NWS Des Moines IAFL.W 0020September 15, 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 7:00 p.m. local time on September 16. It was the 20th 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 29.3 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
- 1:45 p.m. CDT, September 15, 2026
- Expires
- 7:00 p.m. CDT, September 16, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Likely, Expected
- VTEC event
- KDMX FL.W 0020
- 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 National Weather Service in Des Moines has issued a Flood Warning for the following rivers in Iowa... Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr affecting Polk County. * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr, or from Walnut Creek to the Des Moines River. * WHEN...From this afternoon to Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...At 13.5 feet, Water affects the low areas of Water Works Park. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 1:32 PM CDT Tuesday the stage was 12.0 feet, and rising. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 14.3 feet just after midnight tonight. It will then fall below flood stage early tomorrow afternoon. - Flood stage is 12.0 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 24 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.