Overview
Thunderstorms producing torrential rainfall led to flash flooding in the Detroit metro area early Thursday morning. Western Wayne county into Monroe county was hardest hit resulting in widespread residential flooding, road closures, and stranded vehicles. Most notable was the closure of Dingell Drive at Detroit Metro Airport which cut off access to the McNamara terminal for several hours. A lengthy closure of I-94 at I-275 was also reported. Numerous rainfall totals in the 3 to 5 inch range were reported mostly in the 6 hour period from midnight to 6 AM. The highest total was 7.36 inches from a CoCoRaHS station in Belleville, a 24 hour total nearly all of which fell during this event.
Photos
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Ypsilanti Township, MI Credit: Washtenaw County Roads |
I-275 Flooding Credit: MDOT |
I-275 Flooding Credit: MDOT |
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I-275 Flooding Credit: MDOT |
Canton, MI Credit: CBS Detroit |
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Radar
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Radar loop courtesy of Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM)
Storm Reports
This event mainly focused on the early morning hours of August 24th, with the storms starting late in the night on August 23rd. This was the first round of severe weather that occurred across Southeast Michigan followed by the second round of severe weather and tornadoes late in the evening on the 24th. The event summary for the August 24th tornado event can be found here.
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National Storm Reports for August 23, 2023 |
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National Storm Reports for August 24, 2023 |
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August 23-24, 2023 Rainfall Totals (Courtesy of Iowa Environmental Mesonet) |
Local Storm Reports (Rainfall Totals):
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI 1243 PM EDT Thu Aug 24 2023 ...PRECIPITATION REPORTS... Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon ...Michigan... ...Genesee County... Grand Blanc 2.9 SE 1.42 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.89N/83.59W ...Huron County... 3 NE Elkton 1.80 in 1247 PM 08/23 43.85N/83.14W 2 N Ivanhoe 1.58 in 0129 PM 08/23 43.74N/83.09W Bay Port 3.2 SSW 1.58 in 0800 AM 08/24 43.81N/83.40W 2 ENE Pinnebog 1.49 in 0630 AM 08/24 43.95N/83.07W Bad Axe 1.29 in 0700 AM 08/24 43.80N/83.00W ...Lapeer County... Columbiaville 5.7 ENE 1.95 in 0830 AM 08/24 43.18N/83.30W Lapeer 1.21 in 0730 AM 08/24 43.05N/83.32W ...Lenawee County... Morenci 2.68 in 0750 AM 08/24 41.72N/84.21W Blissfield 1.2 WNW 2.60 in 0800 AM 08/24 41.84N/83.88W 2 SSW Deerfield 2.21 in 0800 AM 08/24 41.86N/83.80W Britton 1.20 in 0437 AM 08/24 41.99N/83.83W Tecumseh 1.02 in 0600 AM 08/24 42.01N/83.94W ...Livingston County... Brighton 3.07 in 0752 AM 08/24 42.53N/83.78W Howell 4.9 ESE 2.30 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.58N/83.85W 1 NNW Whitmore Lake 2.22 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.44N/83.75W 3 NW Howell 1.77 in 0355 AM 08/24 42.64N/83.98W Pinckney 5.4 E 1.61 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.46N/83.84W 3 W Howell 1.57 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.60N/84.01W Brighton 1.1 E 1.50 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.53N/83.76W ...Macomb County... Chesterfield 2.4 E 3.61 in 0539 AM 08/24 42.67N/82.79W Mount Clemens 3.07 in 1200 AM 08/24 42.60N/82.88W New Baltimore 0.4 SSE 3.04 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.68N/82.74W 2 S Armada 2.80 in 0202 PM 08/23 42.81N/82.88W St Clair Shores 2.5 N 2.55 in 0511 AM 08/24 42.53N/82.88W 1 NNW Saint Clair Shores 2.49 in 0500 AM 08/24 42.51N/82.90W Roseville 1.7 ENE 2.49 in 0500 AM 08/24 42.51N/82.90W Shelby 0.4 SSE 2.21 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.67N/83.03W Eastpointe 1.2 SSW 2.11 in 0652 AM 08/24 42.45N/82.96W Shelby 2.6 SW 1.86 in 0655 AM 08/24 42.64N/83.07W Sterling Heights 2.2 NNE 1.77 in 0646 AM 08/24 42.61N/83.01W 1 WSW Saint Clair Shores 1.75 in 0346 PM 08/23 42.49N/82.91W Fraser 1.2 N 1.65 in 0830 AM 08/24 42.56N/82.95W Warren 1.14 in 0114 AM 08/24 42.49N/83.03W ...Monroe County... Carleton 2.5 S 6.80 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.02N/83.39W