This Day in Weather History August 29
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1993: A summer of record-breaking rainfall and flooding continued as thunderstorms dumped heavy rain across portions of southwestern, central, and eastern Iowa. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain fell during the early morning hours in a swath roughly along Interstate 80 from Guthrie County to Polk County, drenching the Walnut Creek headwaters and resulting in severe flash flooding and a record crest on Walnut Creek at the Interstate 80/35 bridge. Official rainfall amounts in this swath included 3.16 inches at the Des Moines airport and 3.32 inches at Guthrie Center.
1985: Thunderstorms produced heavy rain across portions of northwestern Iowa from August 28th into the early morning hours of the 29th. Total rainfall amounts in the 24 hours ending on the morning of the 29th included 6.31 inches at Kanawha and 8.76 inches at Le Mars where about 7 inches of that total fell in less than 12 hours, causing substantial flooding with nearly every home in the city experiencing water problems. Hail up to golf ball size and wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were also reported across portions of Emmet, O’Brien, Cherokee, Clay, Buena Vista, and Plymouth counties.
1893: Unusually cold weather brought record low temperatures across portions of Iowa for several days in late August. An early freeze was recorded on the morning of the 29th at Elkader and Jefferson which each reported a low of 32 F. Other low temperatures that morning included 34 F at Atlantic and Mason City, 35 F at Estherville, Rock Rapids, and Sibley, and 36 F at Charles City.
