A strong warm front was positioned southwest of Iowa during the early morning of the the 24th.  A 40 to 50 kt low level jet transported a considerable amount of moisture northeast across the frontal boundary.  Precipitable water values increased to 2.25 to 2.5 inches over the southwest half of Iowa.  Thunderstorms formed in the strong theta-e advection zone across northeast Nebraska into west central Iowa through the night.  They intensified during the predawn hours and continued through the morning.  Very heavy rainfall occurred in a 30 to 40 mile wide band extending from southeast of Atlantic, southeastward through the Creston area into Lamoni.  Widespread rainfall of 5 to 9 inches occurred in this area, with most of the rain falling in less than 6 hours.  Flooding was widespread in this band with U.S. Highways 169, 65 and 34 all closed in places due to high water.  Numerous county roads were flooded, with some washouts occurring and a few bridges being washed out.  A report from the Sun Valley Lake area of Ringgold County indicated that boats on the lake were floating from their lifts and houses around the lake were threatened.  Farmers in the area expressed that they had never seen flooding like this so late in the season.  There were intermittent thunderstorms during the afternoon, then another line of strong thunderstorms developed over southwest Iowa.  They set up in a line extending along to just northeast of the area of heavy flooding that occurred during the morning and into the afternoon.  Renewed flash flooding took place over Ringgold County, with nearly all roads closed in parts of the county.  The excessive rain from the previous 24 hours lead to general flooding over south central Iowa.  Floods continued through the following day with numerous roads closed, especially in Lucas and Wayne Counties.

Flash Flood in ADAMS, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 09:15:00 to 24-JUL-08 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: STRINGTOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Adams County law enforcement reported that highway 34 was closed at Sycamore Ave near Stringtown due to water over the road, County Road H45 was closed southeast of Corning and anther road was closed near Mount Etna.  Widespread street flooding was reported as well in Prescott and Corning.

Heavy Rain in UNION, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTON ARPT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A coop observer reported 4.50 inches of rainfall.

Flash Flood in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 10:28:00 to 24-JUL-08 11:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT AYR
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Local law enforcement reported a bridge washed out on 210th Ave west of P54 as well as widespread flooding and numerous gravel roads under water throughout the county.

Heavy Rain in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:00:00 to 24-JUL-08 10:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLSTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

KCCI television reported that a trained spotter had 9 inches of rain so far this morning.

Flash Flood in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 10:58:00 to 24-JUL-08 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT AYR
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Ringgold County Emergency Management reports Highway 169 closed about a mile north of Mt. Ayr due to high water.

Heavy Rain in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT AYR
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter reported rainfall of 6.50 inches.

Flash Flood in DECATUR, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 10:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: TERRE HAUTE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Local law enforcement reports the bridge on Elk Chapel Road just south of Highway 2 was under a foot of water.

Flash Flood in DECATUR, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 10:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 14:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAVIS CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water was eroding the gravel from 275th St.

Heavy Rain in UNION, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 07:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Measured rainfall of 4.75 inches.

Flash Flood in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 12:50:00 to 24-JUL-08 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: DELPHOS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highway 169 north of Mount Ayr was open, but remained closed south of Mount Ayr.  Highway 2 was closed and County road P68 was closed north of Highway 2.  Closures due to water over the road.

Flash Flood in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 10:58:00 to 24-JUL-08 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: KELLERTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Ringgold County Emergency Manager reports closures due to water over the road on Highway 2 three miles west of Kellerton and on County Road P64 north and south of Highway 2.  Numerous gravel roads were flooded throughout the county.

Heavy Rain in UNION, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 02:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTON ARPT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The Creston AWOS site reported 3.83 inches of rainfall.

Flash Flood in DECATUR, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 10:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 14:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLEASANTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water has partially washed out 240th Ave.

Heavy Rain in WAYNE, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 22:00:00 to 24-JUL-08 23:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEYMOUR
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Five inches of rain has fallen this evening.

Flash Flood in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 05:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEACONSFIELD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water over County Road J25 due to Lotts Creek between County Highway P64 and County Highway P68 just north of Kellerton.

Flash Flood in DECATUR, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 10:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 14:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAMONI
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water was over 280th Street 1 mile west of County Road R14.

Flash Flood in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 21:00:00 to 24-JUL-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: KNOWLTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rainfall put the Platte River out of its banks and flash flooding was reported with water over County Road J23.  The Sheriffs office has declared all roads closed north of County Road J23.  County road P27 was also closed.

Heavy Rain in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 06:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEACONSFIELD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rainfall report of 4.32 inches was received.

Heavy Rain in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT AYR
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A rainfall report of 4.26 inches was received.

Heavy Rain in UNION, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 07:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Rainfall of 4.16 inches was reported.

Heavy Rain in UNION, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 06:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTON ARPT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Creston ASOS reported 5.10 inches of rain so far.

Flash Flood in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 10:21:00 to 24-JUL-08 11:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLSTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nine inches of rain has fallen so far.  In the Sun Valley Lake Area, water was over the sea wall, boats were floating off their lifts.  Many roads were flooded.  Worst flooding seen in years with houses threatened.

Heavy Rain in WAYNE, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 20:30:00 to 25-JUL-08 04:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEYMOUR
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Rainfall since Thursday evening was 6.30 inches, with a 24 hour total of 8.40 inches.

Flood in LUCAS, IOWA
From 25-JUL-08 07:35:00 to 25-JUL-08 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUCAS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flooding over the roads in Stephens State Forest.

Flash Flood in WAYNE, IOWA
From 25-JUL-08 03:48:00 to 25-JUL-08 05:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: MILLERTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Highway J22 was closed and inundated by high water near the railroad underpass.  Several other gravel roads were inundated throughout the county.

Heavy Rain in ADAMS, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 06:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILLIAMSON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

From KCCI TV viewer.  Small creek near their farm was well over its banks.  This creek feeds the Nodaway River.  Rainfall was 5.8 inches.

Heavy Rain in DECATUR, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 01:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 07:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAMONI
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Report from KCCI schoolnet site of 4.75 inches of rain.

Heavy Rain in WAYNE, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 20:30:00 to 25-JUL-08 03:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALLERTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Evening rainfall was reported as 5.20 inches.

Flood in WAYNE, IOWA
From 25-JUL-08 05:15:00 to 25-JUL-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PROMISE CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Water over 200th Ave South of the bridge over the Chariton River.  Road was under water for about one quarter of a mile.

Flood in LUCAS, IOWA
From 25-JUL-08 13:13:00 to 25-JUL-08 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUCAS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Local law enforcement reported that Highway 65 was being closed just south of Highway 34 due to water over the road from White Breast Creek.

Flash Flood in UNION, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 12:50:00 to 24-JUL-08 15:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTON ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Pole and Cherry Streets were closed due to high water over the road from the south end of Creston south to 270th Street.

Heavy Rain in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 06:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: TINGLEY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

From a KCCI TV viewer it was reported that 5 inches of rain had fallen.

Heavy Rain in ADAMS, IOWA
From 24-JUL-08 00:30:00 to 24-JUL-08 09:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILLIAMSON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Rainfall of 7.5 inches and still raining lightly.