A cold front dropped through the area with a large MCS developing across central Iowa throughout the overnight hours and continued into the early morning hours of the 15th. Storms continued to track over the same areas resulting in heavy rainfall across large portions of central Iowa.
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 cold front dropped through the area with a large MCS developing across central Iowa throughout the overnight hours and continued into the early morning hours of the 15th. Storms continued to track over the same areas resulting in heavy rainfall across large portions of central Iowa. Flash flooding was reported in several areas of Polk County.
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, 2:32 AM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 332 AM CDT SUN JUN 14 2015 .SHORT TERM /TODAY/... ISSUED AT 332 AM CDT SUN JUN 14 2015 MAIN FOCUS FOR THE FORECAST TODAY WAS PRECIP CHANCES...OR LACK THEREOF AND TEMPERATURES. TRENDED TOWARD A DRIER FORECAST FOR TODAY...ESPECIALLY OVER WESTERN TO NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. MODELS ARE IN FAIR AGREEMENT WITH THE DRIER FORECAST FOR TODAY AND UTILIZED A BLEND OF THE NAM/ECMWF. A WEAK SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE IN PLACE OVER IOWA IS SLOW TO SLIDE EAST-NORTHEAST TODAY AND SHOULD KEEP THE PRECIP ACTIVITY...IF ANY DEVELOPS...CONFINED TO THE SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST. NAM SHOWS A FEW RIPPLES OF THETA-E ADVECTION AND WEAK ISENTROPIC LIFT THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY OVER SOUTHERN IOWA. 14.06Z HRRR AND 14.03Z HOPWRF SHOW ISOLATED POP-UP TS/SHOWERS BUT WEAK SHEAR AND MINIMAL INSTABILITY WILL KEEP ANYTHING FROM BEING LONG-LIVED. STILL...THE AIRMASS HAS NOT CHANGED MUCH FROM PREVIOUS COUPLE OF DAYS WRT TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES RANGE IN THE 1.5-2.0 INCH RANGE AND WARM LAYER CLOUD DEPTHS RANGE FROM 3800-4000 METERS IN SOUTHERN IOWA. HENCE...IF ANYTHING DOES DEVELOP IT SHOULD HAVE SOME DECENT RAINFALL RATES FOR SHORT STINT BUT NOT CONCERNED WITH FLASH FLOODING DUE TO THE SHORT-LIVED NATURE OF STORMS AND LACK OF WIDESPREAD CONVECTION TODAY. FOR TEMPERATURES...SINCE WENT DRY ACROSS THE WEST TO NORTH AND LOWERED POPS IN THE SOUTHEAST...LEANED TOWARD RAISING MAX TEMPS A COUPLE OF DEGREES. MOS GUIDANCE HAS CAUGHT ONTO THIS TREND AND LEANED CLOSER THE METMOS FOR MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA. SOUTHERN IOWA LOOKS TO REMAIN THE COOLEST WITH THE MORE ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER AND PRECIP CHANCES. .LONG TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... ISSUED AT 332 AM CDT SUN JUN 14 2015 IN THE EXTENDED...PATTERN TO EVOLVE VERY SLOWLY THIS WEEK...WITH SOME WARMING TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK BEFORE MUCH COOLER AIR BUILDS SOUTH INTO THE REGION. LOW CONFIDENCE FORECAST AGAIN TONIGHT...MODELS OF LITTLE ASSISTANCE LAST NIGHT THOUGH RAIN DID FALL JUST TO THE EAST OF THE REGION ON SATURDAY. SFC ANALYSIS THIS EVENING SHOWS THAT THE BOUNDARY OVER THE REGION YESTERDAY LIFTED NORTHEAST AND BASICALLY WEAKENED. WHAT WAVE DID EXIST ALOFT ALSO LIFTED MORE NORTHEAST THAN NORTH RESULTING IN THE H850 MOISTURE CHANNEL FOCUSED JUST TO THE EAST OF THE AREA...KEEPING THE ISENTROPIC LIFT AND MORE PERSISTENT RAINFALL IN EASTERN IOWA TO WISCONSIN. NEXT CHALLENGE IS THE UPSTREAM WAVE PROGGED TO AFFECT THE AREA TONIGHT INTO MONDAY. LEE SIDE TROUGH ADVERTISED TO DRIFT NORTHEAST ONCE AGAIN WITH ANOTHER NORTHERN STREAM COOL FRONT HEADING SOUTHEAST TOWARD IOWA MONDAY. THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO SYSTEMS /SHOULD/ RESULT IN THUNDERSTORMS BUT LIKE LAST NIGHT...SIMILAR WEAKENING OF THE SOUTHERN STREAM WAVE AND LIGHT WINDS AT H850 MAY RESULT IN A MORE NARROW BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH OF THE REGION...THOUGH COVERAGE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST SHOULD INCREASE LATER TONIGHT AS WEAK LOW LEVEL JET FORMS OVER MISSOURI. FOR NOW HAVE CUT BACK ON CHANCES NORTH WITH FOCUS CLOSER TO THE SOUTH THIRD OF IOWA TOWARD THE MISSOURI BORDER LATER TONIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY. AS THE COOL FRONT APPROACHES NORTHWEST IOWA LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY...LIKELY THAT ONLY SHOWERS AND ISO THUNDER WILL OCCUR NORTH UNTIL MONDAY AFTERNOON... WHEN ACROSS THE SOUTH THE BOUNDARY BECOMES MORE ACTIVE WITH DAYTIME HEATING AND MORE WIDESPREAD COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDER RETURNS. AT THIS TIME AM NOT LOOKING FOR MUCH IN TERMS OF WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL IN THE NEXT 36 HOURS SO WILL NOT NEED HEADLINES. THOUGH STORMS MAY BE SLOW MOVERS...LIKELY THAT WIND FIELDS WILL BE WEAK ENOUGH TO KEEP STORMS FROM ORGANIZING. PER PREVIOUS