Numerous rounds of powerful thunderstorms pounded the state late Saturday into the early-morning hours, bringing torrential rain and flash flooding that wreaked havoc across the metro. WEATHER ALERTS | INTERACTIVE RADAR | DOWNLOAD THE KCCI APPMany Des Moines-area streets -- including Merle Hay Road, Urbandale Avenue, Keosauqua Way and Mills Civic Parkway, to name a few -- were inundated with floodwaters, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood emergency. Des Moines police said a 65-year-old Des Moines man was swept away by floodwaters late Saturday near 50th Street and Twana Avenue, and authorities searched for the victim into the early-morning hours. Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said first responders found the body of the missing person around 12:40 a.m. Sunday.The Iowa Department of Transportation reported that Interstate 35 southbound was blocked due to flooding in Ankeny. The city of Ankeny was placed under a boil order after a water main broke. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for northeastern Polk County and southeastern Story County until 2 a.m. Sunday. Trained weather spotters reported flash flooding in those areas.At one point in the night, rain fell at a rate of more than 4 inches per hour across much of the metro. As much as 5 inches of rain fell by midnight. Other areas affected by flooding included Nevada, Huxley, Maxwell, Colo, Cambridge and Collins. Experts estimated an additional 1-3 inches of rainfall in those warned areas. Emergency response personnel reminded drivers to "turn around and don’t drown" when encountering water-covered roads because most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Weather officials saw rises along Walnut, Jordan, Beaver, Fourmile creeks, as well as the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, proving to be a dangerous situation with the rapid rises. Travel was highly discouraged as water continued to turn pavement into raging river. Check with the Iowa Department of Transportation and local law enforcement authority regarding road closures.Officials said there are hundreds of low-water crossings in hilly terrain, which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. In the Des Moines suburb of Clive, city officials ordered that residents and businesses along Walnut Creek evacuate due to major flooding in the area. The National Weather Service predicted a crest of Walnut Creek at about 14.5 feet at approximately 1 a.m. Sunday. It required evacuations of residents and businesses in the following areas:University Boulevard Area – 73rd to 86th86th Street Area – University to Swanson86th and University Area – Intersection and University Park Shopping CenterSwanson Boulevard Area – Railroad Tracks to 100thNorthwest 92nd Court AreaIndian Hills Area – north and east of Indian Hills Junior High100th Street – immediately north of Walnut Creek114th Street Area – immediately north of Walnut CreekIn addition, the city of Clive temporarily closed the following city streets:University Boulevard – closed 78th to 81st86th Street – closed University to Swanson, local traffic only south of HickmanSwanson Boulevard – closed Railroad Tracks to 100th, local traffic only 86th to Railroad Tracks100th Street – closed Swanson to Lincoln, local traffic only 86th to Railroad Tracks114th Street – closed immediately adjacent to Walnut CreekAll of the evacuated areas and closed streets will have limited access. Only authorized public safety and city officials will be allowed to access these areas.Sandbag materials may be accessed at two locations:8500 Alice Avenue, in the north parking lot of Linnan Park9997 University Avenue, in the northeast parking lot of the Salvation Army and NobbiesAdditional Information, including flood inundation maps, can be found at www.cityofclive.com.Authorities in many Des Moines suburban areas -- including Ankeny, Des Moines, Johnston and Urbandale -- responded to water rescues, many of which were due to vehicles stalled in standing water. The severe weather also caused power outages across Des Moines, and more than 16,000 MidAmerican customers were affected, according to the company’s website. In Urbandale, firefighters were sent late Saturday night to a house explosion in the 6500 block of Urbandale Avenue, where nearby residents heard a big boom and noticed flames coming from the building. No injuries were immediately reported. It is unclear what caused the explosion, but firefighters suspect the major flooding contributed to the explosion.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Numerous rounds of powerful thunderstorms pounded the state late Saturday into the early-morning hours, bringing torrential rain and flash flooding that wreaked havoc across the metro.
WEATHER ALERTS | INTERACTIVE RADAR | DOWNLOAD THE KCCI APP
Many Des Moines-area streets -- including Merle Hay Road, Urbandale Avenue, Keosauqua Way and Mills Civic Parkway, to name a few -- were inundated with floodwaters, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood emergency.
Des Moines police said a 65-year-old Des Moines man was swept away by floodwaters late Saturday near 50th Street and Twana Avenue, and authorities searched for the victim into the early-morning hours. Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said first responders found the body of the missing person around 12:40 a.m. Sunday.
The Iowa Department of Transportation reported that Interstate 35 southbound was blocked due to flooding in Ankeny. The city of Ankeny was placed under a boil order after a water main broke.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for northeastern Polk County and southeastern Story County until 2 a.m. Sunday. Trained weather spotters reported flash flooding in those areas.
At one point in the night, rain fell at a rate of more than 4 inches per hour across much of the metro. As much as 5 inches of rain fell by midnight.
Other areas affected by flooding included Nevada, Huxley, Maxwell, Colo, Cambridge and Collins. Experts estimated an additional 1-3 inches of rainfall in those warned areas.
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Emergency response personnel reminded drivers to "turn around and don’t drown" when encountering water-covered roads because most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Weather officials saw rises along Walnut, Jordan, Beaver, Fourmile creeks, as well as the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, proving to be a dangerous situation with the rapid rises.
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Travel was highly discouraged as water continued to turn pavement into raging river. Check with the Iowa Department of Transportation and local law enforcement authority regarding road closures.
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Officials said there are hundreds of low-water crossings in hilly terrain, which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain.
In the Des Moines suburb of Clive, city officials ordered that residents and businesses along Walnut Creek evacuate due to major flooding in the area. The National Weather Service predicted a crest of Walnut Creek at about 14.5 feet at approximately 1 a.m. Sunday.
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It required evacuations of residents and businesses in the following areas:
- University Boulevard Area – 73rd to 86th
- 86th Street Area – University to Swanson
- 86th and University Area – Intersection and University Park Shopping Center
- Swanson Boulevard Area – Railroad Tracks to 100th
- Northwest 92nd Court Area
- Indian Hills Area – north and east of Indian Hills Junior High
- 100th Street – immediately north of Walnut Creek
- 114th Street Area – immediately north of Walnut Creek
In addition, the city of Clive temporarily closed the following city streets:
- University Boulevard – closed 78th to 81st
- 86th Street – closed University to Swanson, local traffic only south of Hickman
- Swanson Boulevard – closed Railroad Tracks to 100th, local traffic only 86th to Railroad Tracks
- 100th Street – closed Swanson to Lincoln, local traffic only 86th to Railroad Tracks
- 114th Street – closed immediately adjacent to Walnut Creek
All of the evacuated areas and closed streets will have limited access. Only authorized public safety and city officials will be allowed to access these areas.
Sandbag materials may be accessed at two locations:
- 8500 Alice Avenue, in the north parking lot of Linnan Park
- 9997 University Avenue, in the northeast parking lot of the Salvation Army and Nobbies
Additional Information, including flood inundation maps, can be found at www.cityofclive.com.
Authorities in many Des Moines suburban areas -- including Ankeny, Des Moines, Johnston and Urbandale -- responded to water rescues, many of which were due to vehicles stalled in standing water.
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The severe weather also caused power outages across Des Moines, and more than 16,000 MidAmerican customers were affected, according to the company’s website.
In Urbandale, firefighters were sent late Saturday night to a house explosion in the 6500 block of Urbandale Avenue, where nearby residents heard a big boom and noticed flames coming from the building. No injuries were immediately reported.
It is unclear what caused the explosion, but firefighters suspect the major flooding contributed to the explosion.