Heavy rain again near the middle of the month caused river flooding at one northern Iowa location on the Des Moines River at Estherville.
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 rain again near the middle of the month caused river flooding at one northern Iowa location on the Des Moines River at Estherville.
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 May 9, 10:52 PM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 1152 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1151 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 SEVERE THREAT HAS DIMINISHED...SOME MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE OVER THE WEST FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS TONIGHT. && .SHORT TERM.../TONIGHT/ ISSUED AT 241 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT IS THE PRIMARY FORECAST CHALLENGE FOR THE PERIOD. A WEAK WARM FRONT HAS WORKED NORTH INTO SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA AND FAR SOUTHWEST IOWA. CLOUDS HAVE LIMITED SFC BASED INSTABILITY OVER MUCH OF IOWA TODAY. SOME LIMITED SUN HAS REACH THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE STATE BY MID AFTERNOON WITH MLCAPES NEAR 1000 J/KG THOUGH AS OF 3 PM...ANY 0-3 KM CAPES REMAINED WEST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER. SEVERAL WAVES OF WEAK TO MODERATE THETA-E ADVECTION LIFTING NORTH ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA HAVE PROVIDED SOME ELEVATED INSTABILITY OVER IOWA. THE BULK OF THE ACTIVITY THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON HAS REMAINED OVER SOUTHEAST IOWA THOUGH ISOLATED ACTIVITY HAS DEVELOPED FROM TIME TO TIME INTO THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE STATE. A STRONG SHORT WAVE LIFTING NORTHEAST FROM THE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS PANHANDLES OVERNIGHT WILL HELP THE ENTIRE SYSTEM BECOME A BIT NEGATIVELY TILTED AS IT INTERACTS BY A DEEPER UPPER LOW OVER MONTANA AND WYOMING. THIS WILL SHIFT THE BETTER ENERGY INTO IOWA THIS EVENING WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM WITH LARGE HAIL OR 60 MPH WINDS REMAINS POSSIBLE THOUGH THE FOCUS FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS SHIFTED TO THE SOUTH AND WEST. THE POTENTIAL FOR SUSTAINED VIGOROUS UPDRAFT DEVELOPMENT IS LOW AND THE LACK OF SHEAR WILL PREVENT THEM FROM BECOMING SUSTAINED. THE PRECIPITATION WILL DIMINISH IN AREAL COVERAGE TOWARD 06Z. THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION AFT 06Z WILL BE OVER THE NORTHEAST. .LONG TERM.../TUESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/ ISSUED AT 241 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 THE FOCUS OF THE LONGER TERM FORECAST REMAINS ON THE POTENTIAL OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AND BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED LATE IN THE WEEK. A SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL BE LIFTING NORTHWEST OVER THE STATE ON TUESDAY. MORNING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL TAPER OFF WITH SUBSIDENCE BEHIND THE DEPARTING WAVE. AFTERNOON HEATING OF A MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER IN A WEAKLY CAPPED ENVIRONMENT COULD PRODUCE ADDITIONAL SCATTERED AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. ON WEDNESDAY AN UPPER TROUGH LIFTS OVER THE DAKOTAS AND DRIVES A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...FORECAST MODELS DEPICT MU CAPE NEAR 1500 J/KG ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN IOWA ALONG WITH 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR NEAR 30-45 KNOTS SUPPORTING THE POTENTIAL OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. A NORTHWEST FLOW UPPER PATTERN WILL REMAIN THURSDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND BRINGING UNSEASONABLY COOLER WEATHER. ADDITIONAL RAIN CHANCES ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY AIDED BY A SHORTWAVE MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. DRY BUT COOL WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED FOR THE WEEKEND WITH HIGHS IN THE 50S AND 60S...FAR BELOW THE NORMAL HIGHS OF 70S. && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT/ ISSUED AT 1150 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 IFR CONDITIONS CONTINUE WITH SOME BREAKS TO MVFR/VFR. AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDER SOUTWEST MAY IMPACT KDSM AND KFOD...THOUGH IT CONTINUES TO DRIFT BACK NORTHWEST WITH UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM. LINGERING SHOWERS TO AFFECT KALO PRIOR TO 10Z...WITH VCSH THROUGH MORNING HOURS. WINDS REMAIN EAST TO NORTHEAST THROUGH PERIOD. BY 16Z SOUTH TO 21Z NORTHEAST...CIGS WILL IMPROVE TO MVFR/VFR ACROSS THE REGION. /REV && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...REV SHORT TERM...DONAVON LONG TERM...ANGLE AVIATION...REV
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA 945 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 IAZ044>046-057-058-070-071-081-082-092-093-110245- CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-ADAMS-UNION- TAYLOR-RINGGOLD- 945 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH MIDNIGHT. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND WIND UP TO 60 MPH WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS. THERE IS ALSO THE THREAT FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL OVERNIGHT WHICH MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER AND URBAN RUNOFF PROBLEMS. IF MORE WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURS...RISES IN STREAMS AND AREA RIVERS CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COULD OCCUR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND A FEW TORNADOES. HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. IAZ004-005-015-023-024-033>035-047-059-072-083-094-110245- EMMET-KOSSUTH-PALO ALTO-POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-SAC-CALHOUN-WEBSTER- BOONE-DALLAS-MADISON-CLARKE-DECATUR- 945 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TONIGHT. THERE IS ALSO THE THREAT FOR ISOLATED LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL OVERNIGHT WHICH MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER AND URBAN RUNOFF PROBLEMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COULD OCCUR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. IAZ006-007-016-017-025>028-036>039-110245- WINNEBAGO-WORTH-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER- HAMILTON-HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK- 945 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COULD OCCUR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. IAZ048>050-060>062-073>075-084>086-095>097-110245- STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA- LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-WAYNE-APPANOOSE-DAVIS- 945 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL IOWA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED NON SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COULD OCCUR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND A FEW TORNADOES. HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. REV
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
850 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016
IAZ081-092-100230-
TAYLOR IA-ADAMS IA-
850 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN TAYLOR AND ADAMS COUNTIES...
AT 849 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7
MILES SOUTHEAST OF VILLISCA...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CORNING...MOVING
NORTH AT 35 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CORNING...BEDFORD...LAKE ICARIA...NEW MARKET...GRAVITY...NODAWAY...CARBON...
LAKE ICARIA STATE PARK...CORNING MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND LAKE OF THREE
FIRES STATE PARK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN IOWA.
LAT...LON 4068 9491 4073 9491 4073 9493 4116 9493
4116 9462 4067 9469
TIME...MOT...LOC 0149Z 177DEG 31KT 4088 9485
ZOGGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1125 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1026 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 WSW TEMPLETON 41.91N 95.00W
05/09/2016 CARROLL IA LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED GRAVEL WASHED AWAY
AROUND IA-141 AND FALCON AVE.
&&
NWS DES MOINES IA
IRIS SYSTEMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1141 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016
IAZ057-058-070-100530-
GUTHRIE IA-AUDUBON IA-CASS IA-
1141 PM CDT MON MAY 9 2016
...GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL POSSIBLE...
AT 1140 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 15
MILES NORTHEAST OF ATLANTIC...MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
AUDUBON...ANITA...EXIRA...BRAYTON...AUDUBON COUNTY AIRPORT...ANITA
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AND LAKE ANITA STATE PARK.
LAT...LON 4186 9460 4150 9468 4150 9470 4140 9470
4143 9495 4186 9496
TIME...MOT...LOC 0440Z 190DEG 31KT 4151 9477
BEERENDSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Des Moines River at Estherville crested at 9.56 feet on 11 May 2016 at 1:30 am CDT.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, May 2016
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: 633597.