Check out this interactive online flood tool from the Iowa Flood Center
The Iowa Flood Center has an interactive tool for the public to use to keep an eye on rivers statewide.
Following the Flood of 2008, the Iowa Flood Center and the University of Iowa along with government agencies like the National Weather Service knew there needed to be an easier way for the public to view river data and flood forecasts. Thus, the Iowa Flood Information System (IFIS) was created.
In addition to weather data from the National Weather Service and hydrological data from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Flood Center has several sensors set up along area rivers that you can view in IFIS which allows you to see current conditions and the forecast for the river nearest you, or where you may be traveling.
This is an incredibly valuable tool after events like Friday when extreme rainfall fell in northern Iowa. The number of products available to you may be overwhelming at first, but it was 100 percent designed with the public in mind.
"If you are curious or concerned you can go there, click here click here, see what happens, you cannot mess it up. People shouldn't be afraid, you know, and there is a lot of information here," says Witold Krajewski, director of the Iowa Flood Center.
You can also see recent rainfall observations, click on the river basin you're interested in to see where that water comes from, and also view model projections of what type of flooding, if any, you may experience.
It will take some clicking around to get used to, but Krajewski hopes that, with some familiarity, IFIS will be a big help for Iowans after a heavy rain event.
You can explore the Iowa Flood Information System yourself here.
