Iowa’s Double Whammy of Flash Floods | Des Moines News

Central Iowa braced for disaster as flash floods hit twice in rapid succession—first late July into early August, then again late August into early September. Northern Polk, southern Story, and Jasper counties bore the worst of it, with the Des Moines metro and Ames especially soaked. Record-breaking rainfall—some areas saw up to 13 inches—was fueled by an atmosphere saturated with moisture, triggering thunderstorms that dumped water where it didn’t belong. Experts are calling it a “one-thousand-year event,” meaning the odds of such a deluge in a single year are just 0.1%. Creeks swelled, roads flooded, and I-35 became a river of debris. The second wave hit Jasper, Polk, Story, and Boone counties, drenching Ames with 4–7 inches and pushing river gauges into minor flood stages. It’s a sobering reminder of nature’s raw power—and how fast things can change. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5b9ea6caf3c70a05