A warm front extended east to west across the Upper Mississippi Valley on June 7, which provided the focus for thunderstorms producing excessive rainfall. In fact, these storms exhibited very high rainfall rates, which led to 1 to 2 inch rainfall amounts in an hour. As the storms congealed into a larger scale line of thunderstorms, they continued to move over the same areas, which led to significant flash flooding through the evening and overnight.
On June 8, the warm front was lingering across the region, but a cold front approached out of the northern Plains. Showers and storms would redevelop during the day in the vicinity of the warm front, while a line of storms developed out ahead of the cold front, with these tracking across the region Sunday night. Again, copious amounts of moisture lead to periods of heavy rain.
The heavy rainfall on June 8 enhanced the already dangerous flooding conditions across parts of northeast Iowa. Many roads were already closed from the June 7 rains due to water over the roadways, mudslides, or partial washouts. Conditions only worsened, leading to more road closures, sandbagging, and some evacuations.
While the rain was tapering off and moving east Sunday night, June 8, the rivers continued to rise, and some extremely quickly. Some rivers responded with a foot per hour rises, while others eventually exceeded their river gauges ability to record the river levels. These gauges were under water themselves! All-time record crests were set at a few locations, with top 5 records at many others.
Damage to infrastructure and crops was preliminarily estimated at 70 to 80 million dollars. As a result, Mitchell, Floyd, Howard, Chickasaw, Winneshiek, Fayette, Allamakee and Clayton Counties were all declared federal disaster areas.

Flood in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 08-JUN-08 00:00:00 to 11-JUN-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLERMONT VLY ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 3.60M
Crop damage: 1.20M
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Turkey River through northern and northeast Fayette County experienced a record flood. At Eldorado, the river crested at a record level of 22.11 feet about 9 a.m. CDT on June 9. The previous record crest was 19.6 feet in May 2004. Flood stage is 12.0 feet. Flood stage levels were also exceeded at Clermont.
Damage in Eldorado was surprisingly minimal with flood waters only impacting a few homes directly near the river on the north side of the village. Further southeast though several bridges and roads were damaged or destroyed as debris would pile up along bridge supports and running water flowed over highways. A large bridge north of West Union, called the Huntzinger Bridge, on County Road W42 was broke apart in two sections. County Road B40, known as the river road was also closed and heavily damaged.
In Clermont, the Turkey River heavily damaged the Skip-A-Way Campground on the southwest edge of town. River levels quickly rose out of their banks and swept across many of the camp sites heavily damaging at least 50 of them. Water also flowed into a holding pond and busted a new opening back to the Turkey River leading to even more infrastructure damage. Luckily no one was killed or injured.
In Elgin, local officials decided to breach the road on the north side of the river, allowing flood waters to spill into a nearby rural home to protect the downtown area.

Flash Flood in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 08-JUN-08 02:00:00 to 08-JUN-08 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUANDAHL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 250.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Another round of thunderstorms led to additional flash flooding with numerous more mudslides reported by the county and more roads damaged.

Flood in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 to 10-JUN-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUANDAHL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.25M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Many roads, mainly secondary, were washed out in the county. Rainfall totals of 5-7 inches were reported for the weekend of June 7-8 with widespread flood problems. About 2500 acres of crops were damaged.

Flood in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 08-JUN-08 08:00:00 to 11-JUN-08 21:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARBER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 2.50M
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Turkey River at Garber had a major flood and crested at 29.1 feet around 11:30 a.m. CDT on June 10. The all-time record crest of 32.8 feet occurred on May 23, 2004. Flood stage is 17.0 feet.

Flash Flood in HOWARD, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 19:00:00 to 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHESTER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 70.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flash flooding led to numerous road closures, mainly in the northern part of the county. Some bridges near the Iowa-Minnesota border were also damaged and closed.

Flash Flood in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 18:10:00 to 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.50M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flash flooding closed several secondary roads in the county with numerous bridges and culverts washed out.

Flood in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 08-JUN-08 04:00:00 to 11-JUN-08 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HANOVER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Upper Iowa River at Dorchester crested around 1 a.m. CDT on June 9 at a record level of 22.46 feet. The previous record crest was 22.2 feet on February 28, 1948. Flood stage is 14.0 feet.

Flood in WINNESHIEK, IOWA
From 08-JUN-08 06:00:00 to 10-JUN-08 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENDALLVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

River levels on the Upper Iowa River at Decorah and Bluffton crested at record levels.
Decorah crested at about 9 a.m. CDT on June 9 at 17.9 feet. The previous record crest was 15.2 feet on May 29, 1941. Flood stage at Decorah is 12.0 feet. Sand bagging was needed along the north end of town as water approached the Law Enforcement Center.  Several homes and roads were flooded on the east end of Decorah as well.
Bluffton crested at 15.49 feet about 2 a.m. on June 9. Flood stage at Bluffton is 14.0 feet.

Flood in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 to 10-JUN-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: STRAWBERRY PT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 4.70M
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Most secondary roads were either damaged or under water. Rainfall totals of 3 to 7 inches were reported during the weekend of June 7-8. About 4000 acres of farm land were impacted. Combined with flooding along the Turkey River, a total of 20 homes were destroyed, 9 with major damage, 15 with minor damage, and recovery costs easily into the millions.

