Flood — Howard, Iowa

2023-05-14 to 2023-05-15 · near Vernon Spgs, Howard, Iowa

Event narrative

Volunteer observers in Howard County reported 0.97 inches of rainfall near Cresco on May 12th as well as minor flooding in low lying areas near Davis Corners on May 14th. As a result of the heavy rain, the Turkey River in Cresco rapidly rose on May 14th, cresting 0.57 feet above minor flood stage of 1128.5 feet above sea level late that night. It then fell below flood stage during the early morning of May 15th.

Wider weather episode

Four consecutive days of light to heavy rainfall events during the middle of May resulted in near 1.5 inches and some minor flooding along the more narrow, shallow rivers in northeast Iowa. Initial light to moderate rainfall on May 12th quenched soils from a drier than normal spring, while subsequent storms over the weekend of May 13th-14th resulted in rapid runoff and minor flooding along the Little Cedar and Turkey Rivers. Along the Little Cedar River, the highest realized height above flood stage occurred in Nashua (Chickasaw County) on May 16th with 0.94 feet. Along the Turkey River, the river gauge in Cresco (Howard County) crested 0.57 feet above flood stage on May 15th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (43.3324, -92.0885)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1100492. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.