Higher than average snowfall through the winter created a wet snowpack across much of Iowa which was still present into early March. A large storm system impacted the region through the middle of March which brought heavy rain and warm temperatures to the state. This system allowed much of the snowpack to melt across the state within a few days to a week. This heavy rain fell on frozen ground allowing nearly all of the rainfall and snowmelt to runoff into the river systems. This led to flooding on nearly all rivers and nearly all river points throughout central Iowa. The majority of the river flooding had ended with rivers returning to their banks by late March. However portions of the upper Des Moines Basin remained in flood into April. These points were the Des Moines River at Fort Dodge, and the West Fork of the Des Moines River at Estherville, Emmetsburg, and Humboldt. Many of the rises on the rivers were also due to ice jams that formed on the river channel due to break up jams as temperatures warmed and river levels rose.

Flood in WAPELLO, IOWA
From 12-MAR-19 08:45:00 to 12-MAR-19 09:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELDON
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Des Moines River at Ottumwa crested at 13.22 feet likely due to an ice jam on 12 March 2019 at 15:00 UTC.

Flood in WARREN, IOWA
From 12-MAR-19 21:45:00 to 14-MAR-19 02:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHURCHVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Middle River at Indianola crested at 25.19 feet on 13 March 2019 at 15:30 UTC.

Flood in POLK, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 09:00:00 to 18-MAR-19 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: (DSM)DES MOINES INTL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Raccoon River at Iowa Highway 28 crested twice during the flood period. The first crest was 37.43 feet on 15 March 2019 at 11:45 UTC and the second crest was 37.11 feet on 17 March 2019 at 19:00 UTC.

Flood in BOONE, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 13:30:00 to 14-MAR-19 15:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUTHER
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Des Moines River at Stratford crested at 20.33 feet likely due to an ice jam on 14 March 2019 at 21:00 UTC.

Flood in DALLAS, IOWA
From 16-MAR-19 10:00:00 to 24-MAR-19 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ADEL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The North Raccoon River at Perry crested at 21.15 feet on 16 March 2019 at 20:15 UTC. This data was estimated as the gauge stopped reporting and manual wire weight observations were conducted in the absence of the gauge reports.

Flood in DALLAS, IOWA
From 13-MAR-19 15:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: VAN METER
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The South Raccoon River at Redfield crested three times during the period of flood. The first two crests and highest crests were due to ice jams, with the third crest from snowmelt and heavy rain. The first crest was 21.52 feet on 14 March 2019 at 00:00 UTC, the second crest was 22.13 feet on 14 March 2019 at 01:15 UTC, and the third crest was 21.16 feet on 14 March 2019 at 17:30 UTC.

Flood in WRIGHT, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 04:00:00 to 17-MAR-19 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CORNELIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Iowa River at Rowan crested at 13.15 feet on 16 March 2019 at 21:15 UTC.

Flood in TAMA, IOWA
From 13-MAR-19 20:00:00 to 21-MAR-19 04:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONTOUR
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Iowa River at Tama Highway E49 crested at 13.95 feet on 16 March 2019 at 14:00 UTC.

Flood in CERRO GORDO, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 18:00:00 to 15-MAR-19 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: FREEMAN
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Winnebago River at Mason City crested at 10.10 feet likely due to an ice jam on 16 March 2019 at 00:00 UTC.

Flood in PALO ALTO, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 00:30:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: EMMETSBURG ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The West Fork of the Des Moines River at Emmetsburg crested three times during the period of flood. The first two crests were likely due to ice jams, with the third and highest crest of the flood period due to snowmelt and heavy rain. The river remained in flood into April. The first crest was 12.31 feet on 17 March 2019 at 19:00 UTC, the second crest was 12.47 feet on 18 March 2019 at 21:15 UTC, and the third crest was 13.44 feet on 25 March 2019 at 17:45 UTC.

Flood in BUTLER, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 06:00:00 to 18-MAR-19 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHELL ROCK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Shell Rock River at Shell Rock crested at 14.48 feet on 16 March 2019 at 19:30 UTC.

Flood in POLK, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 20:45:00 to 16-MAR-19 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LOVINGTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Beaver Creek at Grimes crested at 14.26 feet on 16 March 2019 at 08:45 UTC.

