A little league baseball field in Atlantic, Iowa sat underwater this week after more than 4 inches of rain fell across parts of southern Iowa on Tuesday, sending rivers and creeks out of their banks and causing over-the-road flooding in some parts of Cass County. Emergency officials say the water has receded in some spots, but more storms are on the way, and residents are being told to stay off flooded roadways until conditions improve.
The downpour that swamped the ball field in Atlantic was captured in footage described by Yahoo News, which reported that more than 4 inches of rain fell in some areas on Tuesday and that the National Weather Service expected periods of heavy rain to continue in the region through the rest of the week. That same storm system pushed water over roads in parts of Cass County, according to the SW Iowa News Source, which reported that some areas experienced over-the-road flooding Tuesday morning before the water began to recede.
Roads Near Wiota and the Adair County Line Take a Hit
Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon described flooding that topped roadways along the Adair County line and pushed water up toward White Pole Road near Wiota, per the same account. Kennon said the Nishnabotna River near Cass County measured just under 16 feet near midday Tuesday, still below the 19-foot flood stage, though the river remained a concern as rain kept falling.
Kennon urged drivers to steer clear of any standing water on local roads, warning that hidden hazards can lurk beneath the surface. Stuart emergency personnel also responded on Wednesday, September 9, to a vehicle that had been swept off the roadway near Diamondhead Lake, the news outlet reported, underscoring how quickly floodwaters can turn dangerous.
More Storms Expected Into the Weekend
The National Weather Service forecast additional chances of showers and thunderstorms across the area through Saturday, with the outlet reporting a 50% chance of storms Wednesday, a 50% chance Friday, and an 80% chance Friday night. Separately, weather.gov noted that heavy to excessive rainfall occurring at times through Saturday could bring areas of flooding into the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region, though that broader outlook offered limited local detail for southern Iowa specifically.
The Iowa flooding arrived as part of a much larger pattern of storms stretching across the Midwest and Central Plains this week. According to the New York Post, a flash flood threat has covered millions of people across the region and is expected to extend through Sunday, fueled by a heat dome pattern and storms moving in from the Southwest and Gulf carrying deep tropical moisture. The initial rounds of storms began earlier in the week and brought flooding to parts of western Iowa before the heaviest rainfall threat shifted toward western and central South Dakota, the Post reported.
Flooding Turns Deadly Elsewhere in the Southwest
While southern Iowa dealt with swamped roads and a flooded ball field, the broader storm pattern proved far more dangerous elsewhere in the country. Flash flooding near Newcomb, New Mexico killed two adults and one juvenile, according to the Navajo Police Department, as reported by CNN. The same report noted that more than 3 inches of rain fell in just three hours in Cave Creek north of Phoenix, roughly triple the area's average September rainfall, with a tropical disturbance tracking in from the Gulf of California enhancing the torrential rain. CNN noted the flooding occurred during the region's monsoon season, which typically runs from mid-June through September.
Back in southern Iowa, the immediate danger appeared to be easing as floodwaters receded from roads in Cass County, but officials continue to monitor river levels and forecasts closely. With more rain expected before the weekend arrives, emergency coordinators are repeating the same message: avoid driving through any standing water, no matter how shallow it may look.
