— Thunderstorms pounded NW Iowa with heavy rain and tornadoes over the weekend, causing rivers and creeks to rise quickly.
Close to 10 tornadoes were reported across portions of Buena Vista, Pocahontas and Webster Counties, including one near Havelock in Northern Pocahontas County, but reports indicate only minimal damage, with the storms staying over mostly rural areas.
The NWS in Des Moines received multiple reports of heavy rainfall in the area, with totals of close to five inches in the West Bend area. The Pocahontas County town of Laurens had a report of 6.9 inches for the day Saturday, including 3.5 inches in one hour. Minor flooding is taking place along the Little Sioux River in Clay and Dickinson counties. The East Fork of the Des Moines River is rising in Algona, but is expected to crest about a foot below flood stage later this week.
With all that rain being dumped in the area, the City of West Bend is reminding residents that storm water and sump pump footing tiles can not be discharged into the sanitary sewer system.
City Clerk Lisa Sewell tells KLGA News this was a problem over the weekend, and they want to remind residents that it is prohibited. Property owners that continue to violate the city code and discharge into the sanitary sewer can be fined accordingly.
