Active AlertsUnion

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 444 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 6 AM CDT EARLY THIS MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN IOWA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST IOWA BUENA VISTA CHEROKEE CLAY O'BRIEN PLYMOUTH SIOUX IN WEST CENTRAL IOWA IDA WOODBURY IN NEBRASKA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 2 COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA DAKOTA DIXON IN SOUTH DAKOTA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 3 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA CLAY UNION YANKTON THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALCESTER, ALLEN, BATTLE CREEK, BERESFORD, CHEROKEE, ELK POINT, HARTLEY, HAWARDEN, HOLSTEIN, HULL, IDA GROVE, JEFFERSON, LE MARS, NORTH SIOUX CITY, ORANGE CITY, PONCA, ROCK VALLEY, SANBORN, SHELDON, SIOUX CENTER, SIOUX CITY, SOUTH SIOUX CITY, SPENCER, STORM LAKE, VERMILLION, WAKEFIELD, AND YANKTON.

At 219 AM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 5 inches of rain have fallen, highest between Vermillion, Maskell and Newcastle, and into Union County west of Elk Point. The expected rainfall rate is less than 1 inch in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts less than 1 inch are expected in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
Hazard: Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
Source: Radar and automated gauges.
Impact: Flash flooding of especially urban areas, along with small creeks and streams, highways, streets and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage and low- lying areas. Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Yankton, Vermillion, Lewis And Clark State Recreation Area, Elk Point, Newcastle, Meckling and Maskell.

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks. Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely.