PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (IA) USGS crews respond to heavy rains in Iowa

Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2018 11:20:58 EDT

Summary: USGS crews respond to over nine inches of precipitation falling in Iowa over the last 48 hours.

Over nine inches of rain have fallen in east-central Iowa during the last 48 hours according the Nation Weather Service (NWS) https://water.weather.gov/precip/. An additional seven inches of rain is forecasted almost state-wide in Iowa over the next seven days (https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/day1-7.shtml).

Six USGS streamgages in Iowa are currently above the NWS flood stage. Two streams in the Iowa River basin are approaching peak-of-record levels (approximately 70 years of record at each).

Two USGS crews (three individuals) have been deployed to flooded areas to make streamflow measurements and ensure proper streamgage operation.

Communication is being made with the NWS, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and emergency managers, primarily through NWSChat.

Iowa WaterWatch flood table
Iowa WaterWatch flood map