Thunderstorms with heavy rain moved over the same areas through the early morning hours in eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois. A band of 2 to 4 inches of rain fell on already saturated soils, causing a stripe of flash flooding from Keokuk County through Clinton County, and Stephenson County in northwest Illinois.
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 DVN wrote it up.
Thunderstorms with heavy rain moved over the same areas through the early morning hours in eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois. A band of 2 to 4 inches of rain fell on already saturated soils, causing a stripe of flash flooding from Keokuk County through Clinton County, and Stephenson County in northwest Illinois.
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 Quad Cities, IA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 5, 9:31 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL
1031 PM CDT Fri Oct 5 2018
...HYDROLOGY UPDATE...
.UPDATE...
Issued at 907 PM CDT Fri Oct 5 2018
The first round of thunderstorms with heavy rain was exiting into
northern IL with continued weaker back-building showers and
isolated thunderstorms over eastern IA. Radar estimates indicate
the heaviest amounts of widespread 1 to roughly 1.75 inches
occurred in a strip centered across central Iowa County into
northern Johnson County. This was along an elevated boundary and
area of strong moisture convergence, evident on satellite imagery,
from south central Iowa northeast through Iowa City through
Maquoketa into far NW IL. Portions of the Quad Cities also saw
widespread 1 to at least 1.5 inches, where storm cluster
intensified.
Satellite and area radar imagery shows the next upstream round of
heavy rain forming in south central Iowa, with another larger area
over north KS into SE NE. This next wave will be watched closely
as aforementioned areas of Iowa and Johnson Counties, and possibly
the Quad Cities into Muscatine County, are now well primed for
flash flooding and will be closely monitored for possible
warnings.
The current setup appears to be favoring the heaviest rain
continuing initially along the axis roughly from Ottumwa through
Iowa City through Clinton through late this evening, which is
suggested by most convective models. This may then transition
southeastward toward morning. Will be keeping the current watch
area in place for now, but may need another southward adjustment,
depending on how things evolve over the next several hours.
&&
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 213 PM CDT Fri Oct 5 2018
A moisture charged warm front is positioned just south of our
area, along an axis from northern Missouri through the Springfield
IL area. Elevated storms have recently fired up along this
boundary from southeast Iowa through northeast Kansas. These will
continue along and north of the boundary through tonight. Looking
at the KDVN radar, I want to point out a fine line, set up from
near Aurora IL, to just south of the Quad Cities, to near
Fairfield. That, like a winter event, may be the exact axis for
heavy rains tonight, or just north of that boundary.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Saturday)
ISSUED AT 213 PM CDT Fri Oct 5 2018
Heavy rains will happen tonight. The antecedent conditions of soil
moisture, swollen rivers/streams, and already flooded fields will
keep tonight's event one where we have extremely low flash flood
guidance. In addition, like last night Precipitable water (PWAT)
values are hovering around 1.8 to 2 inches. That is incredible for
this time of year, easily near record. Last night's rainfall
amounts were 1-3" in the southeast 1/2, which proved models too
conservative on amounts. I fear tonight is the same. In any case,
the axis for heavy rains are over our wet soils, and I have this
area in a slightly expanded watch to cover quick onset flash flood
run off. The timing of storms is very challenging with most
occurring after the low level jet sets up this evening. However,
ongoing storms in the south suggest possibly no clean break
between the afternoon and overnight activity. I still will focus
most high pops after 00z, but now have high chance/likely going
for the south and western areas through then.
Storms will most likely train/move over areas repeatedly tonight.
Colds pools are not likely to be a big player with high PWAT
values and an already cold boundary layer north of the front.
Thus, by morning, a stripe of 1 to 3 inch rains along and north
of I-80 is expected, with a good threat of a narrow swatch of 3-5"
rains. That will certainly cause flash flooding, and we are
expecting to issue warnings aggressively tonight.
Saturday, storms should be stratifying out toward morning, but
rains are likely through the morning, with low chances in the
afternoon.
