A strong weather system moved through the central U.S. during the late afternoon of the 3rd through the early morning of the 4th.  The system resembled a winter type system as strong low pressure at the surface developed over Kansas and moved northeast into Missouri.  A large area of thunderstorms developed in the deformation zone north of the low.  A large part of Iowa was affected by the rain with a narrow band of 4 to 7 inch rainfall extending from near the Atlantic area to north of Lamoni. The heaviest report received was nearly 8 inches in Madison County at Orient.  Five to 6 inches of rain fell in parts of Wayne County.  The rain caused flooding of several areas with Clarke, Decatur, Madison, and Wayne Counties affected the most.  Numerous roads were closed by the water with flash flooding reported in Decatur County where 5 to 6 feet of water covered the road.  The flash flooding extended north into Clarke County.  Flash flooding also occurred in Appanoose County, where Highway 2 was flooded west of Centerville.  Flash flooding washed out gravel roads in Wayne and Adair Counties as well with debris thrown onto the roads.  Lightning struck a tree near a house in Creston.  The lightning blasted a hole in the ground at the base of the tree.  Branches and pieces were thrown into a nearby home.  Three screen doors were broken along with several windows in the house.  A nearby garage was also damaged.  Pieces of the tree were blown out about 70 feet from the initial strike.

Lightning in UNION, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 03:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTON
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Flash Flood in ADAIR, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 06:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: FISK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 10.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Debris on roads and several gravel roads were washed out.

Flash Flood in APPANOOSE, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 06:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CENTERVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 10.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highway 2 was closed.

Flood in MADISON, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 11:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MACKSBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flash Flood in WAYNE, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 06:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUMESTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 10.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several gravel roads washed out.

Flash Flood in CLARKE, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 06:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURRAY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 10.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flood in CLARKE, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 11:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WELDON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flood in DECATUR, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 11:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: VAN WERT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy Rain in CASS, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 06:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: MASSENA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rainfall total so far 4.30 inches, mostly since midnight.

Heavy Rain in UNION, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 06:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: LORIMOR
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rainfall total 4.15 inches so far, mostly since midnight.

Heavy Rain in WAYNE, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 02:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 07:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: BETHLEHEM
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rainfall in the 24 hour period was 4.74 inches, with an additional .25 inches since observation.  Most rain has been since midnight.

Heavy Rain in CLARKE, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 01:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 09:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: MURRAY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Rainfall of 5.10 inches caused creeks and streams to flow into fields.

Heavy Rain in ADAIR, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 09:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORIENT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Six to eight inches of rain was reported in the area around Orient.

Heavy Rain in CASS, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORWAY CENTER
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Rainfall since midnight 4.50 inches with Nodaway River overflowing into surrounding fields.

Flash Flood in DECATUR, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 06:37:00 to 04-JUL-09 08:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARDEN GROVE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 10.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Rural roads were under 5 to 6 feet of water.

Flood in WAYNE, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 10:07:00 to 04-JUL-09 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMBRIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Quail Run Road between 80th and 90th street was under water.

Heavy Rain in CASS, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 05:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATLANTIC
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Rainfall totals since 7 AM on the 3rd was 4.50 inches. Most of the rain fell after midnight.

Heavy Rain in DAVIS, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 03:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMFIELD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Standing water was reported in fields across Davis County.  Two feet of ponded waster was reported across old Highway 2 in Bloomfield.

Heavy Rain in CASS, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATLANTIC
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A creek in the Sunnyside Park area was briefly out of its banks.  Rainfall since midnight was 3.03 inches.

Heavy Rain in UNION, IOWA
From 04-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 04-JUL-09 04:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRESTON
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Reports of ponding of water in the underpasses in Creston, specifically on Osage Street.  Rainfall so far 1.84 inches.