Latest news with #IowaEnvironmentalMesonet
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Map Shows Heavy Rain as Flash Floods Hit Three States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued flash flood warnings for parts of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, as thunderstorms in the region bring heavy, rapid rainfall. Why It Matters Flooding is the second deadliest weather hazard nationwide, with most fatalities occurring when vehicles are swept away by rising waters. On July 4, Texas flash floods killed at least 135 with three still missing. As of mid-July, the NWS has issued a record number of flash flood warnings year-to-date, with 3,160 warnings issued through July 16, according to Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet tracker. What To Know In a Saturday advisory, the NWS warned that portions of the three states are under flash flood warnings due to expected thunderstorms that will bring heavy rain. As of Saturday morning, "between 2 and 5 inches of rain have fallen," and the "expected rainfall rate is 0.25 to 1 inch in 1 hour." For parts of southeastern Iowa, west central Illinois, and northeastern Missouri flash flooding is already occurring, the NWS warned. Missouri Department of Transportation reported that portions of some roads have been closed due to water on the roadways. NWS warned people to "turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads," noting that "most flood deaths occur in vehicles." Nearly half of Iowa is also under extreme heat watch on Saturday, as July continues to bake the area with frequent heat indexes into the triple digits. Heat index values reflect how hot it feels when both temperature and humidity are factored in. What People Are Saying NWS Des Moines wrote in a Friday X, formerly Twitter, post: "Dangerous heat & humidity builds across Iowa through early next week. Maximum heat index values are expected to exceed 100 degrees everywhere, with a few locations potentially exceeding 110F! An Extreme Heat Watch has been issued for western/central Iowa beginning Sunday." AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva previously told Newsweek: "When the atmosphere is getting warmer as a what it's doing is making summer warmer and the shoulder seasons warmer as well. What's happening is those seasons, especially in the summertime, the [atmosphere's] ability to hold more moisture is going up as well. It doesn't guarantee we will see more rain over a certain area, it rains, it's going to rain heavier." Michael Lowry, hurricane specialist and storm expert, wrote in a July 15 X post: "So far in 2025, more flood warnings have been issued by @NWS than any year on record (since 1986)." AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jon Porter said in a July 21 AccuWeather article: "So far in 2025 across the U.S., there's been a 70% increase in reports of flash flooding when you compare that to the 10-year historic average through mid-July." What Happens Next? Many of the flash flood advisories are until 11:30 a.m. local time.
Axios
5 days ago
- Climate
- Axios
Flash flood warnings trending up in Georgia
Flash floods are becoming increasingly common in Georgia — a phenomenon consistent with climate change. The big picture: Nationally, flash flood warnings have set a new record this year, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports. State of play: This past summer, sudden heavy rains have overwhelmed Atlanta's antiquated sewer infrastructure, damaged people's homes and property and flooded the interstate system. By the numbers: Warnings have been trending up since the mid-2010s, with 27 so far this year from Peachtree City's National Weather Service office, according to a tracker at Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Context: Climate change"is supercharging the water cycle," sparking heavier precipitation extremes and related flood risks, according to Climate Central, a climate research group. Flashback: In 2003, a record number of warnings was issued in a single year thanks to severe storms in Middle Georgia. Over five days in May, officials counted "124 thunderstorm wind, 95 hail, 51 flash flood, 22 lightning, and 5 heavy rain events," according to a 2003 annual report (PDF).
