Floods of June-July 1982, in Iowa

Record flood-peak discharges occurred in June and July, 1982, in southwestern, south-central, and east-central Iowa. The record flood peaks resulted from rainfalls of 6 to 8 inches on soil saturated from persistent moderate to heavy rainfalls that began in May and continued through mid July.

May was the wettest across Iowa since 1959, averaging just over 7 inches statewide to rank as Iowa's 6th wettest May in 100 years of State records. Statewide rainfall for July averaged in excess of 6 inches to rank among the 3rd wettest July in Iowa since 1958.

One of the greatest floods ever recorded in the State occurred on Cedar Creek in south-central Iowa on July 3, 1982. The flood peak discharge at the gaging station near Bussey (05489000) was 4.4 times that of a regional 100-year flood. The gage height exceeded the record flood stage of July 4, 1981, by 5.78 feet. Flood peak discharges on other streams ranged up to 2.7 times that of a regional 100-year flood.