The National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a flood watch from Wednesday morning until Thursday evening most of Iowa.
Milder air in the coming days will result in the melting of much if not all of the existing snow on the ground across central Iowa. In addition, one to two inches of rain is expected from Tuesday to late Thursday as a strong, early spring storm moves into and through the region.
The runoff from the snowmelt and rainfall will lead to ponding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas as well as significant rises on streams and rivers later this week through
this weekend.
Further, the milder air and rising water levels will result in ice break up on area rivers and streams and may lead to localized flooding due to ice jams in the middle to later part of this week.
Anyone living in low-lying, poorly draining areas or along streams or rivers should monitor for possible flooding later this week and weekend.
Favored ice-jam locations include the Des Moines River around Fort Dodge, the Iowa River around Marshalltown and the Raccoon River around Van Meter through Des Moines to the confluence of the Des Moines River. Other locations are possible for ice-jam flooding. Minor to moderate river flooding from snowmelt and rainfall is possible in some locations.
Along with Dallas County, the flood watch includes the Iowa counties of Boone, Grundy,
Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Story, Tama, Webster, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, Wright, Black Hawk, Bremer, Emmet, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Appanoose, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Union, Warren, Wayne, Davis, Wapello, Adair, Adams, Cass, Taylor, Audubon, Calhoun, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie and Sac.
Along with Perry, cities in the flood watch include Estherville, Algona, Forest City, Lake Mills, Northwood, Manly, Emmetsburg, Garner, Britt, Kanawha, Mason City, Clear Lake, Pocahontas, Laurens, Rolfe, Fonda, Gilmore City, Humboldt, Eagle Grove, Clarion, Belmond, Hampton, Parkersburg, Clarksville, Shell Rock, Greene, Aplington, Allison, Dumont, Waverly, Sac City, Lake View, Odebolt, Wall Lake, Schaller, Early, Rockwell City, Manson, Lake City, Pomeroy, Fort Dodge, Webster City, Iowa Falls, Eldora, Ackley, Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Conrad, Dike, Wellsburg, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Denison, Carroll, Jefferson, Boone, Ames, Marshalltown, Tama, Toledo, Traer, Dysart, Gladbrook, Audubon, Exira, Guthrie Center, Panora, Bayard, Casey, Waukee, Adel, Des Moines, Newton, Grinnell, Atlantic, Greenfield, Stuart, Adair, Fontanelle, Winterset, Earlham, Indianola, Norwalk,
Carlisle, Pella, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, Corning, Creston, Osceola, Chariton, Albia, Ottumwa, Bedford, Lenox, New Market, Mount Ayr, Lamoni, Leon, Corydon, Seymour, Allerton, Humeston, Centerville and Bloomfield.
Monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible flood warnings. People living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
According to the Dallas County Emergency Management Agency, the risk of minor, moderate and major flooding of rivers and creeks is generally above normal at all locations at present. This is due to four leading factors:
- Snow pack is above normal across much of the area upriver from Dallas County. Water equivalent of the snow pack ranges from a trace to generally between 2 and 4 inches. The highest amounts are generally northwest of Dallas County.
- Soil moisture is generally above or near the record across the area. It is highest across northcentral Iowa.
- Frost depth generally ranges from around 12 inches or less to the southeast to more than 24 inches deep to the northwest.
- Streamflow of rivers and creeks generally range from near normal to much above normal across central Iowa. The North Raccoon River is expected to be running above normal, while the other basins are near or above normal.
It is important to continue monitoring weather and river conditions, as well as future outlooks, for any changes to the flood threat. Any future precipitation and/or changes to river or other weather conditions may increase or decrease the risk of flooding.
