Flood in Iowa, September 4 to 5, 2018

Name: Flood in Iowa, September 4 to 5, 2018
Start: 2018-09-04T20:00
End: 2018-09-05T05:00
Location: Iowa

September 4 to 5, 2018 · NWS FSD · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Persistent rains through September 4, lacking significant rainfall rates in a largely moist neutral thermodynamic profile, produced locally heavier amounts from 2 to 4 inches from far southeast South Dakota into adjacent sections of northwest Iowa. Smaller creeks and streams showed stronger response to the rainfall by the end of the day.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 FSD 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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 4, 2:54 PM CST, 5 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 4, 2:54 PM CST, 5 hours 6 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
354 PM CDT Tue Sep 4 2018

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 352 PM CDT Tue Sep 4 2018

Things are going pretty much as planned across our forecast area. In
the near term there will be two different areas of concern. The
first covers our eastern zones in northwest IA and the southern and
eastern portions of southwest MN. Short wave is squarely placed over
northwest IA right now, with strong low level convergence above the
surface extending from near Windom MN to Sioux City IA. As the wave
continues to lift northeast, it will take the heaviest rainfall with
it. Therefore opted to cancel the western part of the flash flood
watch with a bit of a dry slot working up from eastern NE. Kept the
flash flood watch going in our extreme eastern counties next to MPX
and DMX as these areas will still see quite a bit of rain over the
next several hours, quite possibly one to two inches. But rainfall
rates per hour have been muted with the lack of thunderstorms. Just
too much rain cooled air and clouds to cause any instability issues
in these areas. With the strong convergence we have above the
surface in northwest IA, if we did not have the rain, it could be
quite a severe weather event. But its not happening today. Shifting
our attention to the west, widespread showers and isolated storms
have recently developed in our central SD zones along the surface
wind shift. Instability is a real issue in that area also. But,
would not be surprised to hear of a few funnel cloud reports or
even a brief spin up in our west as they do have at least a
couple of hundred joules of CAPE with a bit of instability coupled
with their proximity to the surface wind shift.

After evening, the rain will become more intermittent in our eastern
zones. To the west, the stripe of rain currently occurring will move
eastward as the evening and overnight progress. But the rain will
decrease in intensity as it approaches I 29 after sunset. Still have
a band of likely pops overnight in the central portion of the
forecast area for ascent aloft in the mid levels. But it is
basically a fairly high pop, low qpf event at that point. So a bulk
of the rainfall amounts will be falling over the next several hours.

On Wednesday, a few showers with possibly isolated TSRA may linger
in northwest IA in the morning. Additional rain amounts will be very
minimal, and the night shift will monitor trends of drying as its
possible they may need to eliminate these low pops entirely. So the
Sioux City media may want to downplay the rain chances Wednesday
morning for now. The cold front is well through the entire forecast
area by 12Z Wednesday and strong high pressure to the north is
beginning to cut this area off. Clouds will be on the decrease from
north to south through the day, with chilly highs for this time of
year of upper 60s to lower 70s.

.LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 352 PM CDT Tue Sep 4 2018

Late this week, the area's weather will be dominated by a very large
area of high pressure moving eastward across southern Canada. An
easterly fetch of air will setup ushering in mild temperatures for
this time of year. This air mass is also becoming increasingly dry
for our southern zones. Due to the model runs from last night, there
are still low pops in our southern zones roughly from near Yankton,
to Spencer IA and points southward. However the GFS, ECMWF and GEM
have all waxed the pops southward as the next short wave/weak upper
low moves slowly eastward across the central plains late Thursday
night through Saturday. Therefore would not be surprised in future
forecasts if these low pops get eliminated for those areas late this
week if this trend continues. Thoughts are that this drying trend
will continue for our southern zones as the high pressure to the
north is unseasonably strong. Highs will continue to be primarily in
the lower to mid 70s Thursday through Saturday.

Sunday through Tuesday will see a modest warmup with a quasi zonal
flow across the United States. Does not appear to be any major
systems at this time affecting our weather.

&&

.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
MN...Flash Flood Watch until 9 PM CDT this evening for MNZ090.

IA...Flash Flood Watch until 9 PM CDT this evening for IAZ003-014-021-
     022-032.

NE...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...MJ
LONG TERM...MJ
AVIATION...

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 4, 4:35 AM CST, 15 hours 25 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
535 AM CDT Tue Sep 4 2018

IAZ002-003-013-014-021-022-031-032-MNZ090-051045-
Osceola-Dickinson-O'Brien-Clay IA-Cherokee-Buena Vista-Woodbury-
Ida-Jackson-
535 AM CDT Tue Sep 4 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Iowa,
west central Iowa, and southwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Thunderstorms will become widespread today, bringing a threat for
heavy rainfall. A flash flood watch is in effect from 10 am to 9
pm, with some areas likely to receive a period of rainfall rates
in excess of two to three inches per hour during the midday
through early evening hours.

In addition, there will be a chance for a severe storm with brief
tornado or damaging wind gusts during the afternoon and very
early evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

There will be a chance for thunderstorms at times from Friday
through Monday. At this point, no organized severe weather threat
appears likely.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible between 2 pm and 7 pm.

IAZ001-012-020-MNZ080-081-089-098-NEZ013-014-SDZ067-070-071-
051045-
Lyon IA-Sioux-Plymouth-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-
Lincoln SD-Clay SD-Union-
535 AM CDT Tue Sep 4 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Iowa,
southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, and southeast South
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Thunderstorms will become more numerous by later morning and
afternoon, bringing a threat for locally heavy rainfall. Some
ponding of water in low-lying and poor drainage areas is likely.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

There will be a chance for thunderstorms at times from Friday
through Monday. At this point, no organized severe weather threat
appears likely.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today and tonight.