FORECASTS...TUESDAY LOOKS COOLER AND LESS HUMID OVERALL WITH ABOUT A DAY OF MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS BEFORE ANOTHER WAVE APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. ONCE THE HIGH RETREATS EAST TUESDAY NIGHT...A NORTHERN STREAM SHORT WAVE WILL INDUCE A LEE SIDE LOW AND ANOTHER CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY. FINALLY TOWARD THE VERY END OF THE PERIOD A MORE SIGNIFICANT NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM SHOULD ARRIVE LATE IN THE WEEK. TIMING IS STILL IN QUESTION BUT THE MODELS TODAY ARE IN BETTER AGREEMENT FOR FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM SOME MUCH WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL BE BUILDING INTO THE REGION...POSSIBLY SOME UPPER 80S TO LOWER 90S AGAIN BY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. A LOT DEPENDS ON CONVECTIVE DEBRIS AND IF A H700 CAP INDEED FORMS. WITH A BAND OF MUCH STRONGER WESTERLIES INTERACTING WITH THE VERY WARM AND MOIST AIRMASS BY SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY...THE STAGE SHOULD BE SET FOR AN ACTIVE PERIOD OF SUMMER STORMS BEFORE MUCH COOLER AIR ARRIVES ON SUNDAY. SOME TIMING ISSUES ARE EXPECTED AT THIS RANGE...BUT THE SIGNAL FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT TROUGH CROSSING THE NORTHERN PLAINS IS BECOMING MORE APPARENT. && .AVIATION...14/06Z ISSUED AT 1147 PM CDT SAT JUN 13 2015 VCSH WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT KOTM FOR BEGINNING OF PERIOD BEFORE DISSIPATING. AMPLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL ALLOW FOR SITES TO DROP TO MVFR OR IFR VISIBILITIES AT TIMES NEAR 12Z...WITH MVFR CEILINGS ALSO POSSIBLE. CONDITIONS WILL QUICKLY IMPROVE AFTER 12Z...WITH WINDS BEING SOUTHERLY THROUGH MUCH OF PERIOD. LATE IN PERIOD MAY SEE SHRA/TSRA AT SOUTHERN SITES KDSM/KOTM BUT HAVE NOT INCLUDED MENTION ATTM DUE TO UNCERTAINTIES IN TIMING/PLACEMENT. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...PODRAZIK LONG TERM...REV AVIATION...AWB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 320 PM CDT SAT JUN 13 2015 IAZ017-025>028-035>039-046>050-057>062-070>075-081>086-092>097- 141100- CERRO GORDO-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-HARDIN- GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-GREENE-BOONE-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-AUDUBON- GUTHRIE-DALLAS-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN- MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR- RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 320 PM CDT SAT JUN 13 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE WILL BE INTERMITTENT THUNDERSTORMS CHANCES FROM SUNDAY INTO NEXT WEEK. AT THIS TIME THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW BUT LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN MAY ACCOMPANY SOME OF THE STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. IAZ004>007-015-016-023-024-033-034-044-045-141100- EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-POCAHONTAS- HUMBOLDT-SAC-CALHOUN-CRAWFORD-CARROLL- 320 PM CDT SAT JUN 13 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE WILL BE INTERMITTENT THUNDERSTORMS CHANCES FROM SUNDAY INTO NEXT WEEK. AT THIS TIME THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW BUT LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN MAY ACCOMPANY SOME OF THE STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. LEE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 409 AM CDT SUN JUN 14 2015 IAZ061-062-074-075-084>086-095>097-141230- JASPER-POWESHIEK-MARION-MAHASKA-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-WAYNE- APPANOOSE-DAVIS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...GRINNELL...PELLA...KNOXVILLE... OSKALOOSA...CHARITON...ALBIA...OTTUMWA...CORYDON...SEYMOUR... ALLERTON...HUMESTON...CENTERVILLE...BLOOMFIELD 409 AM CDT SUN JUN 14 2015 ...AREAS OF DENSE FOG THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS... AREAS OF DENSE FOG HAVE DEVELOPED OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL TO SOUTHEAST IOWA EARLY THIS MORNING AND LOOK TO PERSIST THROUGH SUNRISE TODAY. VISIBILITY HAS BEEN REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY IN LOW LYING AREAS OR RIVER BOTTOMS. DRIVERS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS OF A QUICK REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY THROUGH 730 AM CDT AND UTILIZE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING IN DENSE FOG. MAJOR ROADWAYS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED INCLUDE INTERSTATE 80 FROM COLFAX TO GUERNSEY...HIGHWAY 14 FROM NEWTON TO CORYDON...HIGHWAY 34 FROM LUCAS TO OTTUMWA...HIGHWAY 163 FROM PRAIRIE CITY TO OSKALOOSA...AND U.S. 63 FROM BROOKLYN TO BLOOMFIELD. KLP
The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:51 UTC.
