Rain Increases Flood Threat Along Cedar River

The National Weather Service (NWS) says there is a possibility of moderate flooding along the Cedar River in Black Hawk and Floyd counties over for the next several days.

A flood warning is posted for the river from the West Fork of the Cedar to the Cedar Falls-Waterloo city limits through early Wednesday morning (June 25, 2014). NWS officials have increased the severity of potential flooding from minor to moderate following days of heavy rain in Northeast Iowa.

The river is expected to rise to nearly five feet above flood stage on Sunday, before cresting. The Cedar is forecast to reach flood stage this morning (Thursday, June 19th), and go below flood stage seven days from now.

According to the NWS, the river stage at Cedar Falls was 85.2 feet or 2.8 feet below flood stage at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday (June 18th). No flooding was occurring, but moderate flooding was forecast.

At 92.7 feet, the NWS says water covers Big Woods Road (north of Dunkerton Road) and Ford Road (south of Fitkin Road) in rural Black Hawk County northwest of Cedar Falls.

Upstream from Cedar Falls, a flood warning is also posted for the Cedar River at Charles City through Sunday morning. Moderate flooding is expected there as well.

At 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday (June 18th), the river had reached its 12-foot flood stage and minor flooding was already occurring. According to the NWS, the Cedar at Charles City will continue to rise to nearly 15.3 feet on Friday, then fall below flood stage on Saturday.

The flood forecast could change following another round of heavy rain overnight. Rain totals ranged from 2.85 inches at Charles City to .72 inches at Waterloo.

The weather forecast calls for the possibility of more heavy rain in the region through Saturday.