Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena - CIG

Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena
Time Path Path Number of Estimated May 1995
Local/ Length Width Persons Damage
Location Date Standard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm
Knox County 17 2220CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Perry County 17 2220CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Posey County 17 2220CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Spencer County 17 2220CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Vanderburgh County 17 2220CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Warrick County 17 2220CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Daviess County 18 0215CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Dubois County 18 0215CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Gibson County 18 0215CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Knox County 18 0215CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Perry County 18 0215CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Pike County 18 0215CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Posey County 18 0215CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Vanderburgh County 18 0215CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Warrick County 18 0215CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
Spencer County 18 0223CST 0 0 10K 0 Flash Flood
IOWA, Central
IAZ004>011-015> 01 0000CST-
019-023>030-033> 31 2400CST
042-044>054-057>
068-070>078-081>
0 0 0 66M Cold and Wet
Conditions
089-092>099
All of Iowa
May was a very wet month across all of Iowa. Rain fall was both frequent and excessive. This coupled with the fact that rainfall
had been above normal since late March resulted in significant planting delays. As of months end, about 80 percent of the states
corn crop had been planted, normal is 100 percent. Soybean plantings were well behind the normal of 57 percent, with only 43
percent planted. Although not a total disaster at this point, yield reductions will certainly result due to one of two factors. One
being the yield loss caused by planting the corn crop late, the other yield loss due to the switching to a shorter season corn. By
months end, no losses were expected in the soybean crop as there was the possibility of getting it planted in the first couple weeks
of June and catching up with normal planting times. The Governor of Iowa declared 31 southern Iowa counties as disaster areas.
The area included was the south three tiers of counties. The flooding in those counties was described as worse then the flooding
of 1993.
IAZ033-034-045>052- 07 1200SCT-
057>068-070>078- 15 0600CST 0 0 200K 10K Flooding
081>089-092>099
South two thirds
of Iowa
Preliminary information provided by the State Climatologist Harry Hillaker, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship, indicated a statewide rainfall average of 5.99 inches during May 1995. This is 151 percent of the normal rainfall
and made the month the sixth wettest May in the 123 year record for Iowa. The abundance of rainfall during April and May
contributed to more flooding than had been observed in the state since the great flood of 1993. South-central Iowa experienced
the wettest May in almost 90 years. Several stations in thearea received over 10 inches of rain for the month. The first rain event
occurred form the 7th through the 9th and was the heaviest of three events for the month. Statewide rainfall averaged 1.84 inches.
The headwater areas of the Chariton River basin in south-central Iowa received two and one-half to three inches of rain. This
resulted in flooding over most of the basin. Flood producing rains also fell over parts of the North Raccoon River basin in westcentral
Iowa, and over the Des Moines River basin downstream of Des Moines. This resulted in flooding over a wide area. The
flooding was relatively minor and mainly effected agricultural lands, delaying planting further.
Poweshiek County
Guernsey 07 1800CST 0 0 10K 0 Lightning
Thunderstorms moved across Poweshiek County. One ofthem resulted in a lightning strike at a gas station. The lightning struck
the gas pumps and put the computerized cash register system out of service. Damage was not major and was able to restored
quickly. The gas pumps required most of the next day to repair however.
Des Moines County
Burlington 08 0630CST 0 0 75K 0 Lightning
Thunderstorms moved across southeast Iowa during the early morning hours. Lightning struck a tree in Burlington. The tree
fell across three vehicles. A camper trailer was destroyed and two other cars were seriously damaged.
Clinton County and 08 0800CST-
Jackson County 1000CST 0 0 100K 0 High Winds
As the thunderstorms mentioned aboveexited, high winds blew across east-central Iowa. The winds were apparently part of the
rear flank downdraft behind the storm complex. Winds gusted to around 55 mph, causing some damage. A drive-in theater was
blown down south of Maquoketa.
Webster County
Fort Dodge 09 0247CST 0 0 150K 0 Lightning
Early morning thunderstorms rumbled across Webster County. Lightning from one of the storms struck a retail outlet stor e
blowing out the electrical box and starting the building on fire. There was extensive smoke and water damage to the building
and its contents.
IOWA, Central Cont'd
Green County 09 1200CST-
1500CST 0 0 40K 0 Flash Flooding
Polk County 09 1230CST-
1400CST 0 0 50K 0 Flash Flooding
Warren County 09 1230CST-
1400CST 0 0 25K 0 Flash Flooding
Pocahontas County
3 W Pocahontas 09 1345CST 0 0 0 0 Funnel Cloud
Calhoun County
Lohrville 09 1347CST 0 0 0 0 Funnel Cloud
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