Flash Flood — O'brien, Iowa

2025-07-30 · near Philby, O'brien, Iowa

Event narrative

Runoff from heavy rainfall estimated from 3 to 5 inches in less than two hours resulted in flash flooding of Roetzel Creek. Sections of 390th and 400th Streets and Monroe Avenue with inundated with rapidly running water.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms erupted within a very moist and unstable environment across central South Dakota during the afternoon of July 29 in response to an approaching upper level short-wave from Colorado. These thunderstorms quickly grew upscale into a line, producing 55 to 75 mph wind gusts across southeast South Dakota and extreme northeast Nebraska, resulting in isolated tree damage. In addition, prolonged heavy rain resulted in some localized flash flooding across northwest Iowa.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (43.0857, -95.8572)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1288625. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.