Heavy Rains Lead to Flash Flood Warnings in Parts of Iowa
September 22, 2010
It has been a very stormy and wet day across central and southern Iowa and the bad weather is going to last for at least the next two days. Between two and three inches of rain fell through several counties including Marshall, Polk, Cass, Dallas, Guthrie and Story.
A flash flood warning was issued Tuesday, Sept 21st for the region and some damages have been reported. Run-off from the rain may trigger flash floods in Ames as well as in several other towns and cities in the already rain-drenched region of the state. It has been a very wet week in a greater portion of Iowa as frequent, heavy thunderstorms have pounded the state.
Sully, Iowa was especially hard-hit on Tuesday. The National Weather Services said that a section of the town’s middle school roof was thrown fifty to one hundred feet from the building as a severe thunderstorm ripped through the area at around 1 p.m. as students were eating lunch. Witnesses reported that it was not raining at the time the damage occurred but that they saw debris falling from the roof. School officials rushed to get students out of the gymnasium. Some trees were also damaged as was the baseball field’s dugout.
ESPN’s Sports Nation was set to be hosted on the University of Iowa campus Tuesday as about one thousand students and supporters gathered at Hubbard Park to watch the show. Heavy rain began to fall and a threat of hail delayed the production and sent most of the crowd running for cover. Thankfully the rain calmed and the threat of hail subsided so the taping went on an hour later.
The Sioux Falls area typically only sees just over 2.5 inches of rainfall during the month of September but rainfalls are expected to be heavy today through Friday meaning that the city and much of the area could see as much rain with this storm as it typically receives all month. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls predicts that many areas to the north and east of the city could very well receive up to four inches of rain. Locals are advised to travel with extreme caution during the next couple of days because low lying areas are expected to flood.
