UPDATED: Flooding Continues In Northeast Iowa [Gallery]
Flood warnings continue for all or parts of several northeast and east-central Iowa counties following another day of rain.
According to the National Weather Service, moderate flooding is occurring along Black Hawk Creek between Hudson and Waterloo and is expected along the Iowa River at Tama later this week. Minor flooding is forecast for the Cedar River at Cedar Falls, Waterloo and Vinton. (Specific flood information and photos are posted below.)
Law enforcement and emergency management officials report that some highways and secondary roads in the warned counties are under water. At 6:30 AM Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Transportation was reporting that U.S. Highway 63 north of Tama and Iowa Highway 21 near Elberon were both closed due to flooding.
Rainfall totals across the region over the past days generally ranged between two and six inches.
Here's the latest information on flooding from the National Weather Service:
***A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10:15 AM TUESDAY FOR BLACK HAWK AND NORTHERN TAMA COUNTIES***
At 2:33 AM Tuesday, reports from Tama County sheriff's officials and the Iowa Department of Transportation indicated that Wolf Creek was continuing to rise. Water was reported to be over U.S. Highway 63 north of Traer, resulting in the road being closed.
A flood warning continues for Black Hawk Creek at Hudson until Thursday morning.
At 5:45 AM Tuesday, the stage was 17.8 feet, or 3.8 feet above flood stage.
* Flood Stage is 14.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring and is expected to continue.
* Forecast: Currently near crest. Fall below flood stage Thursday morning.
* Impact: At 15.5 feet, Ranchero Road in Waterloo is under water.
A flood warning continues for the Cedar River at Cedar Falls until Friday morning.
* At 5:45 AM Tuesday, the stage was 88.9 feet, or 0.1 feet below flood stage.
* Flood Stage is 89.0 feet.
* No flooding is occurring and minor flooding is expected.
* Forecast: Rise to flood stage Tuesday morning and continue rising to 91.5 feet, or 2.5 feet above flood stage, Wednesday afternoon. The river is expected to go below flood stage Friday morning.
* Impact: At 91.0 feet, water covers Big Woods Road south of Dunkerton Road and the north parking lot of Island Park. At 91.2 feet, water covers portions of Lake Street.
A flood warning continues for the Cedar River at Waterloo until midday Thursday:
* At 6 AM Tuesday the stage was 12.3 feet, or 0.7 feet below flood stage.
* Flood Stage is 13.0 feet.
* No flooding is occurring and minor flooding is expected.
* Forecast: Rise to flood stage at midday Tuesday and continue rising to 14.9 feet, or 1.9 feet above flood stage, Wednesday morning. The river is expect to go below flood stage at midday Thursday.
* Impact...At 13.0 feet, Many storm sewers are closed along Black
Hawk Creek and the Cedar River. The Fletcher Avenue levee gates
are closed.
A flood warning continues for the Cedar River at Vinton until Friday morning.
* At 8:15 PM Monday, the stage was 13.8 feet and rising.
* Flood stage is 15.0 feet.
* No flooding is occurring and minor flooding is predicted.
* Forecast: Rise above flood stage Tuesday morning and continue rising to 16.9 feet Wednesday. The river is expected to fall below flood stage Friday morning.
* Impact: At 15.0 feet, minor flood stage. Agricultural and low land flooding is ongoing. Water affects much of 22nd Ave. Road northwest of Vinton.
A flood warning for northwestern Tama and southern Grundy Counties until 2:30 PM Tuesday:
* At 2 AM Tuesday, Grundy County sheriff's officials reported several gravel roads were still inundated with water and closed. Similar conditions were occurring in Tama County near and southeast of Lincoln. The previous flood warning for Marshall County has been allowed to expire with Marshall County sheriff's officials reporting at 2 AM no recent impacts.
***A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11:15 AM TUESDAY FOR SOUTHERN TAMA COUNTY***
At 2:48 AM Tuesday, Tama County sheriff's officials and the Iowa Department of
Transportation continued to indicate flooding occurring across portions of Tama County. Water was reported to be over the road on Iowa Highway 21 north of Belle Plaine along the eastern county line, which was closed from U.S. Highway 30 to County Road E-66. Multiple other county roads in the area were also reported to be affected by water.
A flood warning continues for the Iowa River near Tama until Friday evening:
* At 6 AM Tuesday, the stage was 11.9 feet, or 0.6 feet below flood stage.
* Flood stage is 12.5 feet.
* No flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is predicted.
* Forecast: Rise to flood stage late Wednesday evening and continue
rising to 13.0 feet, or 0.5 feet above flood stage, Thursday afternoon. The river is expected to go below flood stage Friday evening.
* Impact: At 13.0 feet, water may begin affecting the outside lanes of portions of U.S. Highway 30 and covers several county roads.
A flood warning for Buchanan and Benton Counties has been extended until 10 AM Tuesday:
* At 9:45 PM Monday, flooding of streams, creeks and low lying areas continued. The following creeks remain out of their banks: Lime Creek, North Bear Creek, Mud Creek, and Dry Creek. Early Monday evening, Bear Creek was reported to be out of its banks near Shellsburg and flowing into a nearby golf course.