River levels on the Des Moines were somewhat elevated due to dam releases upstream at Saylorville Lake. A heavy rainfall across the Des Moines metro and surrounding areas during the evening of June 22nd allowed river levels to rise above flood stage on the Des Moines River and also on the Raccoon River in locations around the Des Moines metro area.
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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.
River levels on the Des Moines were somewhat elevated due to dam releases upstream at Saylorville Lake. A heavy rainfall across the Des Moines metro and surrounding areas during the evening of June 22nd allowed river levels to rise above flood stage on the Des Moines River and also on the Raccoon River in locations around the Des Moines metro area.
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 22, 5:57 PM CST, 3 hours 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 657 PM CDT Sat Jun 22 2019 ...Updated Aviation Discussion... .SHORT TERM.../Tonight through Sunday Night/ Issued at 327 PM CDT Sat Jun 22 2019 Confidence: Medium MCV has made it to about Tama/Benton counties by 1845z with most of the morning showers/convection all but ended. Low stratus with breaks beginning to show over the south has hindered any convective development so far this afternoon. The wider view of VISSAT shows some convective elements beginning to form along the IA Missouri border, but the better surface convergence is farther south into central and southern Missouri where old outflow boundaries continue. Temperatures have been held back so far today by cloud cover though some recovery is now occurring and instability will likely begin to peak over the area between 23-02z this evening. Most of the CAMS continue to initiate convection over northern Missouri around 23-00z with storms moving north into southern Iowa and building northeast with time through 06z. Risk for some severe weather remains intact across the area this evening with strong instability in the south and potential for some large hail and wind damage. Though the tornado threat is much less, any interactions with storm outflows and rapidly intensifying updrafts might aid in the development of an isolated report or two. As per previous forecasts, precipitable water again rising to 1.75 to 2 inches in the south through 06z with warm cloud depths over 10kft through tonight and a good share of tomorrow. The real question tonight is residence time over one area. Storm motion appears to be a bit faster than the early morning system that moved over the region today. However, even with that negative, the prospects of efficient rainfall and 1 hr FFG guidance in the 1.5 to 2 inch range south of I-80 once again points to a possibility of localized flash flooding overnight. With the main area of convection expected to be nearly done by 07z...will opt to put out a headline from 00z and end at 09z overnight so midnight shift can reevaluate the prospects for Sunday. Lows tonight will remain in the lower 60s west to the mid to upper 60s in the south. The models are in generally good agreement that the weak surface trough will slowly edge east northeast tomorrow crossing the region through the day. This should result in a typical diurnal convective signature with some showers/scattered thunder around in the morning and more in the afternoon/evening hours. With efficient rainfall again possible tomorrow, would not be surprised to see some reports greater than an inch - though coverage is still somewhat uncertain. Highs tomorrow will on average be cool again with extensive cloud cover and convective chances and should remain in the lower to mid 70s over the area. Shower/storm chances remain into Sunday night and Monday though more favored over the north/east as the main upper level system begins to lift northeast. .LONG TERM.../Monday through Saturday/ Issued at 327 PM CDT Sat Jun 22 2019 Confidence: Medium Little change in the extended with pattern becoming a bit more zonal with time. By Tuesday a dry day is expected with some partly cloudy skies finally returning to the entire area. The Euro begins to turn up the heat with H850 temps around 17-19C by afternoon in southwest flow. Highs should reach the mid to perhaps upper 80s over the area. A weak trough is expected to track south and may spark a few thunderstorms in the evening hours. Over the next couple of days, several ripples in the H500 flow will track over the area resulting in periodic chances for thunderstorms as a hot dome begins to build over the southwest US. Overall, forecasts continue to reflect an uptick in temperature and humidity into week's end. By Saturday the Euro is projecting H850 temperatures in the lower 20's over the area which should translate to highs in the lower 90s. Though afternoon convection is still a possibility from Thursday through the end of the period, the forcing will be dependent upon instability and any mesoscale interactions which point toward lesser coverage at this time. && .AVIATION.../For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening/ Issued at 648 PM CDT Sat Jun 22 2019 The convection continues to develop over southern Iowa and looks to mainly impact DSM, FOD, and even OTM through 05z tonight. Expecting MVFR ceilings and possibly less if a heavier thunderstorm rolls across a TAF site. With the heavy rain possible, visibility could be reduced to IFR conditions, but lower confidence in the duration and timing hitting any airports. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 327 PM CDT Sat Jun 22 2019 Similar conditions exist to Friday over the south where precipitable water and efficient rainfall producing thunderstorms may again produce locally heavy rainfall and with a potential for flash flooding through about midnight. Though the storms will again fire over Missouri, some northward expansion into Iowa is expected. FFG guidance over the far south remains lower and risk is slightly higher there. Elsewhere, quick efficient downpours may result in some urban ponding and minor street flooding or ponding in fields. River flood warnings, watches also remain in effect for several locations. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch until 4 AM CDT Sunday for IAZ081>086-092>097. && SHORT TERM...REV LONG TERM...REV AVIATION...Podrazik HYDROLOGY...REV
