Hillaker says Iowa has avoided widespread flooding because temperatures this spring and early summer have been much warmer than normal. “That’s been a big difference this year between what was the case in the big flood years of 2008 and 1993, when it was persistently cool throughout the spring and summer,” Hillaker said. “The higher evaporation rates have helped tremendously as far as keeping the flooding less than what you might expect with such huge amounts of rainfall.”
On average, temperatures over the last four months have been six-and-a-half degrees warmer than what Iowa experienced in 1993 and 2008. Hillaker says that’s led to 20% more evaporation.
The town of Rowen in Wright County may’ve received the most rainfall in June. An automated gauge recorded just under 21 inches of rain in Rowen, including seven inches during the overnight hours on June 22. An official National Weather Service spotter recorded 16.86 inches of rain in Indianola during the month of June.
By Pat Powers (KQWC, Webster City) and Pat Curtis (Radio Iowa)