Flash Flood in Des Moines County, Iowa

Heavy rains resulted in the flash flooding of parts of Des Moines County during the early morning hours of May 12. The Burlington area and locations north were some of the hardest hit areas. The flood waters were 10 to 12 inches deep south of Agency Road. In addition, the intersection of Highway 61 and Roosevelt Avenue was flooded with some vehicles stalled out in the flood waters. Several homes and businesses had water in basements with some flooded with over 7 feet of water. Parts of Tama Road and Plank Road were washed out. In other areas, landslides spilled onto some streets. Several businesses along Jefferson Street also sustained flood damage and loss of property.

A warm front slowly lifted northward from central Missouri into eastern Iowa and northern Illinois May 12th and 13th. Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms moved across the area producing widespread torrential rains and some large hail. As a result of the heavy rains, flash flooding was common. There were two corridors of heavy rain; one across Highway 20 with amounts around 2 to 3 inches and a second heavier corridor of 2 to 6 inches from Memphis, Missouri to near Geneseo, Illinois. Temperatures in the upper 40s to middle 60s on May 12 continued to rise during the early morning hours May 13, reaching into the lower 50s to upper 60s by daybreak.