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 349 PM CDT Sat Jun 22 2019 IAZ081>086-092>097-232100- Adams-Union-Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur- Wayne-Appanoose-Davis- 349 PM CDT Sat Jun 22 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Iowa. .DAY ONE...Tonight A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for parts of the area. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. Thunderstorms will develop this evening and become likely with a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across southern Iowa. Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threat, however a tornado or two is possible when the storms first develop. Heavy rainfall leading to localized flash flooding also remains possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Thunderstorm chances persist into Monday across central Iowa. The main concern will be from heavy rainfall. There will be an additional threat for thunderstorms later Tuesday into Tuesday night and again late in the week. The threat of severe weather will be determined as the event approaches. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this evening over portions of central and southern Iowa. IAZ004>007-015>017-023>028-033>039-044>050-057>062-070>075-232100- Emmet-Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo- Pocahontas-Humboldt-Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun- Webster-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy-Black Hawk-Crawford-Carroll-Greene- Boone-Story-Marshall-Tama-Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper- Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-Warren-Marion-Mahaska- 349 PM CDT Sat Jun 22 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Tonight Thunderstorms will become likely this evening with a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across all of central Iowa through late evening. Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threat. develop. Locally heavy rainfall may also occur leading to localized runoff with minor urban street flooding and ponding of water in fields also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Thunderstorm chances persist into Monday across central Iowa. The main concern will be from heavy rainfall. There will be an additional threat for thunderstorms later Tuesday into Tuesday night and again late in the week. The threat of severe weather will be determined as the event approaches. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this evening over portions of central and southern Iowa. REV
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
733 PM CDT SAT JUN 22 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 PM HEAVY RAIN CROMWELL 41.04N 94.46W
06/22/2019 M2.00 INCH UNION IA TRAINED SPOTTER
2 INCHES OF RAIN IN 30 MINUTES. RAIN BEGAN
RIGHT AT ABOUT 7 PM.
&&
KLPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
802 PM CDT SAT JUN 22 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0750 PM TSTM WND GST GREENFIELD 41.31N 94.46W
06/22/2019 E60 MPH ADAIR IA TRAINED SPOTTER
PEA SIZED HAIL AS WELL.
&&
FOWLEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
927 PM CDT SAT JUN 22 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0918 PM TSTM WND GST 4 ENE WINDSOR HEIGHTS 41.63N 93.65W
06/22/2019 E50 MPH POLK IA TRAINED SPOTTER
NO DAMAGE REPORT. MIGHT HAVE HAD A HIGHER
GUST. LOCATED IN THE BEAVERDALE AREA.
&&
KLPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
957 PM CDT SAT JUN 22 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0956 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 NNW DES MOINES INT AI 41.55N 93.67W
06/22/2019 M2.39 INCH POLK IA BROADCAST MEDIA
ONE HOUR RAINFALL.
&&
FOWLEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
959 PM CDT SAT JUN 22 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0953 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 ENE DES MOINES INT AI 41.54N 93.63W
06/22/2019 POLK IA TRAINED SPOTTER
WATER AT LEAST 6 INCHES DEEP FLOWING ACROSS
SW 9TH JUST NORTH OF THE MCKINLEY AVE
INTERSECTION. HALF WAY UP ON SOME VEHICLES
TIRES.
&&
KLPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
1000 PM CDT SAT JUN 22 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0947 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 ENE WINDSOR HEIGHTS 41.63N 93.65W
06/22/2019 POLK IA EMERGENCY MNGR
WATER RESCUE NEAR MLK AND DOUGLAS IN DES
MOINES.
&&
FOWLEThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Des Moines River at Southeast 6th Street in Des Moines crested twice at 25.11 feet during the period of flood. The first on 23 June 2019 at 17:45 UTC, and the second on 25 June 2019 at 12:45 UTC.
The Raccoon River at Fleur Drive in Des Moines crested at 19.36 feet on 23 June 2019 at 18:30 UTC.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Iowa in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, June 2019
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: 833181, 833183.