ERVIN
.LONG TERM...(Saturday Night through Friday)
ISSUED AT 213 PM CDT Fri Oct 5 2018
We are far from done. Saturday night and Sunday, another wave of
strong warm advection over the front, will sweep over the area
with an additional threat for heavy rains. This seems more of a
threat than indicated last night, as now, a wave of low pressure
is forecast to lift northeast along the front. Another 1 to 2 inch
rain seems likely in that period.
Rains will continue west Monday and Monday night, but the
southeast may warm up and dry out some. From here, we have used a
guidance blend in our forecast. Rains should be more scattered
through Tuesday, before the synoptic moist conveyor (PWATs still
near 1.8") comes back overhead Tuesday night and Wednesday, when
the final round of heavy rain moves through. Fall weather, with
drier air and cooler temperatures is expected for Thursday and
Friday.
ERVIN
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Saturday Evening)
ISSUED AT 656 PM CDT Fri Oct 5 2018
Periods of showers and thunderstorms will continue overnight
across eastern Iowa into northern Illinois as very moist air
continues to interact with a stalled boundary. This boundary is
expected to linger over or just south of a CID to MLI axis
tonight, then push well southward again Saturday. Besides
occasional rain and thunderstorms thunderstorms, this will also
result in widespread MVFR to IFR conditions due to low clouds and
fog throughout. While After several rounds of thunderstorms
tonight, the potential for showers and thunderstorms during the
day Saturday appears low. Overall, forecast confidence is below
average with details in the TAFs beyond 6 hours.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 1029 PM CDT Fri Oct 5 2018
Main point...with several rounds of rain expected through next
Wednesday, crest forecasts on rivers will change, possibly
significantly.
Crest forecasts have increased significantly on the lower Iowa
river. Major flooding is now expected at Columbus Junction and
Wapello.
Confidence is high that heavy rainfall will be seen tonight into
Saturday morning. The heaviest rain axis appears to be either side
of a line from roughly Knoxville, IA to Sterling, IL.
Another round of heavy rain is possible Saturday night into Sunday
that may occur in roughly the same areas as Friday
night/Saturday.
More rain is forecast Monday through Wednesday. It appears
rainfall amounts Monday may be light with some areas possibly
remaining dry. Another round of moderate to possibly heavy
rainfall is expected late Tuesday night into Wednesday when a
strong front moves through the area.
&&
.DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
IA...Flash Flood Watch through Saturday afternoon for Benton-Buchanan-
Cedar-Clinton-Delaware-Dubuque-Iowa-Jackson-Johnson-Jones-
Keokuk-Linn-Louisa-Muscatine-Scott-Washington.
IL...Flash Flood Watch through Saturday afternoon for Bureau-Carroll-
Henry IL-Jo Daviess-Mercer-Putnam-Rock Island-Stephenson-
Whiteside.
MO...NONE.
