Storm Events Database

Storm Events Database

Event Details

Event Flood
-- Flood Cause Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
State IOWA
County/Area PALO ALTO
WFO DMX
Begin Date 03/14/2007 19:30:00 CST-6
Begin Range 0
Begin Azimuth N
Begin Location EMMETSBURG
Begin Lat/Lon 43.12/-94.7
End Date 03/17/2007 04:00:00 CST-6
Deaths Direct/Indirect 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 0/0
Property Damage 50.00K
Crop Damage 0.00K
Episode Narrative The March 1st blizzard, combined with very heavy snow from another storm on February 23-25, resulted in a snow cover of 20 to 30 inches over much of northern Iowa. Temperatures suddenly warmed after the 8th of the month over the south half of the state, and by the 9th and 10th across the north. The snow pack held 3-5 inches of water and this would become a problem when temperatures warmed in the middle of the month. The last of the snow cover did not melt until the 22nd. Ice covered nearly all of the rivers and creeks in Iowa through the first part of the month, due to the very cold temperatures from February. As temperatures warmed in March, melting of snow cover exceeded the melting of ice on the rivers, and the ice started to move. Ice jams caused flooding along the Des Moines River from Estherville through Fort Dodge, and flooded some of the neighborhoods in Fort Dodge as it backed up streamflow on the Des Moines River on March 14th. Another ice jam would move down the Raccoon River, with flooding reported along Highway 169 near Adel. This ice would bring moderate rises along the Raccoon River all the way to it???s confluence with the Des Moines River, however the effect on the Des Moines River was negligible, due in part to the Saylorville Reservoir. General flooding was fairly widespread, however damage was limited fo r the most part.
Event Narrative


All events for this episode:

Location County/Zone St. Date Time T.Z. Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
Totals: 0 0 800.00K 0.00K
MARSHALLTOWN MARSHALL CO. IA 03/12/2007 02:15 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
DES MOINES POLK CO. IA 03/12/2007 04:45 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
BARNES CITY MAHASKA CO. IA 03/12/2007 05:00 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
AMES STORY CO. IA 03/12/2007 23:15 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
ESTHERVILLE EMMET CO. IA 03/12/2007 23:30 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
JEFFERSON GREENE CO. IA 03/13/2007 06:45 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
NEW HARTFORD BUTLER CO. IA 03/13/2007 12:15 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
PERRY DALLAS CO. IA 03/13/2007 16:30 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
COLFAX JASPER CO. IA 03/14/2007 06:15 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
STRATFORD HAMILTON CO. IA 03/14/2007 10:00 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
WATERLOO BLACK HAWK CO. IA 03/14/2007 10:45 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
ALGONA KOSSUTH CO. IA 03/14/2007 11:00 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
FT DODGE WEBSTER CO. IA 03/14/2007 14:45 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
EMMETSBURG PALO ALTO CO. IA 03/14/2007 19:30 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
HUMBOLDT HUMBOLDT CO. IA 03/14/2007 23:00 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
MASON CITY CERRO GORDO CO. IA 03/14/2007 23:15 CST-6 Flood 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
Totals: 0 0 800.00K 0.00K