NWS Des Moines IAFL.W 0026September 30, 2026
Flood Warning: Polk, IA
The National Weather Service office in Des Moines issued a flood warning for Polk in Iowa, which was in force until 5:48 a.m. local time on October 3. It was the 26th river flood warning the NWS office in Des Moines issued in 2026. Iowa had 29 flood warnings in September 2026, against 18 in an average September of 2008-2025 (Iowa's flood warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 30.5 hours; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Des Moines IA
- Area
- Polk
- State
- Iowa
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 10:22 p.m. CDT, September 30, 2026
- In force from
- 11:17 p.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
- Expires
- 5:48 a.m. CDT, October 3, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Observed, Immediate
- VTEC event
- KDMX FL.W 0026
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Iowa... Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr affecting Polk County. Raccoon River at Van Meter Hwy R16 affecting Dallas and Polk Counties. Raccoon River at Des Moines IA 28 affecting Polk County. ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Iowa... Middle River near Indianola affecting Warren County. * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Raccoon River at Des Moines IA 28, or from Walnut Woods State Park to Walnut Creek. * WHEN...From Thursday evening to late Friday night. * IMPACTS...At 36.0 feet, Water affects Blue Heron Lake at Raccoon River Park. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 10:01 PM CDT Wednesday the stage was 25.8 feet, and rising. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late tomorrow evening to a crest of 37.0 feet Friday morning. It will then fall below flood stage late Friday evening. - Flood stage is 36.0 feet.
What the agency told people to do
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. For the latest stream observations and forecasts refer to weather.gov/desmoines/water. River forecasts include observed precipitation plus forecast precipitation over the next 48 hours.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.