The first 10 days of March were essentially dry and cool across the Des Moines HSA.  There was some melting of the impressive snowpack still in place across the northern two thirds of Iowa, but not enough to prevent a record duration snow cover (one inch or more) to be established at Des Moines.  A new record of 99 days was reached by the 19th of the month.  Over parts of northwest Iowa, new records for the state were set with duration in excess of 140 days.  A major precipitation event that affected the southern half of the HSA took place on the 15th as heavy rain was followed by heavy snow.  County-wide flood warnings were issued for Wapello and Monroe Counties as heavy rain caused numerous streams and creeks to go out of their banks.  The Ottumwa ASOS picked up nearly 5 inches of rain over the course of the event, with 8.8 inches of snow at the end.  Albia, in Monroe County, had a 2-day total of 4.17 inches of precipitation, with 10 inches of new snow on the ground by the morning of the 16th.  The northern edge of the precipitation shield was just north of Des Moines, with the heaviest amounts of rain falling over areas that had already lost most if now all their snow cover.  This was extremely fortunate for future flooding prospects, as very little rain or snow added to the heavy snowpack to the north of Des Moines.  The NWS office in Johnston added another 5.2 inches of snow, bringing the seasonal total to 49.3 inches.  Flood statements for rivers in south central and central Iowa were issued due to the combination of rain, snowmelt, and ice jams.  There was minor flooding within the Chariton, Iowa, Raccoon, and Des Moines River Basins.

Flood in DAVIS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in DECATUR, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in MAHASKA, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in TAMA, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in MADISON, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in UNION, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in STORY, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in WAYNE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in BOONE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in GREENE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in GUTHRIE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in CLARKE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in DALLAS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in CASS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in JASPER, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in LUCAS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in AUDUBON, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in MARION, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in MONROE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in POLK, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in ADAIR, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in WARREN, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in ADAMS, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in POWESHIEK, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Flood in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 15-MAR-01 15:00:00 to 16-MAR-01 21:00:00 (CST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.