In mid-June, a series of heavy rain events over southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota brought upwards of 12-18" over a wide area. This was responsible for major flooding in cities like Spencer, Iowa. All of that water over the two weeks following the heavy rain flowed down the Missouri River, causing the river to swell and flood much of the surrounding area.
The river flooding closed I-29 north of Council Bluffs and I-680 from the Mormon Bridge to I-29 in western Iowa. The flooding also caused the closure of several roads up and down the Missouri. Lots of agricultural and recreational regions were flooded, with some communities being impacted as well.
Below are some peak crests at the river gauge sites along the Missouri River during the flood in June 2024. For several locations, this was the 3rd highest the Missouri River has risen but still below the two biggest floods. For more information on those floods, check out the This Week in Weather History articles on the Floods of 2019, the Flood of 2011, and the Flood of 1952.
DECATUR
Crested: 37.6' on Wednesday, June 26
3rd highest crest below 2011 and 1952.
BLAIR
Crested: 32.2' on Thursday, June 27
3rd Highest Crest beating 2019 but falling below 2011 and 1952.
OMAHA
Crested: 32.8' on Saturday, June 29
5th highest crest below 1881, 2019, 2011, and 1952.
PLATTSMOUTH
Crested: 31.8' on Saturday, June 29
9th highest crest below 1978, 2019, 1952, 2010, 1984, 1993, 2011, and 2019.
NEBRASKA CITY
Crested: 24.4' on Sunday, June 30
7th highest crest below 1984, 2010, 1952, 1993, 2011, and 2019.
BROWNVILLE
Crested: 40.7' on Monday, July 1
7th highest crest below 1952, 1984, 2010, 1993, 2011, and 2019.
RULO
Crested: 24.0' on Tuesday, July 2
10th highest crest below 1984, May 2019, 2008, 2007, 1993, 1952, 2010, 2011, March 2019.
