Learn more about USGS flood activities related to the September 2016 Northern Plains Floods when more than 12 inches of rain fell in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southwest Wisconsin during a 24-hour period on September 22 and 23, 2016.
Streams in Iowa experienced major flooding, forcing evacuations of communities in the Cedar River basin, particularly along the Shell Rock River. 24 USGS streamgages exceeded the National Weather Service (NWS) flood stage in Iowa, with annual exceedance probabilities at less than 1% (greater than a 100-year flood). State disaster declarations were made for 13 Iowa counties. USGS personnel in Iowa installed backup stage sensors and a temporary streamgage to maintain the flow of data during this event.
Initial news reports in Minnesota included many inundated or washed out roads south of the Twin Cities from Waseca to Kenyon along the Zumbro River. There were also reports of mudslides. The USGS Minnesota Water Science Center dispatched crews to make discharge measurements and collect sediment samples.
Wisconsin streamgages saw floods in the 10- to 100-year range.
USGS Activities in the News:
- USGS Crews Measure Flooding in Northeast Iowa (9/23/2016) U.S. Geological Survey field crews are measuring flooding on the Cedar River and Shell Rock River in Northeast Iowa. High-flow measurements on these rivers are approaching levels observed in 2008...
- USGS uses arsenal of river tools to monitor, predict water levels Gauges installed since 2008 help with accuracy, precision. The Gazette (9/26/2016)
- Northfield extends state of emergency; community prepared Northfield News: UPDATE (9/24/2016):
- U.S. Geological Survey taking river measurements KCRG News: (9/26/2016):
Below are other science projects associated with this flood event.
Historical Flooding
August 2016 Louisiana Floods
2016 Southern Spring Floods
January 2016 Noreaster
2015/2016 Winter Floods
Hurricane Matthew: Flood Resources and Tools
Below are other science projects associated with this flood event.