Flood Warnings Posted For Several Northeast Iowa Rivers

Eastern Iowa appears to be getting some much-needed time to dry out, following two days of heavy rain.

Plenty of sunshine is in the forecast for the next several days. An extended period without any precipitation would help the region's rivers and streams, many of which are being forced out of their banks.

The rising water, combined with saturated ground, has increased the threat for flooding in eastern Iowa. Flood warnings have been posted for several locations by the National Weather Service.

CEDAR RIVER

At Cedar Falls:
* Until Saturday morning.
* At 10:45 AM Wednesday, the stage was 84.8 feet, or 4.2 feet below Flood Stage.
* Flood Stage is 89.0 feet.
* No flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.
* Forecast: Reach Flood Stage late Thursday evening. Continue rising to 89.6 feet, or 0.6 feet above Flood Stage Friday afternoon, then
fall below Flood Stage Saturday morning.
* Impact...At 89.0 feet, water is at the edge of 1712 Cottage Row Road. The northeast corner of Tourist Park floods.

BLACK HAWK CREEK

At Hudson to the Cedar River in Waterloo:
* Until Friday morning.
* At 10:45 AM Wednesday, the stage was 12.5 feet, or 1.5 feet below Flood Stage.
* Flood Stage is 14.0 feet.
* No flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.
* Forecast: Rise to Flood Stage this evening. Continue rising to 14.8 feet, or 0.8 feet above Flood Stage, Thursday morning, then fall
below Flood Stage Friday morning.
* Impact...At 14.5 feet, portions of Ranchero Road west of U.S. Highway 63 are flooded.

WAPSIPINICON RIVER

At Independence:
* Until Thursday evening.
* At 2:30 PM Wednesday, the stage was 11.4 feet and rising.
* Flood stage is 12.0 feet.
* No flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast.
* Recent activity: The river is rising rapidly.
* Forecast: Rise above flood stage Wednesday evening and continue rising to 13.2 feet Thursday morning. The river will fall below flood
stage Thursday evening.
* Impact...At 12.0 feet, water affects low-lying streets in Independence.

TURKEY RIVER

At Spillville:
* Until Thursday morning, or until the warning is canceled.
* At 1:30 PM Wednesday, the stage was 9.5 feet.
* Flood stage is 9.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring.
* Forecast: Continue to fall, dropping below flood stage Wednesday evening.

At Garber:
* Until Friday afternoon, or until the warning is cancelled.
* At 1:15 PM Wednesday, the stage was 18.9 feet.
* Flood stage is 17.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.
* Forecast: Continue rising to near 19.7 feet by Wednesday night, falling below flood stage Thursday evening.
* Impact...At 19.0 feet, County Road X3C at the south end of Garber becomes inundated.

At Elkader:
* Until Friday evening, or until the warning is cancelled.
* At 1:45 PM Wednesday, the stage was 14.5 feet.
* Flood stage is 12.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.
* Forecast: Continue rising to near 14.6 feet by Wednesday evening, falling below flood stage Friday morning.
* Impact...At 12.0 feet, minor flooding occurs in areas near the river.

With large areas saturated from recent the rainfall, the following counties are under a flood warning:

BUCHANAN COUNTY

* Until 1030 AM Thursday.
* At 1029 AM Wednesday, emergency management reported areal flooding was still ongoing across portions of the area due to 2 to 5 inches
of rain that fell Tuesday.
* Some locations that will experience flooding include: Independence, Jesup, Fairbank, Winthrop, Hazleton, Quasqueton, Brandon, Rowley,
Aurora, Stanley, Lime Creek County Park, Wapsipinicon Golf Course, Fontana County Park, Littleton, Buchanan County Fairgrounds,
Otterville, Independence Airport, Jakway Park and Fontana Park.

BENTON COUNTY AND LINN COUNTY

* Until 215 PM Thursday.
* At 216 PM Wednesday, emergency management, media, and spotters reported flooding in many rural areas affecting roads, and even
surrounding some farms. Flood waters are not rising rapidly at this time, and heavy rains have ended, but flooding may continue
through Thursday morning.
* The Flood Warning includes the following streams and drainages: Martin Creek, Clear Creek, Squaw Creek, Iowa River, Wapsipinicon
River, Walnut Creek, Little Bear Creek, Morgan Creek, East Indian Creek, Big Creek, Crabapple Creek, Knapp Creek, Dry Creek, Buffalo
Creek, East Otter Creek, Bear Creek, Indian Creek, Abbe Creek, Cedar River, East Big Creek, West Otter Creek, Spring Creek, South
Hoosier Creek, West Fork Cedar River and Lingle Creek.
* Some locations that will experience flooding include: Cedar Rapids, Vinton, Marion, Hiawatha, Robins, Belle Plaine, Center Point,
Fairfax, Atkins, Walford, Urbana, Dysart, Central City, Springville, Palo, Shellsburg, Newhall, Walker, Blairstown and Van Horne.

The rising water has forced the closure of some area parks. The list includes Black Hawk Park near Cedar Falls and Siggelkow Park near Dunketon, which are both closed due to flooding. According to Black Hawk County Conservation officials, the flooding will keep both parks closed through the weekend.