Event narrative (NOAA)
The record crest on the Iowa River at Iowa City occurred on June 15, 2008 at 31.53 feet. Flood stage is 22 feet. The record crest on the Iowa River at Lone Tree occurred on June 15, 2008 at 23.15 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet. Preliminary damage estimates just to the University of Iowa at Iowa City was at least $230 million. This compares to $6 million in damages during the Great Flood of 1993. Water flowed over the spillway at the Corps of Engineer's Coralville Reservoir for only the third time since the reservoir began operation on September 17, 1958. (The previous two times occurred in the summer of 1993). The result was unprecedented flooding downstream of the reservoir in the cities of Iowa City and Coralville.
Other notable flood events in Iowa
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.