Sixteen counties are under flash flood warnings after heavy rains this morning. National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Johnson says some areas got a lot of rain quickly. Johnson says 2.8 inches of rain is the highest amount he’s see reported this morning, and a large portion of central and southern Iowa are under a flash flood warning.
Johnson says Iowa is caught in the middle of a system that’s causing the problem. Johnson says there’s lots of moisture in the atmosphere and it’s all focused over the top of us. A warm frontal boundary is moving back and forth over Iowa and Missouri. "Just copious amounts of moisture coming up from the south where the air masses meet, and we get the severe weather the heavy rain," Johnson says.
The latest rains are falling on ground that is already wet, and there doesn’t appear to be any time for drying in the near future. Johnson says he doesn’t see the pattern breaking down anytime soon and sees the potential for more heavy rain and severe weather Wednesday and Thursday. Johnson says you should heed the flash flood warnings, being especially careful in low lying areas where the water can come up quickly.
Johnson says: "It’s a dangerous situation, it’s not like a large tornado or anything, but what happens is this kind of thing kind of sneaks up on folks. Just be really careful when you’re out driving, or if you live in a flood-prone area. And whatever you do, don’t drive through flooded roads." These counties are under a flash flood watch until noon today: Appanoose , Boone , Decatur , Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Story, Washington, Wayne, Wayne.