MNZ071-072-097-SDZ040-054>056-060>062-065-066-068-069-051045-
Lincoln MN-Lyon MN-Pipestone-Brookings-Miner-Lake-Moody-Hanson-
McCook-Minnehaha-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton-
535 AM CDT Tue Sep 4 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest
Minnesota, east central South Dakota, and southeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Showers and a few thunderstorms will become more numerous by
later morning and afternoon, bringing a threat for locally heavy
rainfall. Some ponding of water in low-lying and poor drainage
areas is likely.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

There will be a chance for thunderstorms at times from Friday
through Monday. At this point, no organized severe weather threat
appears likely.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today and tonight.

SDZ038-039-050-052-053-057>059-063-064-051045-
Beadle-Kingsbury-Gregory-Jerauld-Sanborn-Brule-Aurora-Davison-
Charles Mix-Douglas-
535 AM CDT Tue Sep 4 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central South
Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota,
and southeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms will develop this afternoon into early
evening. A few storms may be strong to severe with hail up to
quarter size and wind gusts to 50 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

There will be a chance for thunderstorms at times from Friday
through Monday. At this point, no organized severe weather threat
appears likely.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible between 2 pm and 7 pm.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 4, 4:30 PM CST, 3 hours 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
530 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0522 PM     HEAVY RAIN       4 NW OKOBOJI            43.43N 95.18W
09/04/2018  M2.00 INCH       DICKINSON          IA   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR RAINFALL SO FAR. STILL RAINING.

0513 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 E LE MARS             42.78N 96.14W
09/04/2018  M2.25 INCH       PLYMOUTH           IA   PUBLIC

            24 HOUR RAINFALL SO FAR.

0351 PM     HEAVY RAIN       HULL                    43.19N 96.14W
09/04/2018  M1.50 INCH       SIOUX              IA   PUBLIC

            RAINFALL SINCE 7 AM SO FAR TODAY.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 4, 6:05 PM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
705 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0342 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SE SIOUX CENTER       43.05N 96.15W
09/04/2018  M1.39 INCH       SIOUX              IA   CO-OP OBSERVER

            RAINFALL IN PAST 24 HOURS.

0300 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SE VERMILLION         42.76N 96.92W
09/04/2018  M1.21 INCH       CLAY               SD   CO-OP OBSERVER

            RAINFALL IN PAST 24 HOURS.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 4, 6:06 PM CST, 1 hour 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
706 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 ENE HOMER             42.34N 96.43W
09/04/2018  M1.96 INCH       DAKOTA             NE   COCORAHS

            RAINFALL IN PAST 24 HOURS.

0500 PM     HEAVY RAIN       NORTHEAST EXPERIMENT ST 42.38N 96.96W
09/04/2018  M1.47 INCH       DIXON              NE   CO-OP OBSERVER

            RAINFALL IN PAST 24 HOURS.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 4, 6:23 PM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
723 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0709 PM     HEAVY RAIN       HULL                    43.19N 96.14W
09/04/2018  M2.30 INCH       SIOUX              IA   PUBLIC

            UPDATED RAINFALL SINCE 7 AM SO FAR TODAY.

0715 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 N LAKE ANDES          43.19N 98.54W
09/04/2018  M1.38 INCH       CHARLES MIX        SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

            RAINFALL IN PAST 24 HOURS.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 4, 7:05 PM CST, 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
805 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0430 PM     HEAVY RAIN       ROCK VALLEY             43.20N 96.30W
09/04/2018  M2.50 INCH       SIOUX              IA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            RAINFALL TOTAL THROUGH 430 PM, BUT STILL
            RAINING AT THAT TIME. REPORT VIA SOCIAL
            MEDIA.

0600 PM     HEAVY RAIN       BREWSTER                43.70N 95.46W
09/04/2018  M1.65 INCH       NOBLES             MN   PUBLIC

            RAINFALL TOTAL SO FAR. REPORT VIA SOCIAL
            MEDIA.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 4, 7:37 PM CST, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
837 PM CDT TUE SEP 4 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 PM     HEAVY RAIN       1 SW LE MARS            42.78N 96.19W
09/04/2018  M2.15 INCH       PLYMOUTH           IA   AWOS

            24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL SO FAR.

0700 PM     HEAVY RAIN       4 SW STORM LAKE         42.60N 95.24W
09/04/2018  M1.85 INCH       BUENA VISTA        IA   AWOS

            24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL SO FAR.

0700 PM     HEAVY RAIN       1 S ORANGE CITY         42.99N 96.06W
09/04/2018  M1.84 INCH       SIOUX              IA   AWOS

            24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL SO FAR.

0700 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 N SHELDON             43.21N 95.84W
09/04/2018  M1.49 INCH       O'BRIEN            IA   AWOS

            24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL SO FAR.

0700 PM     HEAVY RAIN       3 N WINDOM              43.91N 95.11W
09/04/2018  M1.39 INCH       COTTONWOOD         MN   AWOS

            24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL SO FAR.

0700 PM     HEAVY RAIN       2 NNE WORTHINGTON       43.65N 95.59W
09/04/2018  M2.16 INCH       NOBLES             MN   AWOS

            24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL SO FAR.

&&

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Plymouth

When: September 4, 8:00 PM CST to September 5, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Plymouth County, 0.86 mi SE of Ruble to 2.63 mi SE of Adaville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 42.790, -96.390

A day of periodic moderate rain bringing 2.89 inches to Akron and 3.37 inches to Le Mars resulted in minor flooding to small streams by late evening on September 4. Significant agricultural flooding occurred as Perry Creek near Millnerville (gage site PCMI4) crested 2.2 feet above flood stage around 0000CST on September 5, falling very quickly below flood stage by 0500CST.

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Iowa in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Iowa, September 2018

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: 782421.