IOWA — Heavy rainfall has drenched northeast Iowa over the past 36 hours, with totals reaching as high as 7 inches northwest of Center Point. The heaviest rain fell across the corridor stretching from Waterloo through Independence and La Porte City, with a peak reading of 7.29 inches recorded near Mount Auburn. Rainfall totals drop off significantly farther southeast toward Cedar Rapids, highlighting a sharp gradient in coverage across the region.
Waterloo and La Porte City See the Heaviest Rain
The core of the heaviest rainfall tracked directly over Waterloo, Gilbertville, Hudson and La Porte City, where radar-estimated totals reached the 7-inch range over the 36-hour period. This area sits at the center of the highest rainfall corridor identified on radar.
Localized flooding is likely across these communities given the intensity and duration of the rain that fell in this zone.
Independence and Quasqueton Also See Significant Totals
To the northeast, Independence, Quasqueton and Dunkerton also picked up substantial rainfall, though slightly less than the peak totals recorded closer to La Porte City. This broader swath of heavy rain extended from Oelwein and Maynard in the north down through the Waterloo metro area.
Continued runoff from this rainfall could keep area creeks and low-lying roads elevated in the coming days.
Totals Drop Off Sharply Toward Cedar Rapids
Rainfall totals decrease significantly farther southeast, with Center Point, Walker and Marion seeing notably less accumulation than areas closer to Waterloo. Cedar Rapids and communities including Fairfax, Walford and Ely saw minimal rainfall by comparison, illustrating the sharp cutoff in coverage across the region…