Flood in POLK, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 05:45:00 to 28-MAR-19 18:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: YOUNGSTOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Des Moines River at SE 6th Street crested 3 times during the flood period. The first crest was 29.07 feet on 15 March 2019 at 19:30 UTC, the second crest was 29.15 feet on 16 March 2019 at 16:45 UTC, and the third crest was 29.17 feet on 17 March 2019 at 19:45 UTC.

Flood in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 12:00:00 to 15-MAR-19 01:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROBERTS
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Des Moines River at Fort Dodge went into flood 3 times and crested 8 times during the month of March. The first two periods of flood were likely due to ice jams. The first two crests occurred with the first period of flood, check other entries for later crests. The first crest during this period was 11.98 feet on 15 March 2019 at 03:00 UTC and the second crest was 12.03 feet on 15 March 2019 at 06:00 UTC.

Flood in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 15:30:00 to 16-MAR-19 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROBERTS
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

This was the second period of flood during the month of March for the Des Moines River at Fort Dodge. Two of the 8 crests that occurred during the flood periods in March occurred during this flood period and were likely due to ice jams. The first crest during this period (third overall for March) was 11.28 feet on 15 March 2019 at 22:45 UTC and the second crest this period (fourth overall for March) was 11.28 feet on 16 March 2019 at 04:45 UTC.

Flood in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 16-MAR-19 16:00:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROBERTS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

This was the third period of flood during the month of March for the Des Moines River at Fort Dodge. The flooding from this period continued into April. Four of the 8 crests that occurred during the flood periods in March occurred during this flood period. The first crest during this period (fifth overall for March) was 12.42 feet on 17 March 2019 at 03:30 UTC, the second crest this period (sixth overall for March) was 12.59 feet on 18 March 2019 at 07:15 UTC, the third crest this period (seventh overall for March) was 13.72 feet on 19 March 2019 at 12:30 UTC, and the fourth crest this period (eighth overall for March) was 15.04 feet on 21 March 2019 at 10:00 UTC.

Flood in BOONE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 04:30:00 to 24-MAR-19 07:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: LANYON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Des Moines River at Stratford crested three times during the period of flood. The first crest was 20.95 feet on 15 March 2019 at 20:15 UTC, the second at 22.01 feet on 18 March 2019 at 05:30 UTC, and the third crest was 22.14 feet on 21 March 2019 at 10:00 UTC.

Flood in KOSSUTH, IOWA
From 16-MAR-19 19:45:00 to 24-MAR-19 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LU VERNE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The East Fork of the Des Moines River at Algona crested two times during the flood period. The first crest was 18.63 feet on 18 March 2019 at 03:45 UTC and the second crest was 18.60 feet on 19 March 2019 at 03:30 UTC.

Flood in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 02:30:00 to 18-MAR-19 08:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: WATERLOO RANCH ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Black Hawk Creek at Hudson crested 3 times during the flood period. The first and highest crest was 18.02 feet on 15 March 2019 at 08:45 UTC, the second crest was 16.03 feet on 16 March 2019 at 00:00 UTC, and the third crest was 15.13 feet on 17 March 2019 at 20:30 UTC.

Flood in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 02:45:00 to 27-MAR-19 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: (ALO)WATERLOO MUNI A
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Cedar River at Cedar Falls crested 2 times during the flood period. The first crest was 93.51 feet on 16 March 2019 at 06:15 UTC and the second crest was 95.05 feet on 17 March 2019 at 19:00 UTC.

Flood in BLACK HAWK, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 08:15:00 to 24-MAR-19 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: (ALO)WATERLOO MUNI A
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Cedar River at Waterloo crested 2 times during the flood period. The first crest was 16.98 feet on 16 March 2019 at 08:45 UTC and the second crest was 18.64 feet on 18 March 2019 at 01:15 UTC.

Flood in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 17:00:00 to 17-MAR-19 09:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARSHALLTOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Iowa River at Marshalltown crested two times during the flood period. The first crest was 20.32 feet on 15 March 2019 at 21:15 UTC and the second crest was 19.11 feet on 17 March 2019 at 11:30 UTC.

