Several rounds of thunderstorms rolled across northeast Iowa during the afternoon and evening of May 19th. These storms produced very heavy rains across Floyd and Mitchell Counties where numerous roads were washed out or covered with flood waters. Damage to roads in Mitchell County was estimated to be around $4.5 million where 22 roads were closed with 6 to 8 bridges washed out. The heavy rain also damaged the corn crop in Mitchell County where it is estimated up to 15 percent of the crop will not grow back. The storms also produced damaging winds that destroyed buildings and blew down trees and power lines. Barns were blown down in Floyd and Mitchell Counties while a grain elevator was damaged near Fredericksburg (Chickasaw County). Flood waters on the Little Cedar River east of Charles City (Floyd County) damaged a railroad bridge causing an 80 car train to derail into the river. The two employees on the train were rescued without sustaining any injuries. The Iowa Governor requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration be made for Mitchell, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette and Clayton Counties.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 20:06:00 to 19-MAY-13 20:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW HAMPTON
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 65.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous garages and buildings were damaged across New Hampton. Power lines and approximately 100 trees were also blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 14:07:00 to 19-MAY-13 14:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: MEROA
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A metal building was blown over and trees uprooted on a farm southwest of Mitchell.

Thunderstorm Wind in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 14:09:00 to 19-MAY-13 14:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: MITCHELL
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Three sheds were destroyed with some of the debris wrapped around power lines and a 2x6 was driven into another building on farms southwest of Mitchell.

Flash Flood in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 17:08:00 to 20-MAY-13 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OTRANTO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 4.50M
Crop damage: 20.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy rain produced wide spread flash flooding across much of Mitchell County. Numerous roads around Stacyville were under water by early evening and sand bagging occurred along the Little Cedar River. U.S. Highway 218 was closed by flooding between Osage and St. Ansgar and State Highway 9 was closed east and west of Osage. West of Osage, two culverts were washed away, causing a section of Highway 9 to collapse. A total of 22 roads were closed, 6 to 8 bridges washed out and approximately 90 percent of the gravel roads across the entire county were covered with water. Damage to the roads was estimated to be around $4.5 million. In addition to all the road damage, a railroad bridge north of St. Ansgar was also washed out. The Stacyville fire department reported between 6 and 7 inches of rain had fallen during the mid and late afternoon hours. The heavy rains also took out about 15 percent of the county's corn crop.

Thunderstorm Wind in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 14:19:00 to 19-MAY-13 14:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: MITCHELL
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A grain bin was blown over on a farm south of Mitchell.

Flood in FLOYD, IOWA
From 20-MAY-13 22:00:00 to 21-MAY-13 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHARLES CITY ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Heavy rains caused the Little Cedar River to go out of its banks east of Charles City. The flood waters damaged a railroad bridge causing an 80 car train to derail into the river. The two employees on the train were rescued without sustaining any injuries. A small amount of diesel fuel from one of the locomotives and ethanol from a tank car leaked into the river.

Flood in FLOYD, IOWA
From 20-MAY-13 04:00:00 to 22-MAY-13 07:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHARLES CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Runoff from heavy rain pushed the Cedar River out of its banks in Charles City. The river crested over seven and a half feet above the flood stage at 19.52 feet.

Flood in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 21-MAY-13 20:50:00 to 22-MAY-13 07:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHESTER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Runoff from heavy rain pushed the Upper Iowa River out of its banks near Dorchester. The river crested almost four feet above the flood stage at 15.86 feet.

Hail in FLOYD, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 14:14:00 to 19-MAY-13 14:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHARLES CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Quarter sized hail was reported in Charles City.

Hail in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 14:26:00 to 19-MAY-13 14:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSAGE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Lots of quarter sized hail fell and covered the ground along State Highway 9 just west of Osage.

Thunderstorm Wind in FLOYD, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 13:58:00 to 19-MAY-13 13:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORA SPGS
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A barn was blown down along with numerous large trees north of Nora Springs. One of the trees fell on a house.

Thunderstorm Wind in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 14:20:00 to 19-MAY-13 14:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSAGE
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A barn was blown over west of Osage killing 5 head of cattle that were inside the barn at the time.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 20:06:00 to 19-MAY-13 20:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: FREDRICKSBURG
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A grain elevator was damaged in Fredericksburg.

Thunderstorm Wind in WINNESHIEK, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 20:30:00 to 19-MAY-13 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CALMAR
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Some houses in Calmar had siding and shingles ripped off and numerous trees were snapped off.

Thunderstorm Wind in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 20:55:00 to 19-MAY-13 20:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: POSTVILLE
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Trees were blown down in Postville.

Thunderstorm Wind in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 21:04:00 to 19-MAY-13 21:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAUKON
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Trees were blown down in Waukon.

Flash Flood in FLOYD, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 16:53:00 to 20-MAY-13 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORA SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

Numerous roads in Nora Springs were under water. Dancer and Echo Avenues in the northwest corner of the county were closed as flood waters from Flood Creek covered the roads.

Thunderstorm Wind in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 21:09:00 to 19-MAY-13 21:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELON
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees were blown down east of Waukon.

Heavy Rain in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 14:00:00 to 19-MAY-13 19:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST ANSGAR
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

In St. Ansgar, 4.43 inches of rain was reported.

Heavy Rain in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 19-MAY-13 14:20:00 to 19-MAY-13 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OSAGE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The automated mesonet observing equipment in Osage measured 3.84 inches of rain.