28 heavy rain, 4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Coop observer reported heavy rainfall of 2.29 inches over the last 24 hours. Coop observer station at Four Mile Creek ATNI4.
Mesonet reported heavy rainfall of 2.28 inches over the last 24 hours. Mesonet station 1 W Des Moines DEMI4.
Coop observer reported heavy rain of 2.08 inches over the last 24 hours. Coop observer station Jordan Creek JDAI4.
Coop observer reported heavy rainfall of 3.31 inches over the last 24 hours. Coop observer station Four Mile Creek Alert Station FMBI4.
Mesonet reported heavy rainfall of 2.51 inches over the last 24 hours. Mesonet station 1 NNW Johnston SAYI4.
CoCoRaHS reported heavy rainfall of 3.14 inches over the last 24 hours. CoCoRaHS station Saylorville IA-PK-2.
Public reported heavy rainfall of 2.22 inches since midnight on the east side of Johnston.
Mesonet reported heavy rainfall of 2.07 inches over the last 24 hours. Mesonet station 1 E Atlantic E6210.
Mesonet reported heavy rainfall of 2.52 inches over the last 24 hours. Mesonet station 2 W Ankeny D3886.
Mesonet reported heavy rainfall of 2.40 inches reported over the last 24 hours. Mesonet station 1 WNW Ankeny SAKI4.
Public reported heavy rainfall of 3.10 inches over the last 24 hours in NW Ankeny.
CoCoRaHS reported heavy rainfall of 2.20 inches over the last 24 hours. CoCoRaHS station Waukee 0.6 W - IA-DL-18.
CoCoRaHS reported heavy rainfall of 2.14 inches over the last 24 hours. CoCoRaHS station 1 ENE Waukee - IA-DL-22.
Coop observer reported heavy rainfall of 3.87 inches over the last 24 hours. Coop observer station 3 S Ankeny AKYI4.
Mesonet reported heavy rainfall of 2.00 inches over the last 24 hours. Mesonet station Des Moines DESI4.
Mesonet reported heavy rainfall of 2.28 inches over the last 24 hours. Mesonet station 1 SSE Altoona E7358.
Mesonet reported heavy rainfall of 2.52 inches over the last 24 hours. Mesonet station 2 NEE Lewis ATCI4.
Coop observer reported heavy rainfall of 2.95 inches over the last 24 hours. Coop observer station 1 NE Atlantic ATLI4.
Coop observer reported heavy rainfall of 3.26 inches over the last 24 hours. Coop observer station Bondurant BONI4.
Public reported heavy rainfall of just over 3 inches in Urbandale over the last 24 hours.
Coop observer reported heavy rainfall of 2.82 inches over the last 24 hours. Coop observer station Guthrie Center GTHI4.
CoCoRaHS reported heavy rainfall of 2.29 inches over the last 24 hours. CoCoRaHS station Clive 0.1 WSW - IA-PK-75.
Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall of 5.40 inches over the last 24 hours. Spotter location in Ankeny/Saylorville area.
Public reported heavy rainfall of 2.50 inches since yesterday afternoon in Oak Park neighborhood.
Public reported heavy rainfall of 3.07 inches over roughly the last 5 hours or since midnight. Reported via social media.
Trained spotter report of heavy rainfall of 2.61 inches since midnight. Observer location near Newton.
Public report of heavy rainfall of 2.30 inches since midnight in Altoona.
Public reported heavy rainfall of 3.36 inches since midnight in East Ankeny.
Law enforcement reported flooded intersection due to heavy rainfall and rapid runoff. Road blocked after reported inundation at NW College and NW 4th streets.
Law enforcement reported roads flooded due to heavy rainfall. Multiple intersections blocked with cars stranded at some locations in Ankeny at this time. Water is above door level and filling up some vehicles. As of 3am, 6 or more intersections are flooded and closed.
Law enforcement reported intersections closed due to 6-8 inches of water within intersections.
Law enforcement reported water flowing over road along NE 70th near Carney Marsh Nature Preserve in Ankeny. Road is being barricaded and closed to traffic.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, June 2015
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: 576264, 576271, 576272, 576273, 576274, 576275, 576276, 576279, 576280, 576281, 576282, 576283, 576284, 576285, 576286, 576287, 576288, 576289, 576290, 576291, 576296, 576297, 576298, 576278, 576263, 576292, 576293, 576270, 576256, 576258, 576268, 576294.