A round of thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the morning and afternoon of July 21st. These storms dropped locally heavy rains that produced some flash flooding in Fayette and Chickasaw Counties. Most of the flash flooding was limited to water over some roads northwest of Westgate (Fayette County) and south of Boyd (Chickasaw County). A second round of storms moved across the region during the evening of July 21st into the early morning of July 22nd. These storms produced heavy rains with totals of 4 to 8 inches common across Chickasaw into Fayette and Clayton Counties. The flash flooding caused numerous road closures across Clayton County with rock and mud slides occurring. A few rescues had to be performed near Guttenberg (Clayton County). In Fredericksburg (Chickasaw County) water from the East Fork of the Wapsipinicon River  was over U.S. Highway 18 and sandbagging had to be done in New Hampton (Chickasaw County). A road was partially washed out northwest of Nashua (Floyd County). The Governor of Iowa declared a disaster proclamation for Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Floyd and Winneshiek Counties. The President of the United States issued a disaster declaration for Allamakee, Chickasaw, Fayette and Mitchell Counties.

Flash Flood in FLOYD, IOWA
From 22-JUL-17 02:00:00 to 22-JUL-17 09:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: KNOOP ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 6.90M
Reported by: Public

After heavy rains of 4 to 8 inches, flash flooding occurred across the southeast half of Floyd County. A road was partially washed out and a railroad crossing was partially washed out southeast of Charles City.

Flash Flood in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 10:38:00 to 21-JUL-17 12:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: WESTGATE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Locally heavy rains pushed the Little Wapsipinicon River and small creeks that feed the river out of their banks. These flood waters covered roads northwest of Westgate.

Flood in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 22:50:00 to 23-JUL-17 21:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARBER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Runoff from heavy rains pushed the Turkey River out of its banks in Garber. The river crested almost seven feet above the flood stage at 23.75 feet.

Heavy Rain in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 05:00:00 to 22-JUL-17 00:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHICKASAW
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

West of Ionia, 8.39 inches of rain fell.

Heavy Rain in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 06:05:00 to 22-JUL-17 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: FAYETTE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Near Fayette, 7.67 inches of rain fell.

Hail in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 22:38:00 to 21-JUL-17 22:38:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEST UNION
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flash Flood in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 10:50:00 to 21-JUL-17 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILLIAMSTOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Runoff from locally heavy rains, pushed small creeks out of their banks and over roads west of Fredericksburg. Numerous homes had water in their basements in Fredericksburg.

Heavy Rain in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 05:00:00 to 22-JUL-17 00:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: IONIA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

In Ionia, 9.30 inches of rain fell.

Heavy Rain in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 05:05:00 to 22-JUL-17 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FREDRICKSBURG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

In Fredericksburg, an estimated 10 inches of rain fell.

Heavy Rain in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 06:05:00 to 22-JUL-17 01:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: RANDALIA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Near Fayette, 7.50 inches of rain fell.

Heavy Rain in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 08:15:00 to 22-JUL-17 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GUTTENBURG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

In Guttenberg, 7.44 inches of rain fell.

Heavy Rain in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 05:25:00 to 22-JUL-17 01:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW HAMPTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

In New Hampton, 8.35 inches of rain fell.

Heavy Rain in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 07:05:00 to 22-JUL-17 01:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: VOLGA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Near Volga, 5.15 inches of rain fell.

Flash Flood in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 22-JUL-17 00:51:00 to 22-JUL-17 09:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: BASSETT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 350.00K
Crop damage: 5.70M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy rains of 4 to 8 inches caused flash flooding to occur across the southern sections of Chickasaw County. Flood waters from two small creeks covered U.S. Highway 18 west of Fredericksburg. The flood waters prompted sandbagging to be done in New Hampton. Numerous roads across the county sustained damage during the flooding.

Flash Flood in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 22-JUL-17 06:40:00 to 22-JUL-17 09:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAUCOMA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 8.60M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

After heavy rains dropped 4 to 8 inches of rain, flash flooding occurred across the southern sections of Fayette County. East of Wadena, the bridge over the Volga River on Acorn Road failed. Otter Creek went out if its banks in Oelwein.

Heavy Rain in FLOYD, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 04:50:00 to 22-JUL-17 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHARLES CITY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

In Charles City, 6.63 inches of rain fell.

Flood in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 21:25:00 to 23-JUL-17 20:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: LITTLEPORT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Runoff from heavy rains pushed the Volga River out of its banks in Littleport. The river crested over nine feet above the flood stage at 21.13 feet.

Flood in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 22-JUL-17 09:15:00 to 23-JUL-17 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAUCOMA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.08M
Crop damage: 4.10M
Reported by: Public

After the initial flash flooding, the flood waters lingered across much of Fayette County into Sunday, July 23rd. On Saturday morning, numerous roads were reported to be impassable in Fairbank because of the flood waters. Sandbagging was occurring around several businesses. State Highway 3 was closed between Oelwein and Oran. In the town of Fayette, around 80 percent of the homes had water in their basements and a park in town was closed because of the flooding.

Flood in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 22-JUL-17 10:45:00 to 23-JUL-17 01:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELKADER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Runoff from heavy rains pushed the Turkey River out of its banks in Elkader. The river crested above the flood state twice. The first crest was around a half foot above the flood stage at 12.52 feet very early on the 22nd. The river dipped briefly below the flood stage before cresting again around a half foot above the flood stage at 12.4 feet during the evening of the 22nd.

Flash Flood in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 21-JUL-17 20:22:00 to 22-JUL-17 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAYTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 950.00K
Crop damage: 11.20M
Reported by: Law Enforcement

After heavy rains of 4 to 8 inches, flash flooding occurred across the southern half of Clayton County. Flooding along Roberts and Dry Mill Creeks washed out County Road C1X east of Elkader. Numerous other roads were closed across the county due to inundation, rock slides and mud slides with the hardest hit part of the county between Garber and Guttenberg. Near Guttenberg, the residents of three homes had to be rescued from flood waters on Miners Creek. The flooding heavily damaged a bridge over Miners Creek, took out a 30 foot retaining wall, damaged the inventory of two business and undercut railroad tracks.