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Michigan Flood Stories

546 first-hand accounts of flood events in Michigan, ranked by impact. Each is a NOAA-written narrative of the moment.

Flash Flood1 death$100.0M damage

Houghton, MI · Jun 17, 2018

A very moist and unstable air mass in place and the presence of a nearly stationary frontal boundary produced several rounds of severe storms and flash flooding across portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 16th into the 17th.

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Flash Flood1 death$500K damage

Oakland, MI · Jun 18, 1996

A series of heavy thunderstorms moved across Oakland county during the afternoon on the 18th, producing rainfall amounts of around 3 inches across much of the county. A 24-hour rainfall of 3.11 inches was recorded at the National Weather Service Forecast Office at White Lake.

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Flood1 death

Ottawa, MI · Jun 8, 2008

NWS storm survey teams determined that one EF1 tornado struck Osceola county. Another EF1 tornado struck Eaton county and continued into extreme western Ingham county before dissipating. Extensive damage was documented in association with both tornadoes.

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Flash Flood$2.0M damage

Allegan, MI · Jun 20, 1997

During Friday, June 20th, very warm, moist and unstable air was in place across much of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, ahead of a strong, slow-moving cold front across the western Great Lakes region.

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Flash Flood$139.0M damage

Wayne, MI · Jun 26, 2021

After several weeks of moderate to severe drought conditions in Southeast Michigan, an active weather pattern brought widespread rainfall and flooding to Metro Detroit and surrounding areas during the weekend of June 25-27th.

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Flash Flood$325K damage

Antrim, MI · Aug 11, 2021

After a warm front mixed northward across northern Michigan during the day, a weak shortwave progressing overhead helped initiate storms along a weak boundary over Lake Michigan.

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Flash Flood$100.0M damage

Midland, MI · May 19, 2020

A stalled low pressure system and frontal boundary across the southern Great Lakes region brought record rainfall to southeast Michigan beginning the morning of May 17, 2020 and continuing into the afternoon hours of May 19, 2020.

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Flash Flood$100.0M damage

Midland, MI · May 19, 2020

A stalled low pressure system and frontal boundary across the southern Great Lakes region brought record rainfall to southeast Michigan beginning the morning of May 17, 2020 and continuing into the afternoon hours of May 19, 2020.

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Flash Flood$1.4M damage

Ottawa, MI · Jun 20, 1997

During Friday, June 20th, very warm, moist and unstable air was in place across much of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, ahead of a strong, slow-moving cold front across the western Great Lakes region.

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Flood$3.0M damage

Wayne, MI · Aug 24, 2023

Thunderstorms producing torrential rainfall led to flooding in the Detroit metro area early Thursday morning (August 24th). Western Wayne county into Monroe county was hardest hit resulting in widespread residential flooding, road closures, and stranded vehicles.

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Flash Flood$64.0M damage

Wayne, MI · May 1, 2019

Heavy rain with thunderstorms produced 2 to 4 inches of rain in about a 4 hour window across the I-94 corridor. This amount of rain in a short period caused flash flooding across parts of Wayne County, with the Dearborn Heights area being hardest hit.

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Flood$20.0M damage

Gogebic, MI · Apr 12, 2023

Rapid melting of much above normal snowpack caused widespread, and at times, extensive flooding over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 12th into the 25th.

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Flood$18.0M damage

Houghton, MI · Apr 12, 2023

Rapid melting of much above normal snowpack caused widespread, and at times, extensive flooding over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 12th into the 25th.

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Flash Flood$7.5M damage

Washtenaw, MI · Jun 25, 2021

After several weeks of moderate to severe drought conditions in Southeast Michigan, an active weather pattern brought widespread rainfall and flooding to Metro Detroit and surrounding areas during the weekend of June 25-27th.

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Flash Flood$116.4M damage

Midland, MI · Jun 22, 2017

Warm, moist tropical air during the day on Thursday helped to spark severe storms that began to develop during the late afternoon hours. These storms continued through the evening before the severe threat switched over to a flooding threat during the overnight hours.

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Flash Flood$1.1B damage

Wayne, MI · Aug 11, 2014

A historic rainfall event unfolded over Southeast Michigan on Monday, August 11, leading to major flooding and road closures. This event was caused by a strengthening low pressure system moving over the area, focusing the tropical moisture which came up from the south.

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Flood$11.0M damage

Gladwin, MI · May 18, 2020

A very slow moving low pressure system advanced east from the central Plains. Unusually deep moisture was pushed northward into the Great Lakes region, ahead of this low. Multiple rounds of heavy rain fell in parts of northern lower Michigan on the 17th and 18th.

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Flash Flood$5.5M damage

Houghton, MI · Jul 23, 2025

A series of training thunderstorms brought flash flooding to portions of Houghton and Ontonagon Counties between 0300 and 0730EST on July 23. Four-hour rainfall totals ranged from two to four inches in the area.

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Flood$10.0M damage

Midland, MI · May 18, 2020

A stalled low pressure system and frontal boundary across the southern Great Lakes region brought record rainfall to southeast Michigan beginning the morning of May 17, 2020 and continuing into the afternoon hours of May 19, 2020.

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Flood$1.0M damage

Monroe, MI · Aug 24, 2023

Thunderstorms producing torrential rainfall led to flooding in the Detroit metro area early Thursday morning (August 24th). Western Wayne county into Monroe county was hardest hit resulting in widespread residential flooding, road closures, and stranded vehicles.

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Flood$9.0M damage

Saginaw, MI · May 18, 2020

A stalled low pressure system and frontal boundary across the southern Great Lakes region brought record rainfall to southeast Michigan beginning the morning of May 17, 2020 and continuing into the afternoon hours of May 19, 2020.

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Flood$8.0M damage

Ontonagon, MI · Apr 13, 2023

Rapid melting of much above normal snowpack caused widespread, and at times, extensive flooding over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 12th into the 25th.

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Flash Flood$6.5M damage

Gladwin, MI · May 18, 2020

A very slow moving low pressure system advanced east from the central Plains. Unusually deep moisture was pushed northward into the Great Lakes region, ahead of this low. Multiple rounds of heavy rain fell in parts of northern lower Michigan on the 17th and 18th.

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Flood$7.0M damage

Marquette, MI · Apr 12, 2023

Rapid melting of much above normal snowpack caused widespread, and at times, extensive flooding over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 12th into the 25th.

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