Two rounds of heavy rainfall that spurred flash flooding in many south central Iowa communities is a rare occurrence based on weather records in Iowa, according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan. He says the widespread 4-6″ of precipitation that dumped locally last Tuesday was highly unusual, based on the set up of storm fronts and the two distinct rounds of precipitation, especially in the evening, with rainfall rates that dropped two inches of rain in as little as 30 minutes. Glisan says even in communities like Pella that aren’t close to being in a flood plain, the already saturated ground and the rapid filling of storm sewers allowed for water to pile up in low-lying areas. Hear more about last week’s flood event and the latest with Iowa’s long-range weather patterns on today’s In Touch with South Central Iowa.