&&
UPDATE...Sheets
SYNOPSIS...Ervin
SHORT TERM...Ervin
LONG TERM...Ervin
AVIATION...Sheets
HYDROLOGY...08Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Quad Cities IA IL 430 AM CDT Fri Oct 5 2018 IAZ040>042-051>054-063>068-076>078-087>089-098-099-ILZ001-002-007- 009-015>018-024>026-034-035-MOZ009-010-060930- Buchanan-Delaware-Dubuque-Benton-Linn-Jones-Jackson-Iowa-Johnson- Cedar-Clinton-Muscatine-Scott-Keokuk-Washington-Louisa-Jefferson- Henry IA-Des Moines-Van Buren-Lee-Jo Daviess-Stephenson-Carroll- Whiteside-Rock Island-Henry IL-Bureau-Putnam-Mercer-Henderson- Warren-Hancock-McDonough-Scotland-Clark- 430 AM CDT Fri Oct 5 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Illinois...northwest Illinois...west central Illinois...east central Iowa...northeast Iowa...southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT There is a marginal risk for severe weather late this afternoon and tonight. Heavy rain is also possible and could lead to flash flooding, especially along and north of Interstate 80 where a flash flood watch is in effect. Area rivers are experiencing flooding. Please see the latest Flood Statements and Flood Warnings for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY The potential for widespread severe weather appears low for the rest of the weekend and into early next week. With the occasional rounds of showers and storms, several inches of accumulative rainfall are possible by Monday morning across much of the Outlook Area. This would lead to additional rises on area rivers, aggravate ongoing flooding and produce more rivers in flood by early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible late this afternoon and tonight.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL 740 PM CDT FRI OCT 5 2018 IAC011-031-095-103-107-113-139-183-060130- Cedar-Keokuk-Johnson-Benton-Washington-Muscatine-Linn-Iowa- 740 PM CDT FRI OCT 5 2018 ...A THUNDERSTORM WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WILL MOVE INTO THE IOWA CITY AREA BETWEEN 8 AND 9 PM... At 737 PM CDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Williamsburg, or 9 miles southeast of Marengo, moving east at 50 mph. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Minor flooding of streets and creeks in urban areas is possible. If you are driving and encounter a flooded roadway, Turn around, don't drown. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. LAT...LON 4192 9199 4195 9124 4148 9125 4145 9215 TIME...MOT...LOC 0037Z 255DEG 43KT 4167 9199 Sheets
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
755 PM CDT FRI OCT 5 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0751 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 W BETTENDORF 41.56N 90.49W
10/05/2018 M1.50 INCH SCOTT IA TRAINED SPOTTER
SINCE 530. 2.05 INCHES INCLUDING LAST NIGHTS
RAIN.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
937 PM CDT FRI OCT 5 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0937 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 SSW NORTH LIBERTY 41.73N 91.61W
10/05/2018 M1.22 INCH JOHNSON IA TRAINED SPOTTER
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</html>PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL
1223 AM CDT SAT OCT 6 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1209 AM HEAVY RAIN 2 SE IOWA CITY 41.64N 91.51W
10/06/2018 E0.70 INCH JOHNSON IA PUBLIC
.7 INCHES IN LAST 10 MINUTES. FLOWING WATER
COVERING ROAD CURB DEEP.
&&Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Quad Cities IA/IL 1227 AM CDT SAT OCT 6 2018 IAC031-045-163-060600- Cedar-Scott-Clinton- 1227 AM CDT SAT OCT 6 2018 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CEDAR...NORTHWESTERN SCOTT AND WESTERN CLINTON COUNTIES UNTIL 100 AM CDT... At 1227 AM CDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Tipton to near Rochester. Movement was east at 40 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph are likely with these storms. Locations impacted include... Davenport, Tipton, Durant, Stanwood, Eldridge, DeWitt, Wilton, Walcott, Long Grove, Lowden, Wheatland, Grand Mound, Calamus, Bennett, Donahue, Welton, Toronto, Rochester, Buchanan and Clarence. This includes the following highways... Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 257 and 293. Interstate 280 near mile marker 1. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. LAT...LON 4159 9062 4160 9134 4189 9121 4200 9049 TIME...MOT...LOC 0527Z 262DEG 35KT 4179 9112 4163 9119 McClure
The Quad Cities radar (KDVN), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:40 UTC.
4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash flooding occurred in Iowa City, and locations southeast of Iowa City where creeks flow into the Iowa River. In Iowa City, Burlington Street near Van Buren Street was closed due to flooding, and a car was stalled in the floodwater. Flooding subsided by 510 AM CST.
The Iowa DOT closed Highway 21 in What Cheer due to flooding from Coal Creek. The water over the road was a foot deep, resulting in a detour. The water receded enough for one lane to be reopened around 445 AM CST.
A NWS COOP observer reported that Deep Creek came out of its banks in Charlotte, and impacted a roadway for five and a half hours.
Flash flooding closed Interstate 80 near West Branch. The flooding was not due to the Iowa River, but was in the same place that was closed during the major flood of 2008.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, October 2018
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 786617, 786619, 786620, 786622.