING QUICKLY THROUGH NORTHWEST FLOW.

&&

.AVIATION...27/12Z ISSUED AT 644 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

PATCHY FOG THIS MORNING DROPPING SOME VSBYS TO AROUND 1SM BUT
SHOULD QUICKLY BURN OFF AS THE SUN RISES. A LINE OF STORMS HAS
DEVELOPED ALONG AN INSTABILITY AXIS IN SW IA AND ARE MOVING SLOWLY
NE AND DIMINISHING AS THEY MOVE AWAY FROM THE BETTER INSTABILITY.
THEY MAY HOLD TOGETHER TO AFFECT KFOD AND MAY BE INVOF KDSM AND
KMCW. AFTER 15Z PRECIP CHANCES SHOULD BE ALL BUT DIMINISHED UNTIL
LATER TONIGHT WHEN AN UPPER LEVEL FEATURE COMES ACROSS. I DO
EXPECT VFR WITH LCL MVFR CIGS TODAY. SFC FLOW WILL BE SOUTHERLY
AROUND 10KTS.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

UPDATE...FAB
SHORT TERM...FAB
LONG TERM...LEE
AVIATION...FAB

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 27, 5:30 AM CST, 4 hours 5 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
630 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>048-057>059-070-071-081-
092-281130-
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-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-TAYLOR-
630 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

ISOLATED NON-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING. SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT...MAINLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 20
AFTER MIDNIGHT. A FEW STORMS COULD BE SEVERE WITH STRONG WINDS THE
PRIMARY THREAT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER WITH STRONG WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL THE PRIMARY THREATS. THE STORMS WILL CLEAR OUT BY
AROUND MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN TO THE FORECAST ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED AROUND TUESDAY EVENING.

IAZ049-050-060>062-072>075-082>086-093>097-281130-
MARSHALL-TAMA-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-
UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-
APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
630 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL PEAK BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES ON TUESDAY
AFTERNOON.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIKELY BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER WITH STRONG WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL THE PRIMARY THREATS. THE STORMS WILL CLEAR OUT BY LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN TO THE FORECAST ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED AROUND TUESDAY EVENING.

FAB

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 7:45 AM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
845 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

IAZ033-044-045-271415-
CARROLL IA-CRAWFORD IA-SAC IA-
845 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY RAINFALL...

AT 844 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7
MILES NORTHWEST OF DENISON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
DENISON...ODEBOLT...SCHLESWIG...WALL LAKE...ARCADIA...BREDA...VAIL...
WESTSIDE...KIRON...DELOIT...RICKETTS...WALL LAKE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
AND BLACKHAWK LAKE STATE PARK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO
FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4221 9550 4221 9532 4233 9532 4242 9519
      4211 9486 4199 9548 4215 9559
TIME...MOT...LOC 1344Z 244DEG 37KT 4211 9542

AWB

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 8:46 AM CST, 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
946 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

IAZ044-271700-
CRAWFORD-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...DENISON
946 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

...HEAVY RAINFALL MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING...

MULTIPLE THUNDERSTORMS WILL TRACK ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS. THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY
RAINFALL...WITH 1.5 TO 2 INCHES OR MORE POSSIBLE. PROLONGED HEAVY
RAINFALL MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN LOW LYING
AND URBAN AREAS. USE CAUTION IF TRAVELING. NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS
FLOODED ROADWAYS...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN.

AWB

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 9:15 AM CST, 20 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1015 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

IAZ044-045-057-058-271600-
GUTHRIE IA-AUDUBON IA-CARROLL IA-CRAWFORD IA-
1015 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2015

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN...

AT 1014 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR MANNING...OR 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF AUDUBON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
25 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MANNING...TEMPLETON...DEDHAM...HALBUR...WILLEY...GRAY...ASPINWALL AND
MANNING MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO
FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

&&

LAT...LON 4195 9518 4209 9492 4179 9462 4172 9509
      4186 9509 4187 9515
TIME...MOT...LOC 1514Z 241DEG 20KT 4188 9502

AWB

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 heavy rain, 4 flash flood, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Audubon

When: July 27, 9:35 AM CST
Where: Audubon County, Audubon
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.720, -94.930

A few large branches were down in town.

