Flash Flooding and Flooding in Iowa, June 30, 2018

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
536 AM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018

.DISCUSSION.../Today through Friday/
Issued at 211 AM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018

Majority of the focus for the latest forecast package was spent
on the next 24-36 hours due to a growing concern for excessive
rainfall and severe weather. Little change to the synoptic pattern
overnight as strong anticyclonic flow continues to dominate the
upper flow pattern over the eastern half of the conus, with a
broad trough slowly starting to nudge eastward out of the
northern Rockies. Surface analysis shows a surface low in central
Minnesota and attendant cold front stretch southwest into eastern
Colorado. A very warm and humid air mass in place south of the
front with dew points in the low to mid 70s. The cold front slowly
nudges into northwest Iowa this morning, which will bring some
relief from the heat. Areas south and east of the front will see
another afternoon of heat indicies near or above 100 degrees, thus
the Heat Advisory was re-issued for areas generally along and
east of a Des Moines to Waterloo line.

Convective scenario is a little nebulous until hi-res model
guidance keys in on any potential mesoscale boundaries over the
area. However, most models have locked into a similar idea of
convective initiation by mid to late afternoon as a weak
shortwave embedded in the mean southwesterly flow aloft
approaches the region. Initial convective activity should be
focused along the frontal axis stretching from west central into
north central Iowa. A highly unstable air mass characterized by
MLCAPE in excess of 4000 J/kg will be supportive of explosive
development and storms becoming quickly severe. Strongest shear
profiles will reside northwest of the area, but should still be
strong enough to support a few supercells capable of large hail
and damaging winds. A tornado or two cannot be ruled out as SRH is
maximized due to backing surface winds just ahead of the frontal
boundary. Another round of storms will likely develop as the mean
trough slides across the central Plains. This will continue our
chances for storms into the overnight hours as a veering low level
jet supports the activity as it moves into western and central
Iowa.

Of particular concern is the threat of more flooding as
the atmosphere is primed for heavy rainfall. A deep fetch of
southerly moisture will push pwats toward 2" and promote very
efficient warm rain processes when combined with a deep warm cloud
layer and strong instability. Storm motions through the evening
hours will be nearly parallel to the frontal axis, which may lead
to some training and possibly backbuilding convection as
propagation vectors oppose the mean flow aloft. The threat for
heavy rainfall continues overnight as the nose of low level
moisture transport focuses into the state, however the nighttime
convection should be more progressive as the upper trough sweeps
through the area. Probability matched mean QPF from the HREF shows
the potential for localized 3-4"+ from west central through north
central Iowa, which is consistent with the heavy rain signal
evident in most synoptic models over the last several days. Some
of these areas have little capacity to handle excessive rainfall
due to wet antecedent conditions. A Flash Flood Watch has been
issued to highlight the threat. The heavy rainfall may also create
more problems over the next week due to elevated flows on local
waterways, especially if a wide swath of heavy rain is realized
over the Des Moines River basin upstream of Saylorville Reservoir.

A few showers and storms may linger into Sunday morning as the
trough pushes east of the cwa. Otherwise a welcome, albeit brief,
reprieve from the excessive heat can be expected Sunday and into
Monday. Upper level ridge retrogrades back into the western two-
thirds of the conus by the middle of the week. This will lead to
the return of hot and humid conditions as models build 500mb
heights to near 600 dam over the central tier of the country.
Current guidance keeps heat index values just below heat advisory
criteria as we go through the 4th of July holiday, but this will
need to be monitored over the coming days. A few chances for
isolated storms remain in the forecast through the week, but
forecast confidence is low as models likely do not have a good
handle on the timing and amplitude of any subtle waves rounding
the ridge.

&&

.AVIATION.../For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Sunday morning/
Issued at 529 AM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018

VFR conditions will prevail through the morning and into the
afternoon hours. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are likely
by the evening hours and expected to continue into the overnight.
Did best to capture most likely timing of initial impact at each
terminal, but this will need to be adjusted as models get a
better handle on the situation through the day. TS activity will
have potential to produce strong winds, hail, and torrential
downpours that could lead to categorical restrictions at times.
These details may also need to be added into terminal forecast
later today as the expected convective evolution becomes more
certain.

&&

.DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory from noon today to 7 PM CDT this evening for
IAZ027-028-037>039-048>050-059>062-072>075-083>086-094>097.

Flash Flood Watch from 4 PM CDT this afternoon through Sunday
morning for IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>036-044>047-057-058-
070.

&&

DISCUSSION...Martin
AVIATION...Martin

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
430 AM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018

IAZ004>007-015>017-023>026-033>036-044>047-057-058-070-071-081-
082-092-093-011100-
Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo-
Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Sac-Calhoun-Webster-Hamilton-
Crawford-Carroll-Greene-Boone-Audubon-Guthrie-Cass-Adair-Adams-
Union-Taylor-Ringgold-
430 AM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western and central
Iowa.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight

There is a Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall with heavy rains
and flash flooding possible. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect. There
is also an Enhanced Risk of severe weather this afternoon into
tonight. Large hail and damaging winds will be the primary
threats, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

Minor to moderate river flooding will also continue along parts of
the Des Moines River Basin. Expected heavy rains may produce
additional flooding or exacerbate ongoing flooding. Please refer
to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines
for further details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Intermittent chances for thunderstorms linger Sunday morning and
continue off and on infrequently through the work week. The
severe weather potential is low at this time.

Flood Warnings are expected to continue for portions of the Des
Moines River Basin into next week. Please refer to the National
Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further
details.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters may be needed for severe weather and flash flooding
later this afternoon and tonight.

IAZ027-028-037>039-048>050-059>062-072>075-083>086-094>097-011100-
Butler-Bremer-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Story-Marshall-Tama-Dallas-
Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Clarke-Lucas-
Monroe-Wapello-Decatur-Wayne-Appanoose-Davis-
430 AM CDT Sat Jun 30 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and
eastern Iowa.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight

Another hot and humid day is anticipated today. A Heat Advisory is
in effect this afternoon. Please refer to the National
Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further
details.

Thunderstorms are likely tonight. Some may be severe with locally
heavy rains. Large hail and damaging winds would be the primary
threats.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Intermittent chances for thunderstorms linger Sunday and continue
off and on infrequently through the work week. The severe weather
potential is low at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters may be needed tonight.

Small

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
1257 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2018

IAZ015-023-301900-
Palo Alto IA-Pocahontas IA-
1257 PM CDT SAT JUN 30 2018

...Strong Thunderstorm to Impact Pocahontas and Palo Alto
Counties...

At 1255 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Laurens, or 13 miles northwest of Pocahontas, moving northeast at 35
mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm. This storm could strengthen resulting in a severe
thunderstorm warning.

Locations impacted include...
Emmetsburg, Laurens, Rush Lake, West Bend, Rolfe, Mallard, Havelock,
Cylinder, Plover, Varina, Curlew, Rodman and Emmetsburg Municipal
Airport.

LAT...LON 4325 9445 4287 9444 4263 9491 4298 9491
TIME...MOT...LOC 1755Z 239DEG 32KT 4282 9490

Angle