IOWA CITY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — The Iowa Flood Center (IFC) provides an all-in-one resource for all Iowans to be able to see flooding data – without needing to be a meteorologist.
The IFC was founded after the 2008 floods in eastern Iowa to provide more on-the-ground information for local leaders and citizens. The Iowa Flooding Informational System website collects flooding forecasts, community assistance resources, and more, all in one location that’s user-friendly.
Between the National Weather Service and the IFC, there are nearly 500 gauges that monitor river levels and the speed of the water. Working with the NWS, the center makes models that can more accurately predict flood paths. However, it’s not perfect.
Assistant Director of the Iowa Flood Center Nathan Young said that not being able to accurately predict precipitation amounts more than a day or two out can negatively impact flooding forecasts.
“When we’re trying to predict flooding, we need to understand how much rainfall and more precisely, where that rainfall is going to land in order to figure out how it’s going into the stream network and combine into a flood,” Young said. “Unfortunately, with the longer lead times, the accuracy just isn’t quite there.”
The Iowa Flood Center is part of the University of Iowa’s School of Engineering and is based out of the University’s campus in Iowa City.