Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain in the Central Plains and Midwest; Heat Pushes into the South and East

Scattered severe thunderstorms capable of large hail in excess of two inches, strong tornadoes, and damaging wind gusts are likely across parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley and Midwest this evening. Heavy to excessive rainfall may bring a flooding threat to portions of the Central Plains to the Midwest through Thursday. The heatwave in the Central U.S. will begin to push South and East Thursday Read More >

Overview

Torrential rainfall, flash flooding, and major river flooding occurred during the last two weeks of September across northeast Iowa, eastern Iowa, and along the Mississippi river. Many locations saw rivers rise to levels not seen since the 2008 flood. Heavy rain fell in the Cedar, Iowa, Wapsipinicon, and Maquoketa river basins over northern Iowa and western Wisconsin between Wed Sept 21st and Friday Sept 23rd. Many towns along these rivers and their tributaries were inundated with flood waters.

The 2nd highest crest was recorded on the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, with a preliminary crest of 21.97' on Sep 27th. The Wapsipinicon river at De Witt also recorded a preliminary crest of 13.86' on Sept 30th, putting it at the 4th highest crest on record.

September 2016 Rainfall Amounts Across the Midwest


30-day Observed Precipitation Ending 9/23/16	30-day Departure from Normal Precipitation Ending 9/23/16	30-day Percent of Normal Precipitation Ending 9/23/16

Flooding
Radar
Rainfall

Flooding

Minor to major flooding was observed on several rivers across the area. Below are some hydrographs of locations that experienced flooding.

Hydrographs

MAJOR FLOODING
Cedar River

Vinton, IA	Palo, IA (not a forecast point)	Cedar Rapids, IA	Conesville, IA

Iowa River

Columbus Jct, IA	Wapello, IA

Wapsipinicon River

Independence, IA	Anamosa, IA	De Witt, IA

Maquoketa River

Manchester, IA

Mississippi River

New Boston, IL	Keithsburg, IL	Gladstone, IL	Burlington, IA

MODERATE FLOODING
Iowa River

Marengo, IA	Oakville, IA

Mississippi River

Rock Island, IL	Illinois City, IL	Muscatine, IA

MINOR FLOODING
Maquoketa River

Maquoketa, IA

Mississippi River

Dubuque, IA	Camanche, IA	Le Claire, IA	Keokuk, IA

Gregory Landing, MO

Photos (more to be added)


Benton County EM Offices surrounded by Cedar River water	Inundated streets and homes in Vinton, IA	Flood Preparations in Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, IA	The Cedar River from the 12th Ave Bridge in Cedar Rapids near crest time.

Radar:

Interactive Loop - Courtesy of Iowa Environmental Mesonet

Rain Reports/Maps

Interactive Map	Radar Precip Estimates 9/21/16	Radar Precip Estimates 9/22/16	Radar Precip Estimates 9/23/16


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE QUAD CITIES IA IL 1024 AM CDT FRI SEP 23 2016 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 1028 PM FLASH FLOOD DYERSVILLE 42.48N 91.12W 09/22/2016 DUBUQUE IA EMERGENCY MNGR FLASH FLOODING FLOWING INTO HOMES BASEMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONDING TO THE INCIDENT. 1208 AM FLASH FLOOD WORTHINGTON 42.40N 91.12W 09/23/2016 DUBUQUE IA EMERGENCY MNGR EM REPORTS A COUPLE OF WASHED OUT ROADS IN SOUTHWEST DUBUQUE COUNTY FROM FLOODING. MOST CREEKS HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR BANKS AT THE CURRENT TIME. 0513 AM FLASH FLOOD CEDAR RAPIDS 41.97N 91.67W 09/23/2016 LINN IA LAW ENFORCEMENT ELLIS ROAD WEST OF EDGEWOOD ROAD IS UNDER WATER AND IMPASSABLE 0602 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 E INDEPENDENCE 42.47N 91.88W 09/23/2016 M2.25 INCH BUCHANAN IA TRAINED SPOTTER 24-HOUR RAINFALL 0615 AM HEAVY RAIN WSW QUASQUETON 42.40N 91.76W 09/23/2016 E2.20 INCH BUCHANAN IA COCORAHS 24 HOUR RAINFALL. OBSERVED CREEKS BETWEEN QUASQUETON AND CENTER POINT ARE FULL. STANDING WATER IN DITCHES. 0642 AM HEAVY RAIN WILLIAMSBURG 41.67N 92.01W 09/23/2016 M1.60 INCH IOWA IA CO-OP OBSERVER 24-HOUR RAINFALL 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN BELLE PLAINE 41.90N 92.27W 09/23/2016 M1.85 INCH BENTON IA CO-OP OBSERVER 24-HOUR RAINFALL 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN COGGON 42.28N 91.53W 09/23/2016 M2.70 INCH LINN IA CO-OP OBSERVER 24-HOUR RAINFALL 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN MARENGO 41.80N 92.07W 09/23/2016 M2.25 INCH IOWA IA CO-OP OBSERVER 24-HOUR RAINFALL 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN IOWA CITY 41.66N 91.54W 09/23/2016 M1.20 INCH JOHNSON IA CO-OP OBSERVER 24-HOUR RAINFALL 0700 AM HEAVY RAIN CASCADE 42.30N 91.01W 09/23/2016 M1.50 INCH DUBUQUE IA CO-OP OBSERVER 24-HOUR RAINFALL 0740 AM HEAVY RAIN VINTON 42.16N 92.03W 09/23/2016 M2.20 INCH BENTON IA CO-OP OBSERVER 24-HOUR RAINFALL 0740 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 S SWISHER 41.82N 91.69W 09/23/2016 M3.50 INCH JOHNSON IA TRAINED SPOTTER RAINFALL SINCE 3AM 0740 AM HEAVY RAIN MANCHESTER 42.49N 91.46W 09/23/2016 M5.69 INCH DELAWARE IA CO-OP OBSERVER 24-HOUR TOTAL 0740 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 SSE CEDAR RAPIDS 41.95N 91.66W 09/23/2016 M1.75 INCH LINN IA TRAINED SPOTTER RAINFALL SINCE 240AM 0755 AM HEAVY RAIN SWISHER 41.84N 91.70W 09/23/2016 M3.43 INCH JOHNSON IA COCORAHS RAINFALL OVER PAST 5 HOURS 0819 AM HEAVY RAIN 4 N MARENGO 41.85N 92.07W 09/23/2016 M2.50 INCH IOWA IA TRAINED SPOTTER RAINFALL SINCE 3AM 0912 AM HEAVY RAIN NE BERTRAM 41.96N 91.53W 09/23/2016 M2.50 INCH LINN IA TRAINED SPOTTER RAIN HAS ENDED 0943 AM FLASH FLOOD W AMANA 41.80N 91.87W 09/23/2016 IOWA IA EMERGENCY MNGR FLOODING CONINUES ALONG PRICE CREEK IN THE AMANA COLONIES 0955 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 ENE MARION 42.05N 91.54W 09/23/2016 M0.92 INCH LINN IA TRAINED SPOTTER 24 HOUR RAINFALL TOTAL

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Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain in the Central Plains and Midwest; Heat Pushes into the South and East

September 2016 Major Flooding Recap