Heavy rain led to additional river flooding toward the end of May 2019. Some of the flooding on the Des Moines River at Eddyville was due to planned dam releases from Lake Red Rock combined with heavy rainfall.
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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.
Heavy rain led to additional river flooding toward the end of May 2019. Some of the flooding on the Des Moines River at Eddyville was due to planned dam releases from Lake Red Rock combined with heavy rainfall.
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 27, 11:43 AM CST, 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Des Moines IA 1243 PM CDT Mon May 27 2019 ...Aviation Update... .DISCUSSION.../Today through Sunday/ Issued at 420 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019 Two areas of convection currently ongoing across the region. The initial area of precipitation moving from central Iowa into southern Minnesota and is associated with the initial wave of theta-e advection. The second and more intense convection is over southeast Nebraska and south into Kansas and is associated with stronger kinematic support with a 60+ kt low level jet. These storms will be lifting northeast into central Iowa in a few hours and may maintain an attendant damaging wind threat as they arrive. These storms will produce a period of heavy rainfall rates though the short residence time due to forward propagation of the storms will limit the heavy rain threat overall this morning. That said, locally heavy rain remains possible, especially over northern Iowa where the precipitation region will pivot across the area. Not planning any headlines for northern Iowa for today but will continue to monitor the situation. At this time, planning to cancel the current Flash Flood Watch over the southwest area after the convection passes thorugh. Severe weather chances are the topic for later today and again Tuesday. Surface low pressure will lift northeast into northwest Iowa today with the warm front moving north into the state. The second wave of thunderstorms will lift through this morning. The boundary layer is expected to quickly destabilize with the warm front arrival behind this convection and may have renewed convection quickly firing over central Iowa by late morning then morning east. This renewed convection may become quickly organized with rotating updrafts into the early afternoon. Conditions are prime for very large hail with these storms. While the greater tornado threat is into southeast Iowa and northern Illinois, a tornado threat may extend back into central Iowa should storms become organized quickly enough given the low LCL heights and sufficient low level shear. Overnight, much of the area should be devoid of much precipitation except with some thunderstorm potential over the far south. SPC has maintained an enhanced risk for severe weather for Tuesday across southern Iowa. The latest progs have shifted the boundary farther south than 24 hrs ago. Not buying the farthest south NAM solution(note the 06z NAM beginning to trend back north)with other solutions placing the boundary near the IA/MO border Tuesday morning then lifting it south into southern Iowa as the upper low lifts northeast into western Nebraska. North of the boundary looks primed for vigorous elevated convection with a large hail and heavy rain threat. PWAT values will again be in excess of 1.5 inches aiding in the potential for heavy rainfall. Very well may need a Flash Flood Watch for portions of central and southern Iowa for Tue/Tue night along and north of the boundary. Obviously the enhanced risk region for severe weather across Iowa is conditional on the boundary location. Should the convection initiate across southeast Nebraska into Kansas first, this event may turn more linear as it moves into Iowa during the evening and overnight and may have an attendant QLCS tornado threat with 0-3 km shear vector of 30-40 kts with much of that in the lowest 1 km. Supercells earlier in the event certainly be possible with the boundary in the state. Still some uncertainty regarding Wednesday as the boundary remains over the state. If this occurs, it is plausible that good destabilization will occur with storms redeveloping during the day with some severe weather potential. The deep layer shear remains good on Wednesday so organized storms are certainly possible though at this time the low level shear is expected to be much weaker than Tuesday. Little change beyond Wednesday as the transition to less active zonal/westerly flow occurs. The best chance for precipitation during this period will arrive Saturday night as a boundary pushes across the region. && .AVIATION.../For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon/ Issued at 1237 PM CDT Mon May 27 2019 TAF period will vary across TAF sites, with northern sites KFOD/KMCW/KALO giving way to longer periods of MVFR ceilings on the cool side of the surface low. Areas remaining in the warm sector longer, KDSM/KOTM, will see more significant periods of VFR conditions during this period, then giving way to MVFR towards the end of the period. KOTM will primarily be the only site to battle TS/VCTS through the period, with most guidance initiating storms across southern Iowa this afternoon/evening through about 03z. Hints of remnant convection moving through central/southern Iowa during the last 6 hrs of the TAF period, but left out mentions due to confidence too low and dependence on convection that is slated to initiate back in Nebraska tonight. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 420 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019 Flash flooding remains possible on Tuesday afternoon and night with heavy rain possible. Headlines may be required with future forecasts with precipitation of 1 to 3 inches possible along with locally higher amounts. Have been in collaboration with the NCRFC and WPC regarding using more that 24 hr QPF in the current river forecasts to include the Tuesday/Tuesday night precipitation. This would cause significant changes to several river forecast and pushing many into minor to moderate flood stage later this week. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch until 4 PM CDT this afternoon for IAZ070>072- 081>086-092>097. && DISCUSSION...Donavon AVIATION...Curtis HYDROLOGY...Donavon
