***OFFICIAL 2026 WEATHER THREAD***

[1SEIACLONE]

We got back into town last night from fireworks about one AM, was pouring and a lot of the streets were starting to flood as the storm drain just couldn't keep up with the water. Checked my gauge this morning and it goes up to 5 inches on the scale, and then another half inch or so, and water was all the way to the top.
Our daughter got some water in her basement and we spent the last 2 hours cleaning that up, took over an industrial fan we have to help dry it out. She said that is the first time in 14 years they have live there that there has been any water in their basement.

 

[NWICY]

North Ames here, my entire basement is flooded, it's going up to the first step of the staircase.

We were trying to get water out with a bucket, but there is just too much, the entire floor is under like a few inches of water (thankfully it didn't overtake the power outlets). Thinking about getting a plumber, but it seems like the city water lines is completely backed up, in which case I'm not sure how much the plumber can help.

Good news is the water level does not seem like it is increasing. And yes we turned off the power for the basement.

Go to Lowes grab a trash pump, extension cord and garden hose, put it at the stairs and let it start pumping

 

[TornadoTouhou]

Go to Lowes grab a trash pump, extension cord and garden hose, put it at the stairs and let it start pumping

The good news is we got the water out and even the sump pump working again.

The bad news is that the water reached up almost a foot and partially submerged some parts of my water heater and furnace. We haven't checked the water heater, but it seems like the control board of the furnace was sadly submerged (which also affects the AC... good thing the next few days aren't too hot).

 

[Pope]

If someone thinks they need to water their lawn after all the rain we've gotten they are a high class kind of stupid and/or a narcissist.

Just wait, in week or so the lawn will start turning brown again.

 

[isufbcurt]

Just wait, in week or so the lawn will start turning brown again.

I mean if that is your main concern in life then so be it.

Lawn turning brown is about item #1031 that I am concerned with

 

[Pope]

I mean if that is your main concern in life then so be it.

Lawn turning brown is about item #1031 that I am concerned with

I hardly ever water my lawn.

 

[enisthemenace]

I’m not convinced there is anything more than just a **** load of rain in a short time period in regard to the 4 Mile Creek flooding. I grew up in Pleasant Hill, and 4 Mile used to flood the trailer park on the south west part of town seemingly every other year. They built up the banks down there about 15 years ago and it’s been pretty well contained since then.

 

[isufbcurt]

I hardly ever water my lawn.

I can honestly say I never have

 

[Kinch]

 

[TitanClone]

Glad I had the blue tape walk through on the place I'm closing on next week last Tuesday. Mowers took the down spouts off on the gutters and didn't put them back. Would have been draining a boat load directly into the foundation from 3 different spots.

 

[TheJacket]

I can honestly say I never have

One of the greatest scams ever pulled is convincing people they need plush green lawns by dumping a bunch of carcinogens on them that's terrible for us and the environment.

 

[iowastatefan1929]

Panic starting to set in, not just a super El Nino, this is the strongest El Nino on record developing.

 

[psycln11]

 

[cowboycurtis]

One of the greatest scams ever pulled is convincing people they need plush green lawns by dumping a bunch of carcinogens on them that's terrible for us and the environment.

H2O?

 

[Nothingman]

H2O?

In Iowa? Yes.

 

[isufbcurt]

Crazy thought - could you put a sump pump on the outside of the house at a couple corners and achieve the same thing as having it in the house?

Like our basement is a walkout and the one corner is the problem corner, so I had the idea to put a sump pit/pump outside at that corner to pump before the water level even gets to the point where it would leak in.

I did text one of my plumbing clients to call me tomorrow or monday to discuss.

 

[Nothingman]

Crazy thought - could you put a sump pump on the outside of the house at a couple corners and achieve the same thing as having it in the house?

Like our basement is a walkout and the one corner is the problem corner, so I had the idea to put a sump pit/pump outside at that corner to pump before the water level even gets to the point where it would leak in.

I did text one of my plumbing clients to call me tomorrow or monday to discuss.

My buddy has that setup in his backyard. It seems to help.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Crazy thought - could you put a sump pump on the outside of the house at a couple corners and achieve the same thing as having it in the house?

Like our basement is a walkout and the one corner is the problem corner, so I had the idea to put a sump pit/pump outside at that corner to pump before the water level even gets to the point where it would leak in.

I did text one of my plumbing clients to call me tomorrow or monday to discuss.

Our son has one down in Dallas to get rid of ground water in the back yard, seems to work fine.