***Official 2024 Weather Thread***

Jer

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Feb 28, 2006
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I haven't seen good predictions of weather for the next 10 days. What is it looking like for Northwest Iowa - and selfishly also Waukee?
 

c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s

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The only homes that might be affected in Johnston would be the ones right by the soccer fields. Those are relatively new builds so I can't imagine they would have built them if they were in any flood danger?

Other than that there's not really much else in Johnston except for those industries south of Saylorville and north of I-80. I've seen that area underwater a couple of times in my life including the little league fields there just off I-80.

If the water ever gets high enough to flood up to those businesses on NW Beaver then RIP to a large portion of the Des Moines metro.
I mentioned this earlier in the thread but a lot of this depends on if the the Raccoon river basin gets very heavy rainfall. In '93 the Raccoon was WAY above flood stage so when Saylorville went over the spillway there was no place for the water to go. The Raccoon isn't even bank full yet.
 

Jer

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I mentioned this earlier in the thread but a lot of this depends on if the the Raccoon river basin gets very heavy rainfall. In '93 the Raccoon was WAY above flood stage so when Saylorville went over the spillway there was no place for the water to go. The Raccoon isn't even bank full yet.
It seems like the prolonged drought was a double edged sword. Rain was desperately needed, but in some ways the dry/hard ground made runoff even more pronounced. But the downstream destinations for the water were sitting at really low levels and able to support more overlow.
 

MNCYWX

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Feb 7, 2010
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I haven't seen good predictions of weather for the next 10 days. What is it looking like for Northwest Iowa - and selfishly also Waukee?

My predictions are always good! ;)

Best rain chances in Iowa look to favor the southern half of the state which is really good news for flooded areas and Des Moines considering Saylorville is filling up. Tonight, don't expect much north of US 20. Some streaks of 1-3" in there but not for everyone. Should still be a good rain for southern half of state that needs it.

Showers Thursday, not much.

Some more good coverage with rain on Friday especially AM but could redevelop a bit in the evening too.

1719339924661.png 1719339956200.png

Not quite in view of the hi-res stuff for Friday yet.
 
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Gunnerclone

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It seems like the prolonged drought was a double edged sword. Rain was desperately needed, but in some ways the dry/hard ground made runoff even more pronounced. But the downstream destinations for the water were sitting at really low levels and able to support more overlow.

Des Moines has received billions of dollars in upgraded flood protection since 1993, it’s a fortress now. It would take months of a similar pattern to defeat the systems they have in place.
 

Letterkenny

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Des Moines has received billions of dollars in upgraded flood protection since 1993, it’s a fortress now. It would take months of a similar pattern to defeat the systems they have in place.
Didn't Des Moines have some issues in 2008 or 2009? I worked for the city of Altoona that summer and spent a couple days filling sand bags. I want to say the neighborhood around North High and Birdland was in danger of flooding? Or did flood?
 

Gunnerclone

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Didn't Des Moines have some issues in 2008 or 2009? I worked for the city of Altoona that summer and spent a couple days filling sand bags. I want to say the neighborhood around North High and Birdland was in danger of flooding? Or did flood?

Yep, then they put even more money and tech in it.
 
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somecyguy

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Jun 19, 2006
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And when it floods the next time we'll put MORE money into it, we will not be defeated.

They could have done what Cedar Rapids did, go buck wild and essentially force a $1 billion flood project that the citizens will be paying on for decades.