Latest news with #IowaEnvironmentalMesonet
Axios
2 days ago
- Climate
- Axios
Detroit avoids flash floods while storms batter other cities
Storms sweeping through the U.S. this summer have dumped intense rain on cities across the country, but severe flash floods have mostly missed Metro Detroit. The big picture: Scientists who spoke to Axios say the deadly floods in Texas that killed more than 130 people underscores the risk that climate change can worsen extreme rainfall events. By the numbers: NWS offices issued 3,160 flash flood warnings nationwide this year through July 16, according to a tracker at Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet. That's the most for that period in any year since records began in 1986. Zoom in: Metro Detroit has had only a handful of flash flood warnings this year. Wayne County has had zero warnings, Macomb has had two and Oakland County one, according to Iowa Environmental Mesonet's data. Context: Flash floods are sudden and violent, and can develop in minutes or hours. Warnings are issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
U.S. hit with record number of flash flood warnings
More than 3,000 flash flood warnings have been issued in the United States so far this year — the highest number on record, according to data from Iowa State University. A total of 3,040 warnings from the National Weather Service went out from Jan. 1 through July 15, according to figures compiled by the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, which collects and tracks data on precipitation, soil temperature and other environmental conditions. That's more than any other year during that same time period since 1986, when the modern alert system was adopted. The new record portends a wetter and rainier future that experts say is likely because of climate change. Studies have shown that severe storms and extreme rainfall are both expected to occur more frequently in a warming world. A flash flood warning is issued by the National Weather Service when sudden and dangerous flooding is imminent or occurring. This summer, in particular, has been characterized by intense rainfall and floods. States such as Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Illinois, New York and New Jersey are among those that experienced major flooding events in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the country was hit by at least four 1-in-1,000-year rainfall events in less than a week. In June, flash floods killed at least nine people in West Virginia after around 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell over parts of Ohio County in only 30 minutes. At least 120 people were killed in central Texas' Hill Country region in early July after heavy rains caused the Guadalupe River, near Kerrville, to surge more than 20 feet in 90 minutes. Days later, at least three people were killed by devastating flash floods in the remote village of Ruidoso in New Mexico. And earlier this week, more than 2 inches of rain fell in a single hour over Central Park in New York City, marking the second-highest one-hour rainfall total recorded in the Big Apple, according to New York City Emergency Management. The flurry of recent flash floods owes in part to the fact that the summer months tend to be some of the stormiest of the year, said Russ Schumacher, director of the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University and the state climatologist. 'June through October is when you can get really heavy rainfall in parts of the country,' he said, adding that the Atlantic hurricane season also runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, which can dump rain along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. But studies have shown that climate change is expected to make storms more frequent and intense, which increases the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding. 'A warmer atmosphere has more water vapor in it that can then be rained out,' Schumacher said. 'The evidence for that is quite strong.' Still, part of the reason why there are more warnings issued than ever before is because scientists are able to detect and track weather systems in greater detail now. Radar systems and weather models have significantly improved over the course of 40 years, which contributes to the number of warnings issued during extreme weather events, said Amir AghaKouchak, director of the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing at the University of California, Irvine. 'The system that was implemented back in the '80s is not the same as the system that we have now,' he said. 'We have many, many more radars, and we have many different sources of data. So naturally you expect more warnings just because our systems are getting better and better.' These warnings are essential for saving lives, but they are also crucial to protect infrastructure such as dams, levees or drainage systems that are vulnerable during flooding events, AghaKouchak said. 'It's all a reminder that these events can be major catastrophes,' he said. 'The Texas flood was a huge disaster, and so we always have to be prepared.' This article was originally published on
Axios
3 days ago
- Climate
- Axios
We've had a record number of flash flood warnings this year
National Weather Service offices have issued a record number of year-to-date flash flood warnings in 2025 as storms have brought devastating and deadly rainfall to Texas, the Northeast and elsewhere. Why it matters: The numbers reflect the recent above-average rainfall we've had in parts of the country, with some slow-moving storms dropping lots of water relatively quickly. Along with factors like topography, geology and drought, that can lead to major and sometimes fatal flash flooding events — as happened over the July 4 weekend in Texas' Hill Country, where at least 134 people were killed. By the numbers: NWS offices issued 3,160 flash flood warnings nationwide this year through July 16, according to a tracker at Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet. That's the most for that period in any year since records began in 1986. Flash flood warnings are issued when such an event is imminent or already occurring. Between the lines: Climate change can amplify rain events, as warmer air can hold more water.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How much rain did we get last night? Eastern Iowa saw 2 inches of rain, flash floods
A band of thunderstorms crossed Iowa into the Des Moines metro from Thursday, July 10, to late Friday, July 11, dropping more than 2 inches of rain on some parts of the state. Heavy rainfall started the day, with another band of thunderstorms sweeping through the state on Friday afternoon. The severe weather brought heavy rains and the threat of flash flooding to central Iowa. Heavy rain caused flooding issues in Ames and rotation was observed in clouds around the Iowa Speedway in Newton while the area was under a tornado warning. Fans sheltered in place ahead of the Sukup IndyCar Race weekend at the track, and practice on Friday was cancelled. Des Moines saw 0.54 inches of rain on July 11, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Just north of Des Moines, Ankeny saw almost .76 inches of rain in the same timeframe. The showers in the metro were accompanied by thunder, lightning, and high winds. Further north, Ames saw 1.8 inches of rain. Here are the towns in Iowa that had the most rainfall from 7 a.m. Friday, July 11, to 7 a.m. Saturday, July 12, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Quad Cities: 2.88 inches Oelwein: 2.45 inches Muscatine: 2.31 inches Some of the highest rainfall totals came from the eastern side of Iowa, where the Quad Cities saw 2.88 inches of rain and flash flooding. Burlington saw 2.22 inches of rain, while Muscatine saw 2.31 inches of rain. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How much rain did we get last night? See Iowa's highest rain totals
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rain totals near 2 inches in the Des Moines metro. See how much we got last night.
Strong storms swept across western Iowa into the Des Moines metro from Monday, July 7, to early Tuesday, July 8, leaving some areas of the state with more than an inch of rain. The storms moved into northwestern Iowa around 7 p.m. Monday and moved southeast overnight. They were capable of producing small hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph. Des Moines saw 0.87 inches of rain over the capital from midnight to 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Just north of Des Moines, Ankeny saw almost 2 inches of rain in the same timeframe. The showers in the metro were accompanied by thunder, lightning and high winds. Farther north, Ames saw just 0.12 inches of rain. Here are the towns in Iowa that had the most rainfall from 8 a.m. Monday, July 7, to 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Ankeny: 1.97 inches Osceola: 1.24 inches Atlantic: 1.13 inches Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@ or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How much rain did we get last night? See Iowa's highest rain totals
