


Flash Flood Guidance
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
772 AWUS01 KWNH 261550 FFGMPD WIZ000-MNZ000-IAZ000-NEZ000-262130- Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion 0519 NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 1149 AM EDT Thu Jun 26 2025 Areas affected...Northern & Western IA...Southern MN...Far Eastern NEB...Far Southwest WI... Concerning...Heavy rainfall...Flash flooding likely Valid 261550Z - 262130Z SUMMARY...Widely scattered elevated convection with some repeating elements will increase in coverage/surface rooting throughout the afternoon with 1.5-2"/hr rates and streaks of 2-3.5" totals over sensitive solids suggesting possible incidents of flash flooding by 21z. DISCUSSION...15z Surface analysis shows main surface low near Norfolk, NEB with well defined cold front dragging southwest into north-central KS east of Hill City; while downstream a pre-frontal pressure trof, generally along the core of the deeper layer moisture axis/warm conveyor belt extends from another weak low near CKP through Omaha/Council Bluffs into northeast KS and is well noted by alto-stratus deck with some isolated weaker convective cores where sfc to boundary layer convergence is maximized across western IA. East of that, clear skies in the warm sector extend to the surface front being strongly reinforced through differential heating with extensive low-stratus deck along the eastern MN/IA border into the Driftless area of SW WI. SBCAPEs are rising into the upper 3000s J/kg across the clearing, though solid southerly WAA/ moisture flux along the pressure trof of 35-40kts, isentropic ascent is starting to increase elevated convective development along and downstream of the DPVA from the upper-level trough. Combine this with highly favorable right entrance ascent/divergence across NW IA into south-central MN, convection will continue to develop/expand over the next few hours. Orientation of the frontal zone to the mean motion of the shortwave combined with the steepened isentropes further east, ascent pattern across north-central IA/southern-MN should see greatest convective development with stronger/broader updrafts. Combined with increasing flux convergence, efficient rainfall production will support rates of 1.5-2"/hr fairly quickly in the life-cycle. Additionally, the convergence axis will be broad and fairly parallel to the boundary and deeper layer flow to support some repeating cell motions/tracks. This will be key toward increased overall rainfall totals nearing 3-3.5" locally given individual cell motions may limit heavy rainfall duration to those 1.5-2" hourly totals. Hydrologically, the area remains very saturated with much of IA and southern MN having 0-40cm relative soil moisture ratios within the 60-70% range, generally well into the 90th+ percentiles helping to have confidence that hourly FFG values of 1-1.5" and 3hr at 1.5-2" within the area of concern. Combine this with the narrow axis of training cells from last night from Colfax/Dodge, NEB to Ida/Sac to Humbolt/Wright in IA and Fillmore, MN/Howard, IA further compromising upper-soil uptake. Scattered incidents of flash flooding will become increasingly likely toward 21z across the MPD area. Gallina ...Please see www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov for graphic product... ATTN...WFO...ARX...DMX...FSD...MPX...OAX... ATTN...RFC...KRF...MSR...NWC... LAT...LON 44909147 44539068 43729072 43139170 42659272 41149501 40889599 41289672 41919666 42409646 43649553 44249460 44879298