We have had certainly had a variety of weather today in Weather History, including Record Flooding, Heavy Rain, Hot & Cold Weather, and even Severe Thunderstorms! In 2008, record flooding continued in Northeast Iowa. In 1933, Very hot weather sent the temperature gauge up to the 100-110 degree range. In 1928, a very late freeze occurred at Decorah, with the temperature there being 32 degrees. In 1913, a strong low front moved across Iowa with low temperatures in the low 30’s. In 1905, heavy rainfall near 11 inches swept bridges away and killed one when he tried to rescue his cattle. In 1902, a powerful severe thunderstorm swept through Iowa with hail “up to the size of your fists”, causing widespread property damage.
On This Day in Iowa Weather History
June 10
2008: Record flooding continued in northeastern Iowa with all-time record crests occurring on the West Fork Cedar River at Finchford, the Cedar River at Janesville, and the Shell Rock River at Shell Rock where the flow rate was nearly double the previous record. The three rivers merge shortly after passing these locations, so all three record crests arrived at about the same time sending an incredible volume of water down the Cedar River toward Waterloo and Cedar Rapids.
1933: Very hot weather sent the temperature soaring up to 109 F at Denison, setting the all-time state record for June. Other reported high temperatures included 107 F at Sioux City, 106 F at Guthrie Center and Pocahontas, 105 F at Carroll, and 102 F at Des Moines where the month would finish as the warmest June on record with an average temperature of 79.8 F.
1928: A very late freeze occurred at Decorah where the low temperature was 32 F. Other lows that morning included 34 F at Mason City, 36 F at Rock Rapids, and 38 F at Boone and Cedar Rapids. Frost was reported at scattered locations around the state.
1913: A strong cold front moved across Iowa on June 7th and ushered in several days and nights of unseasonably cool weather. Low temperatures on the morning of the 10th included 35 F at Alton, Earlham, Elkader, Fayette, and Washta and 33 F at Mason City. Frost was reported at several locations around the state but was light enough and of short enough duration that damage to crops and vegetation was minimal.
1905: Thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall across portions of southeastern Iowa on the night of June 9-10. The heaviest rain fell in Van Buren County where Stockport measured 10.63 inches, Keosauqua 11.23 inches, and Bonaparte 12.10 inches with about 11 inches of that total falling in less than eight hours. At least 89 county bridges were swept away in the ensuing flooding with widespread significant crop damage and soil erosion occurring throughout the area. One man was killed while trying to rescue his cattle during a flash flood.
1902: Severe thunderstorms struck areas of central and southeastern Iowa during the afternoon and evening hours. Near and just south of Marshalltown in Timber Creek Township observers reported that “hailstones as large as a man’s fist fell, covering the ground to the depth of eight inches. The stones went through the roofs of houses. Chickens and stock were killed, bark stripped from trees, nothing green left and the farmers completely ruined.” Significant straight line wind damage was reported further southeast at Ottumwa, Sigourney, and Mount Pleasant as the evening progressed. At Sigourney the canvas of a large circus tent was blown off and hundreds of people were left exposed to the elements. Between 50 and 60 people were “struck by poles and caught under the heavy canvas” with several seriously injured. At Mount Pleasant significant damage was done to the Henry County fairgrounds and there were widespread reports of houses unroofed, outbuildings flattened, and trees and telegraph and electric lines brought down across the area.