Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2016 19:51:43 EDT
Summary: USGS crews responding to major flooding in northeast Iowa as a result of more than 12 inches of rain in in the last 24 hours.
More than 12 inches of rain fell in northeast Iowa during a 24-hour period on September 22 and 23, 2016, according to local news outlets. As a result, streams in the Cedar River basin are experiencing major flooding. The flooding has forced evacuations of communities in the Cedar River basin, particularly along the Shell Rock River. Currently, 13 USGS streamgages are over the National Weather Service (NWS) flood stage. Forecasted crests from the NWS have some USGS streamgages annual exceedance probabilities at less than 1% (greater than a 100-year flood).
Four two-person crews have been deployed to northeast Iowa to make discharge measurements and ensure proper function of the streamages. No streamgages have been damaged or destroyed. Two rapid deployment gages (RDG) have been installed at the request of the NWS at the Cedar River at Osage, Iowa, and at the Shell Rock River at Rockford, Iowa. These RDGs were installed at two locations which were part of 16 USGS streamgages discontinued on July 1, 2016, as a result of partner funding cuts.
USGS crews are expected to be deployed tomorrow and through the weekend as the flood wave moves downstream on the Cedar River. Continual communication is being made with the NWS and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, primary through NWSChat, email, and phone.
WaterWatch Flood Table for Iowa
WaterWatch Flood Map for Iowa