NWS Des Moines IAFL.W 0020September 16, 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 2:30 a.m. local time on September 17. 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 10.5 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
- 3:59 p.m. CDT, September 16, 2026
- Expires
- 2:30 a.m. CDT, September 17, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Observed, Immediate
- 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 Flood Warning is extended 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...Until late tonight. * IMPACTS...At 13.3 feet, SW 30th St is closed from George Flagg Parkway to Bell Ave. George Flagg Parkway is closed from SW 30th St to SW 28th St. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 3:47 PM CDT Wednesday the stage was 12.5 feet, and falling. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage this evening. - 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.