The National Weather Service office in La Crosse, Wisconsin, issued a Flood Warning early Friday morning, September 20, at 6:27 AM CDT. The warning remains in effect until Monday, September 22, at 1:00 PM CDT and currently covers 41 areas, including Houston County, MN; Mower County, MN; Clayton, Winneshiek, Jackson, Johnson, Louisa, and Washington counties in Iowa; and Clermont and Hamilton counties in Ohio, among others.
A Flood Warning means flooding is either happening now or is expected soon — this is a step beyond a Flood Watch, which only means conditions are favorable. Rivers, creeks, and streams in the warned areas are running high after recent rainfall, and low-lying land, underpasses, and poorly drained roads may be underwater or become so over the weekend.
What you might notice
Residents in affected counties may see water over rural roads, closed low-water crossings, swollen rivers approaching or spilling over their banks, and standing water in fields, basements, and yards. Some local road closures are likely, especially near smaller creeks that respond quickly to runoff. Conditions can vary widely from one county to the next, so even if your street looks fine, a route a few miles away may not be.
Who is affected
The warning spans a wide stretch of the Upper Midwest and into southwest Ohio. Communities along the Upper Iowa, Root, Cedar, and Iowa rivers and their tributaries should pay closest attention, along with anyone living or traveling through the 31 additional named areas in the warning.
Practical steps
First, never drive through water covering a road — just six inches of moving water can knock a person down, and a foot or two can carry away a vehicle. Turn around and find another route. Second, if you live in a flood-prone spot, move valuables and electronics off basement floors now and keep phones charged in case of local power interruptions. Third, check conditions before weekend travel, since the warning runs through midday Monday and water levels may rise further before they fall.
Data for this alert comes from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the flooding happening right now, or just possible?
A Flood Warning means flooding is occurring or imminent in at least parts of the warned area — it is not just a possibility. Conditions will vary by county, so check local reports for your specific location.
How long will this last?
The warning is currently set to expire at 1:00 PM CDT on Monday, September 22, though the NWS may extend, expand, or cancel it as river levels change. Rivers often stay high for a day or more after rain stops.
Can I drive through standing water on the road?
No — turn around. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles, and it is impossible to judge water depth or whether the road underneath has washed out.
I'm not in one of the named counties — should I still be concerned?
The warning covers 41 areas and only some are listed in the summary, so check your county specifically. If you are near a river or creek in the broader region, stay alert for updates through Monday.
Keep tracking this:
Source: National Weather Service (NWS)
Related Reading
- Emergency Communication: Staying Connected When Towers Go Down
- Earthquake Survival: Precautions, Kit & Early Warning in 2026
- Essential Guide to Preparing for a Nuclear War
Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: First Quarter (61% illuminated), in Capricorn.
Notable planetary angles: Sun sextile Mars (62°), Moon square Saturn (92°), Mercury sextile Jupiter (57°), Mercury opposite Saturn (177°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 2.0; strongest recent solar flare: nothing notable.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
