CEDAR FALLS - The Cedar Falls Fire Department rescued several people from their cars early this morning after downpour-induced flash flooding along streets near Dry Run Creek in Cedar Falls.

Also some University of Northern Iowa students at Bartlett Hall had to be evacuated for about 15 minutes as a precaution at about 1 a.m. when rising ground water hit a steam line and set off a fire alarm.

Streets were flooded and cars partially submerged along some Cedar Falls thoroughfares early today, particularly near the University of Northern Iowa campus, as the Nartional Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Black Hawk County.

Among the areas where streets and cars were flooded included Hudson Road, particularly bertween 12th and 18th streets north of the UNI-Dome; University Avenue near the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, and the College Hill and Price Lab School neighborhoods, all bordering UNI's main campus.

Black Hawk County Emergency Management Agency director Barbara Berquam also received reports of flooding in the following areas:

•Much of the unicorporated residential area of Benson, west of Cedar Falls.

•West Dunkerton and Wagner roads.

•Dysart and Shaulis roads.

Courier staff reported Dry Run Creek in the area to be at least bank full early this morning, but subsiding by about 8:30 a.m.

Additionally an apparent lightning strike shortly before 5 a.m. today interrupted power in a large section of Waterloo, reaching from downtown to north of the Logan Plaza area.

According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, Waterloo received 4.26 inches of rain from 7 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday.

The flash flood warning was scheduled to expire at 10:45 a.m. Friday

Additionally, the Weather Service projected a rain-snow mix for Friday evening with lows reaching the mid-30s before conditions improve Saturday.

Read today's Courier and online updates for more details