Heavy Rain, Webster

When: July 27, 10:00 AM CST to 4:15 PM CST
Where: Webster County, 1.23 mi SE of Farnhamville
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.270, -94.380

Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall total of 1.91 inches.

Heavy Rain, Dallas

When: July 27, 11:00 AM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, 2.07 mi S of Hadden Hill
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.590, -93.830

Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall total of 2.04 inches.

Heavy Rain, Polk

When: July 27, 11:00 AM CST to 4:40 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 1.24 mi NW of Urbandale
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 41.640, -93.740

Public reported heavy rainfall total of 2.05 inches.

Heavy Rain, Webster

When: July 27, 11:00 AM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Webster County, 0.51 mi E of Gowrie
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.280, -94.290

Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall total of 2.30 inches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: July 27, 11:25 AM CST
Where: Polk County, 1.75 mi NE of Herrold
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 41.736, -93.724

NWS Employee reported a 6 inch tree branch down on office property.

Heavy Rain, Polk

When: July 27, 11:45 AM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 0.86 mi SW of Ashawa
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.570, -93.780

Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall of 1.63 inches.

Heavy Rain, Story

When: July 27, 11:54 AM CST to 2:54 PM CST
Where: Story County, 0.86 mi SW of Ames
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 42.020, -93.630

Public reported heavy rainfall of 1.70 inches that fell over a 3 hour period.

Heavy Rain, Marion

When: July 27, 12:00 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where: Marion County, 0.69 mi N of Knoxville
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.330, -93.100

Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall total of 2.10 inches.

Heavy Rain, Jasper

When: July 27, 12:30 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where: Jasper County, 0.52 mi W of Prairie City
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.600, -93.240

Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall of 4.00 inches.

Heavy Rain, Marion

When: July 27, 1:00 PM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Marion County, 0.52 mi E of Harvey
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 41.320, -92.920

Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall of 1.25 inches between 2 and 3 pm.

Heavy Rain, Appanoose

When: July 27, 1:45 PM CST to 2:30 PM CST
Where: Appanoose County, 3.21 mi WSW of Griffinsville
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.820, -93.080

Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall of 1.80 inches, which fell in approximately 45 minutes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When: July 27, 1:55 PM CST
Where: Union County, 0.52 mi E of Creston Arpt
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.020, -94.360

Creston ASOS reported a 61 mph wind gust associated with the storms.

Heavy Rain, Appanoose

When: July 27, 2:59 PM CST to 3:44 PM CST
Where: Appanoose County, Centerville
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 40.730, -92.870

Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall of 2.75 inches that fell over a 45 minute span in Centerville.

Flash Flood, Appanoose

When: July 27, 3:31 PM CST to 8:40 PM CST
Where: Appanoose County, 1.37 mi NW of Sharon to 1.06 mi ENE of Centerville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.744, -92.719

Law Enforcement reported water over the road at 2 locations along Highway 2, between 265th Ave and 296th Ave. Water was flooding the underpass at Highway 2 and 296th Ave.

Flash Flood, Marion

When: July 27, 3:31 PM CST to 8:40 PM CST
Where: Marion County, 0.43 mi NW of Dunreath to 2.57 mi SW of Pleasantville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 41.474, -93.187

Law Enforcement reported numerous county roads washed out throughout the county.

Flash Flood, Wayne

When: July 27, 3:40 PM CST
Where: Wayne County, 2.66 mi NNE of Cambria to 2.7 mi NNE of Cambria
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 40.867, -93.385

Law Enforcement reported a partially washed out gravel road on 100th just north of Timber Road north of J22.

Flash Flood, Mahaska

When: July 27, 4:00 PM CST to 8:40 PM CST
Where: Mahaska County, 1.47 mi SW of Olivet to 4.82 mi SSW of Beacon
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 41.306, -92.852

Law Enforcement reported some roads flooded with water over them in the southwest portion of the county.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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

Every storm in Iowa in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, July 2015

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: 592767, 585657, 585658, 585659, 585660, 585642, 585656, 585647, 585662, 585649, 585644, 585646, 585643, 585655, 585651, 585653, 593789, 593742.