A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR MUCH OF THE STATE OF IOWA

WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL HAS IMPACTED THE STATE OVER THE  PAST 5 DAYS WITH CURRENT CONDITIONS INCLUDING SATURATED SOILS…SIGNIFICANT PONDING AND STREAMS RUNNING AT BANKFULL OR ARE CURRENTLY IN FLOOD. ONE TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN IS FORECAST FOR THE AREA THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON. LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OVER 5 INCHES MAY OCCUR.

SIGNIFICANT AND LIFE THREATENING FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE. PERSONS LIVING IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS! AS LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF RUNNING WATER CAN SWEEP A VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. IN ADDITION…SIGNIFICANT RIVER FLOODING IS POSSIBLE AFTER THIS EVENT.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.