Flood in GREENE, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 15-MAR-19 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: RALSTON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The North Raccoon River at Jefferson crested at 19.74 feet on 15 March 2019 at 15:30 UTC.

Flood in WARREN, IOWA
From 11-MAR-19 22:15:00 to 12-MAR-19 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHURCHVILLE
Flood cause: Ice Jam
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Middle River at Indianola crested at 23.92 feet likely due to an ice jam on 12 March 2019 at 07:30 UTC.

Flood in WARREN, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 14:30:00 to 16-MAR-19 09:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHURCHVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The North River at Norwalk crested at 24.41 feet on 15 March 2019 at 10:30 UTC.

Flood in POLK, IOWA
From 13-MAR-19 17:15:00 to 24-MAR-19 19:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: DES MOINES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Raccoon River at Fleur Drive crested twice during the flood period. The first crest was 19.85 feet on 15 March 2019 at 15:00 UTC and the second crest was 19.60 feet on 17 March 2019 at 21:00 UTC.

Flood in DALLAS, IOWA
From 13-MAR-19 22:15:00 to 19-MAR-19 04:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: VAN METER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Raccoon River at Van Meter crested three times during the flood period. The first crest was 20.08 feet on 15 March 2019 at 00:00 UTC, the second crest was 19.27 feet on 15 March 2019 at 21:00 UTC, and the third crest was 19.11 feet on 17 March 2019 at 08:15 UTC.

Flood in EMMET, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 03:15:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: WELLINGFORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The West Fork of the Des Moines River at Estherville crested three times during the period of flood. The first two crests were likely due to ice jams, with the third and highest crest of the flood period due to snowmelt and heavy rain. The river remained in flood into April. The first crest was 11.86 feet on 15 March 2019 at 22:30 UTC, the second crest was 12.44 feet on 19 March 2019 at 17:45 UTC, and the third crest was 15.25 feet on 25 March 2019 at 02:30 UTC.

Flood in HUMBOLDT, IOWA
From 16-MAR-19 18:00:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAKOTA CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The West Fork of the Des Moines River at Humboldt crested five times during the period of flood. The first three crests were likely due to ice jams, with the remaining two due to snowmelt and heavy rain. The river remained in flood into April. The first crest was 10.63 feet on 17 March 2019 at 03:30 UTC, the second crest was 12.50 feet on 17 March 2019 at 22:15 UTC, the third crest was 13.06 feet on 19 March 2019 at 11:00 UTC, the fourth crest was 14.6 feet on 20 March 2019 at 15:30 UTC, and the fifth crest was 13.79 feet on 29 March 2019 at 01:45 UTC.

Flood in POLK, IOWA
From 13-MAR-19 23:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 03:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAPITOL HGTS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Fourmile Creek at Easton Boulevard crested at 12.80 feet on 14 March 2019 at 07:00 UTC.

Flood in CASS, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 01:15:00 to 14-MAR-19 02:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEWIS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The East Nishnabotna River at Atlantic crested at 19.19 feet on 14 March 2019 at 07:45 UTC.

Flood in STORY, IOWA
From 13-MAR-19 22:30:00 to 15-MAR-19 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: AMES ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The South Skunk River at US Highway 30 Ames crested at 23.09 feet on 14 March 2019 at 19:45 UTC.

Flood in STORY, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 07:15:00 to 15-MAR-19 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GILBERT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The South Skunk River at West Riverside Ames crested at 13.97 feet on 15 March 2019 at 00:30 UTC.

Flood in JASPER, IOWA
From 15-MAR-19 02:00:00 to 17-MAR-19 03:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: GALESBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The South Skunk River at Colfax crested at 18.80 feet on 16 March 2019 at 15:30 UTC.

Flood in STORY, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 02:30:00 to 14-MAR-19 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ONTARIO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Squaw Creek at Lincoln Way Ames crested two times during the period of flood. The first crest was 10.70 feet on 14 March 2019 at 13:30 UTC and the second crest was 10.75 feet on 14 March 2019 at 16:00 UTC.

Flood in BUTLER, IOWA
From 14-MAR-19 22:15:00 to 15-MAR-19 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW HARTFORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain / Snow Melt
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Beaver Creek at New Hartford crested at 13.21 feet on 15 March 2019 at 09:15 UTC.