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Jaw-Dropping Rainfall Totals: See the Staggering Numbers
Iowa Rainfall Report: How Much Rain Fell Since Midnight?
What Is This Report?
Imagine you left a bucket outside at 12:00 AM (midnight) and checked it right now. This report tells you how many inches of water are in that bucket for cities all across Iowa.
Source: KCRG (First Alert Weather)
Time Period: Since midnight (12:00 AM) today
Want more details? Check out the interactive First Alert StormNet for hyper-local reports.
Understanding the Numbers (ELI5 Style)
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Station Name | The city or airport where the rain gauge is located. |
| Since Midnight | Total rainfall measured from 12:00 AM up to the time of this report. |
| Inches (in) | The unit of measurement. 1 inch = about the height of a quarter standing on its side. |
| 0.0001 | A "trace" amount—rain fell, but not enough to measure properly. |
| 0 | No rain detected at that station. |
Important: These are automated gauge readings. Amounts can vary street-by-street!
Rainfall Totals by City (Complete List)
Here is the full data table from the report. You can scan for your town!
| Station Name | Rain (inches) | Station Name | Rain (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algona | 0.33 | Hampton | 0.08 |
| Ames | 0.19 | Harlan | 0.28 |
| Ankeny | 0.11 | Independence | 0.79 |
| Atlantic | 0.36 | Iowa City | 1.05 |
| Audubon | 0.14 | Iowa Falls | 0.20 |
| Boone Muni | 0.06 | Keokuk Muni | 0.17 |
| Burlington | 0.27 | Knoxville | 1.12 |
| Carroll | 0.03 | Lamoni | 0.98 |
| Cedar Rapids | 0.0001 | Le Mars | 0.00 |
| Centerville | 0.31 | Marshalltown | 1.40 |
| Chariton | 0.23 | Mason City | 0.20 |
| Charles City | 0.90 | Monticello Muni | 0.00 |
| Cherokee | 0.02 | Mount Pleasant | 0.05 |
| Clarinda | 1.35 | Muscatine | 0.74 |
| Clarion | 0.05 | Newton Muni | 0.00 |
| Clinton | 1.25 | Oelwein | 1.79 |
| Council Bluffs | 0.00 | Orange City | 0.00 |
| Creston | 0.39 | Osceola | 0.49 |
| Decorah | 0.28 | Oskaloosa | 0.59 |
| Denison | 0.21 | Ottumwa | 0.28 |
| Des Moines | 0.16 | Pella | 0.98 |
| Dubuque | 1.57 | Perry | 0.09 |
| Estherville | 0.0001 | Quad Cities | 0.0001 |
| Fairfield | 0.38 | Red Oak | 0.73 |
| Forest City | 0.00 | Sheldon | 0.00 |
| Fort Dodge | 0.03 | Shenandoah | 0.00 |
| Fort Madison | 0.24 | Sioux City | 0.02 |
| Grinnell | 1.04 | Sioux County | 0.02 |
| Spencer | 0.01 | Storm Lake | 0.00 |
| Vinton | 0.00 | Washington | 0.25 |
| Waterloo | 1.55 | Webster City | 0.00 |
Quick Summary: Who Got the Most (and Least)?
Top 5 Wettest Spots
- Oelwein – 1.79 inches (That’s a good soaking!)
- Dubuque – 1.57 inches
- Waterloo – 1.55 inches
- Marshalltown – 1.40 inches
- Clarinda – 1.35 inches
Stayed Dry (0.00 inches)
- Council Bluffs
- Forest City
- Le Mars
- Monticello Muni
- Newton Muni
- Orange City
- Sheldon
- Shenandoah
- Storm Lake
- Vinton
- Webster City
Just a Sprinkle (Trace amounts: 0.0001)
- Cedar Rapids
- Estherville
- Quad Cities
Summary
- Rain moved across Iowa overnight, but it was hit-or-miss.
- Eastern and Central Iowa (Dubuque, Waterloo, Marshalltown, Iowa City) saw the heaviest totals (over 1 inch).
- Western and Northern Iowa (Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Mason City) stayed mostly dry.
- Cedar Rapids barely registered a trace (0.0001"), while nearby Iowa City got over an inch—showing how localized rain can be!
- For real-time, street-level data, visit First Alert StormNet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What does "Since Midnight" mean exactly?
It means the total rain collected from 12:00 AM (the start of today) until the moment this report was generated. It does not include rain from yesterday.
2. Why does Cedar Rapids show "0.0001" instead of "0"?
0.0001 inches is a "Trace" amount. The sensor detected moisture, but it was too little to register as 0.01 inches (the smallest standard measurable amount). It basically means: "It sprinkled, but the ground didn’t get wet."
3. Why is my town not on the list?
This list shows official reporting stations (usually airports or National Weather Service sites). If your town isn’t here, check StormNet—it uses many more local sensors!
4. Is 1.5 inches of rain a lot?
Yes, for a few hours!
- 0.10 – 0.25 in: Light rain (sidewalks wet).
- 0.25 – 0.50 in: Moderate rain (puddles form).
- 1.00+ in: Heavy rain (potential for minor flooding, creeks rise fast).
5. Where can I see radar or forecasts?
Head to KCRG.com/weather or the KCRG Weather App for live radar, hour-by-hour forecasts, and severe weather alerts.
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