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Des Moines IA 433 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019 IAZ005>007-015>017-023-025>028-033-034-036>038-046-048-049-061- 062-073-074-084-085-095>097-280945- Kossuth-Winnebago-Worth-Palo Alto-Hancock-Cerro Gordo-Pocahontas- Wright-Franklin-Butler-Bremer-Sac-Calhoun-Hamilton-Hardin-Grundy- Greene-Story-Marshall-Jasper-Poweshiek-Warren-Marion-Lucas-Monroe- Wayne-Appanoose-Davis- 433 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight Thunderstorms are likely today...especially through the afternoon and evening hours. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are possible. Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding concerns. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Thunderstorms are likely Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night. Tornadoes are possible, along with large hail and damaging winds. Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding concerns. Thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon and evening. At this time, the threat for severe weather with these storms is low. Non-severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening, and again Tuesday afternoon and evening. IAZ004-024-035-039-047-050-059-060-075-086-280945- Emmet-Humboldt-Webster-Black Hawk-Boone-Tama-Dallas-Polk-Mahaska- Wapello- 433 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight River Flood Warnings are in effect for parts of the area. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. Thunderstorms are likely today...especially through the afternoon and evening hours. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are possible. Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding concerns. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday River Flood Warnings are in effect for parts of the area. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. Thunderstorms are likely Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night. Tornadoes are possible, along with large hail and damaging winds. Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding concerns. Thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon and evening. At this time, the threat for severe weather with these storms is low. Non-severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening, and again Tuesday afternoon and evening. IAZ044-045-057-058-070>072-081>083-092>094-280945- Crawford-Carroll-Audubon-Guthrie-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union- Clarke-Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur- 433 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Iowa. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the area through this morning. Please refer to the National Weather Service website at weather.gov/desmoines for further details. Thunderstorms are likely today...especially through the afternoon and evening hours. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are possible. Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding concerns. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Thunderstorms are likely Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night. Tornadoes are possible, along with large hail and damaging winds. Heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding concerns. Thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon and evening. At this time, the threat for severe weather with these storms is low. Non-severe thunderstorms are possible Thursday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening, and again Tuesday afternoon and evening. Kotenberg
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
717 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019
IAZ025-035-036-271245-
Hamilton IA-Wright IA-Webster IA-
717 AM CDT Mon May 27 2019
...Line of Storms May Produce Winds of 35 to 45 mph...
At 717 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 9 miles southwest of Webster City to 6 miles
northwest of Gilbert. Movement was northeast at 50 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Webster City, Jewell Junction, Big Wall Lake, Stanhope, Williams,
Blairsburg, Kamrar, Woolstock, Webster City Municipal Airport and
Brushy Creek St Recreation Area.
LAT...LON 4251 9350 4247 9350 4247 9346 4244 9346
4221 9376 4236 9399 4270 9373
TIME...MOT...LOC 1217Z 204DEG 44KT 4234 9392 4218 9371
KotenbergPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
748 AM CDT MON MAY 27 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0654 AM TSTM WND GST 1 WNW JOHNSTON 41.68N 93.75W
05/27/2019 E60 MPH POLK IA NWS EMPLOYEE
LAWN FURNITURE/HEAVY HAMMOCK BLOWN OVER -
DELAYED REPORT.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
855 AM CDT MON MAY 27 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0703 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 ENE WINDSOR HEIGHTS 41.62N 93.66W
05/27/2019 POLK IA PUBLIC
SEVERAL 3+ INCH TREE BRANCHES BROKEN ACROSS
BEAVERDALE NEIGHBORHOOD - 2000+ WITHOUT
POWER DELAYED REPORT.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Des Moines River at Eddyville crested at 63.12 feet on 27 May 2019 at 22:45 UTC.
The Des Moines River at Fort Dodge crested at 10.57 feet on 28 May 2019 at 22:45 UTC.
The Des Moines River at Eddyville crested twice, with the first crest at 65.61 feet on 29 May 2019 at 15:00 UTC and the second crest at 65.53 feet on 20 May 2019 at 07:30 UTC.
The Raccoon River at Van Meter crested at 17.71 feet on 29 May 2019 at 01:45 UTC.
The West Fork of the Des Moines River at Emmetsburg crested at 12.44 feet on 31 May 2019 at 23:45 UTC.
The Thompson River at Davis City crested at 13.21 feet on 29 May 2019 at 14:30 UTC.
The Cedar River at Cedar Falls crested at 90.3 feet on 31 May 2019 at 22:45 UTC.
The Des Moines River at Fort Dodge crested at 10.88 feet on 31 May 2019 at 07:30 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, May 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: 822804, 822811, 822805, 822809, 822808, 822810, 822806, 822812.