NWS Des Moines IAFL.W 0026October 1, 2026
Flood Warning: Polk, IA
The National Weather Service office in Des Moines issued a flood warning for Polk in Iowa, in force until 7:00 p.m. local time on October 2. It was the 26th river flood warning the NWS office in Des Moines issued in 2026. Iowa had 21 flood warnings in October 2026, against 10 in an average October of 2008-2025 (Iowa's flood warnings by year).
Warning
In force for 6 hours
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Des Moines IA
- Area
- Polk
- State
- Iowa
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 6:13 a.m. CDT, October 1, 2026
- In force from
- 1:00 p.m. CDT, October 2, 2026
- Expires
- 7:00 p.m. CDT, October 2, 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 continues for the following rivers in Iowa... Black Hawk Creek at Hudson affecting Black Hawk County. South Skunk River at Colfax affecting Polk, Jasper and Marion Counties. Des Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St affecting Polk, Warren and Marion Counties. Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr affecting Polk County. Raccoon River at Van Meter Hwy R16 affecting Polk and Dallas Counties. Raccoon River at Des Moines IA 28 affecting Polk County. North Raccoon River near Perry affecting Dallas 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 Friday afternoon to Friday evening. * IMPACTS...At 36.0 feet, Water affects Blue Heron Lake at Raccoon River Park. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 6:01 AM CDT Thursday the stage was 26.7 feet, and rising. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 36.0 feet early tomorrow afternoon. - 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.