Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2016 20:19:31 EDT
Summary: USGS crews responding to record flooding occurring in northeast Iowa.
Record flooding is occurring in northeast Iowa on the Shell Rock River and major flooding is also taking place on the Cedar River as a result of heavy rains on September 21 and 22, 2016. 24 USGS streamgages are currently above the National Weather Service (NWS) flood stage. Several roads are closed and some communities have been evacuated. The Iowa Governor has signed a disaster proclamation for 13 northeast Iowa counties ( http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-2nd-death-reported-amid-wisconsin-flooding-42308037 ).
Annual exceedance probabilities of 1% to 0.2% (100 to 500-year flood) are being calculated on current and forecasted values at USGS streamgages in Iowa. One temporary streamgage has been installed on the Shell Rock River due to the permanent structure being under water. One peak of record has on the Shell Rock River (62 years of record). Back-up stage sensors have been deployed on a Cedar River streamgage in Cedar Rapids Iowa.
Four, two-person crews have been deployed to northeast Iowa to make discharge measurements and ensure proper streamgage operation. Two rapid deployment gages remain in place. Communication has been made with the NWS and U.S. Army Corps on Engineers, primarily through NWSChat, phone calls, and emails. Some phone call communication has also been made with county emergency managers.
Iowa WaterWatch Flood Table
Iowa WaterWatch Flood Map