A series of severe storms affected eastern Iowa on July 11, bringing very heavy rainfall, flash flooding, large hail, and damaging winds. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued multiple warnings, including a rare Flash Flood Emergency for parts of the Quad Cities Metro area.
This elevated warning level is reserved for situations where flash flooding poses a severe and immediate threat to life and property. Unlike standard Flash Flood Warnings, an Emergency designation is only issued when rapidly rising water inundates structures, strands vehicles, and overwhelms drainage systems. In recent decades, while the region has experienced urban and river flooding, formal Flash Flood Emergencies remain rare.
“Rainfall totals exceeding 51 mm (2 inches) fell in less than 4 hours in several locations, creating widespread flash flooding. A Flash Flood Emergency was issued for portions of the Quad Cities Metro on the evening of July 11 due to rapidly rising water inundating homes and businesses,” meteorologists at the NWS office in Quad Cities said.
The city of Davenport in Scott County recorded 109.2 mm (4.3 inches) of rainfall through July 11, most of which fell during the evening hours. In nearby Bettendorf, rainfall totaled 88.9 mm (3.5 inches). The rapid accumulation of rain led to urban flooding and impassable roads as Duck Creek overtopped its banks. Floodwaters inundated residential and commercial areas, prompting authorities to advise residents to avoid travel and move to higher ground.
The Flash Flood Emergency for Davenport was issued at approximately 17:26 local time, with numerous roads submerged and several routes rendered impassable.
The same storm system also affected parts of Illinois, with Freeport in Stephenson County receiving 43.2 mm (1.7 inches) of rain through July 11.