Axios
6 days ago
- Climate
- Axios
Flash floods on the rise in Utah
Flash floods are increasingly common in Utah — a phenomenon consistent with climate change. The big picture: Nationally, flash flood warnings have set a new record this year, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick reports. By the numbers: By rolling five-year averages, Utah's flash flood count rose from 14 in 2000 to almost 45 in 2021, per Utah health officials. Warnings are also trending up, with 14 so far this year from Salt Lake's National Weather Service office, which covers most of Utah, according to a tracker at Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet. That's more than the entire year in 1986, the first year for which data was available — and Utah's monsoon season is just beginning. Context: Climate change"is supercharging the water cycle," sparking heavier precipitation extremes and related flood risks, according to Climate Central, a climate research group. The intrigue: The state historically has the nation's least intense rainstorms, per federal weather data — but in southern Utah, a little water can create deadly floods. How it works: "Bare sandstone and scarce vegetation do little to soak up rain. Instead, muddy waterfalls cascade over the cliffs," Capitol Reef National Park explains in a warning to visitors. With just a half-inch of rain in an hour, "dry washes can fill with rushing water, several feet deep, carrying large rocks, logs and debris." Flashback: In 2015, a single storm caused flash floods that killed 21 people in southern Utah — the state's deadliest storm since federal weather analysts began collecting data in 1950. Seven canyoneers died in Zion National Park, while 13 people — three women and 10 children — drowned when a van was swept away near Hildale. A Hurricane motorist died in floods from the same storm. The latest: The Washington Post reported last week that the development of a tool aiming to predict how rising temperatures will impact extreme rainfall frequency had been delayed amid a U.S. Commerce Department review.
Axios
22-07-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Arizona flash floods are relatively rare, but there's still a risk
Storms sweeping through the U.S. this summer have dumped intense rain on cities nationwide, leaving towns flood-ravaged and forcing rescues. Zoom in: While the risk of such floods in Arizona is relatively small, it's not nonexistent. Why it matters: Recent above-average rainfall in parts of the U.S. means some slow-moving storms can drop lots of water relatively quickly. That rainfall, along with factors like topography, geology and drought, can lead to major, sometimes-fatal flash flooding events — as the deadly July 4 weekend in Texas' Hill Country illustrated. Threat level: Flash floods in Arizona don't happen often but can occur under the right conditions, said Tom Frieders, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Phoenix office. "Things can come together where we could get localized, very heavy rainfall that produces some significant flash flooding," he said. "So it's always something we need to be concerned with." Zoom in: Rain like that generally occurs during monsoon season, at times when there are levels of moisture in the air that cause heavy rainfall, and usually when thunderstorms are slow-moving, often recirculating within the same area. It's unusual, but such conditions can bring several inches of rain in an hour. Terrain is also an important factor, Frieders said. Canyon areas can funnel water into one stream, creating a risk for anything in its path, he told Axios. And it doesn't take much rain to bring a foot of water over low-lying road crossings, which can be dangerous for anyone who attempts to drive through, he said. State of play: The NWS has issued a record number of flash flood warnings nationally this year, but the number has been "on the lower side" for Phoenix, Frieders said. "This year our monsoon season has been a little bit tamer than usual," he said. By the numbers: There had been 59 flash flood warnings in Arizona this year as of last Friday, per NWS data. Eighteen resulted in verified flash floods, Alicia Ryan, a meteorologist with the NWS in Phoenix, told Axios. Just because a flash flood wasn't verified doesn't mean one didn't occur, she noted. Zoom out: 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.
Axios
22-07-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Colorado sees fewest flash flood warnings since 2008
Despite a record-setting year for flash flood warnings nationwide, Colorado is seeing its quietest flood season since 2008, per an Axios Denver analysis of data from Iowa State University's Iowa Environmental Mesonet. By the numbers: As of Monday, the National Weather Service has issued 24 flash flood warnings in Colorado so far in 2025. That's down 48% from this time last year — and a dramatic 82% drop from 2023, when the state had already recorded 131 flash flood warnings. Zoom in: El Paso County leads the state with six warnings this year. Larimer and Pueblo counties follow with three each. The intrigue: Denver hasn't had any flood alerts this year. Still, the city shattered a 75-year rainfall record on March 26, logging 1.39 inches in a single day, per FOX31. The big picture: Scientists say climate change supercharges rainstorms by warming the atmosphere, allowing it to hold and dump more water. But that doesn't mean every region sees more rain every year.