Flash Flood in WINNESHIEK, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 19:42:00 to 08-JUN-08 07:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENDALLVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Rounds of thunderstorms produced flash flooding over large parts of the county. Many secondary roads were damaged including infrastructures. The Upper Iowa River also began to rise very quickly. Mudslides were also reported. The Protivin area near neighboring Howard County was also evacuated.

Flood in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 to 10-JUN-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MEYER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.20M
Crop damage: 1.50M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highway 218 was closed due to flooding and Highway 9 east of Osage was closed since water topped the bridge. Widespread overland flooding continued across the county, which was described as a lake on Sunday June 8. In addition, the Cedar River was in flood for several days, cresting in Charles City, Iowa during the morning of June 9th.
In Stacyville the flooding was the worst in years and left water standing in fields for more than a week.  Besides crop damage, many basements were flooded.

Flood in FLOYD, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 to 10-JUN-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FOLKERTS FLD ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 1.25M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flooding was extensive across the county from 4 to 5 inches of rain. Flooding along the Shell Rock river breeched a levee in Nora Springs on Sunday June 8th and flooding was extensive in Rockford, IA.  Perhaps as many as 60 secondary roads were washed out or closed. The Cedar River also began to rise quickly and ended up causing extensive damage through the county.
About 400 homes in Rockford had damage and roughly 20 others across more rural areas of the county.
Highway 18 was also closed east of Charles City due to damage from flood waters.

Flood in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 to 10-JUN-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OELWEIN MUNI ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 3.10M
Crop damage: 2.20M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous secondary roads were flooded. Over 5 inches of rain was reported for the weekend of June 7-8.

Flood in FLOYD, IOWA
From 08-JUN-08 08:00:00 to 11-JUN-08 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLOYD CROSSING
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 800.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Cedar River at Charles City had a record crest at 25.55 ft, which occurred about 7:00 a.m. CDT on June 9. The previous record was 22.8 feet, which occurred on July 21, 1999. Flood stage is 12.0 feet. Of note, no river levels were available for a time from June 8-9 due to the river gage and gage house being completely underwater.
The two main traffic bridges in Charles City were closed, splitting the city in half. The walking suspension bridge in Charles City collapsed as well.  Immaculate Conception school took a direct hit as water topped all sand bagging efforts flooding the basement and first floor.  Many businesses also suffered damaged when water flowed into basements.  The fire department was evacuated as flood waters swamped that area of town.  Over 500 homes in Charles City were directly impacted.

Flood in HOWARD, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 to 10-JUN-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PROTIVIN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flash flooding led to aerial flooding across much of the county.  Numerous roads and bridges remained closed, mainly in the northern part of the county.
In the Lime Springs area, the road to Lidtke park was damaged and water approached the top of the Lidtke Mill bridge.
Parts of Protivin was evacuated due to flood waters and ponding. Crops were also hit hard with too much standing water.

Flood in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 to 10-JUN-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HORN FLD ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 600.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highways 18 and 63 were closed in spots from flood waters. A Local Area Emergency (LAE) was issued for the county based on requests early Sunday morning June 8. Main roads were mostly open, but secondary and township roads were under water.  The Cedar River caused flooding in parts of Nashua where sand bagging efforts were unable to save a water main from breaking and cutting off the towns water supply.  Rainfall totals of 6 to 7 inches were reported during the weekend of June 7-8.

Flood in WINNESHIEK, IOWA
From 08-JUN-08 07:30:00 to 10-JUN-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KENDALLVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.70M
Crop damage: 2.50M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several civil cmergency messages were issued for evacuations in the county. Nursing homes and residences in the lower areas on the west side of the city of Decorah were evacuated. Ponding of water in Decorah could not be stopped even with pumps running.  Many roads were closed in the county due to high water.
In Fort Atkinson, the supports to a train bridge gave way in addition to damage to Highway 24 near town.  Mudslides were also reported on County Road B32 between Fort Atkinson and Festina.
In Spillville, flood waters covered many of the streets and the waste water treatment plant.  Sand bagging efforts were haulted as flood waters condintued to rise.
The Turkey River flooded in Spillville and Fort Atkinson and damaged railroad bridges. The Highway 24 bridge over the Turkey was heavily damaged and had to be closed for repairs following the flood.

Flood in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 08-JUN-08 07:16:00 to 12-JUN-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELKADER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 3.50M
Crop damage: 3.00M
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Turkey River at Elkader established a new record crest at about 6 a.m. CDT on June 10 of 30.9 feet. The previous record crest was 27.3 feet on June 15, 1991. Flood stage is 12.0 feet. The river rose again above flood stage from June 12 through June 14th cresting at 16.63 feet.

Flash Flood in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 07-JUN-08 19:42:00 to 07-JUN-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUANDAHL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 1.50M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Excessive rainfall caused fairly widespread flash flooding across the county. Steep terrain enhanced the flash flood threat causing mud slides and damaged infrastructure. Numerous roads were washed out and bridges damaged. A mud slide at Camp Tahigwa Girl Scout camp near Dorchester trapped part of the staff, but no one was injured. In Dorchester, the Waterloo Creek flash flooded swamping several mobile homes or trailers and cars along Highway 76. Water swept through town very quickly trapping people on their cars and roof tops. There were three injuries as a result.