South Rockwood 2.0 S 5.06 in 0537 AM 08/24 42.03N/83.26W 3 SE Maybee 4.65 in 0800 AM 08/24 41.97N/83.48W Monroe 4.0 ENE 4.51 in 0830 AM 08/24 41.94N/83.32W 2 WNW Monroe 4.19 in 0655 AM 08/24 41.93N/83.42W Monroe 3.0 S 3.26 in 0700 AM 08/24 41.87N/83.38W Ottawa Lake 1.4 SSW 3.00 in 0700 AM 08/24 41.78N/83.74W Britton 3.7 ENE 1.67 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.01N/83.77W ...Oakland County... Milford 4.3 ESE 3.31 in 0730 AM 08/24 42.57N/83.52W Wixom 1.3 NE 3.07 in 0651 AM 08/24 42.54N/83.52W Wixom 2.0 NNW 2.81 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.55N/83.55W 3 NW White Lake 2.58 in 0900 AM 08/24 42.69N/83.55W White Lake 0.5 E 2.58 in 0900 AM 08/24 42.69N/83.55W Milford 4.0 ENE 2.37 in 0745 AM 08/24 42.61N/83.53W 4 S White Lake 2.22 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.60N/83.50W Farmington 2.21 in 0730 AM 08/24 42.46N/83.38W 2 ENE Bloomfield Hills 2.15 in 0854 AM 08/24 42.59N/83.21W Orchard Lake Village 1.1 W 1.92 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.58N/83.40W 1 N Royal Oak 1.92 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.53N/83.15W Lake Orion 1.1 ENE 1.87 in 0600 AM 08/24 42.79N/83.22W Highland 1.3 NE 1.86 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.68N/83.59W Rochester Hills 1.6 NNW 1.85 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.69N/83.17W Orchard Lake Village 0.9 WSW 1.79 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.58N/83.39W Davisburg 1.3 ESE 1.73 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.74N/83.52W 3 NW Orchard Lake 1.65 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.62N/83.42W Bloomfield Township 2.9 E 1.65 in 0830 AM 08/24 42.57N/83.22W Clarkston 1.4 NE 1.64 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.75N/83.40W 2 WSW Waterford 1.64 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.65N/83.43W Waterford 3.5 SSE 1.36 in 0900 AM 08/24 42.62N/83.37W 1 NE Waterford 1.33 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.68N/83.37W Farmington Hills 2.4 SSW 1.16 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.46N/83.40W Bloomfield Township 3.1 SW 1.12 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.55N/83.32W 1 W Waterford 1.08 in 0653 AM 08/24 42.66N/83.41W Fenton 2.7 SSE 1.07 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.77N/83.69W Berkley 0.5 WSW 1.06 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.49N/83.19W Waterford 2.1 NW 1.04 in 0620 AM 08/24 42.69N/83.41W ...St. Clair County... 1 N Harsens Island 2.42 in 0715 PM 08/23 42.61N/82.58W Port Huron 2.8 WSW 1.37 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.98N/82.49W ...Tuscola County... Cass City 2.30 in 0630 AM 08/24 43.60N/83.18W Unionville 1.80 in 0520 PM 08/23 43.65N/83.47W Caro 1.23 in 0700 AM 08/24 43.49N/83.40W ...Washtenaw County... 2 E Ypsilanti 4.96 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.25N/83.58W Plymouth 6.3 W 4.91 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.38N/83.59W Plymouth 5.4 W 4.89 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.38N/83.57W Ypsilanti 2.5 SSE 4.87 in 0741 AM 08/24 42.21N/83.60W Ann Arbor 6.4 NNE 3.45 in 0715 AM 08/24 42.36N/83.69W Ann Arbor 2.94 in 0630 AM 08/24 42.28N/83.73W Ann Arbor 2.87 in 0630 AM 08/24 42.28N/83.73W Ann Arbor 1.4 S 2.53 in 0901 AM 08/24 42.26N/83.73W 4 S Ann Arbor 2.04 in 0540 AM 08/24 42.22N/83.73W Ann Arbor 3.1 SE 2.00 in 0900 AM 08/24 42.24N/83.69W Saline 1.3 SSE 1.79 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.16N/83.77W Saline 2.7 SSW 1.05 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.14N/83.80W ...Wayne County... Belleville 2.8 ESE 7.36 in 0745 AM 08/24 42.18N/83.44W Sumpter Township 5.52 in 0600 AM 08/24 42.13N/83.48W 4 NW Belleville 5.40 in 0553 AM 08/24 42.24N/83.54W Canton 2.7 N 3.96 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.35N/83.47W 1 S Plymouth 3.96 in 0715 AM 08/24 42.35N/83.47W 2 ENE Romulus 3.09 in 0553 AM 08/24 42.23N/83.33W Grosse Ile 1.6 N 2.79 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.15N/83.15W Dearborn 3.5 NE 2.47 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.35N/83.17W Dearborn 2.47 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.31N/83.21W 2 NNE Grosse Pointe 2.38 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.41N/82.89W Westland 2.14 in 1117 AM 08/24 42.32N/83.38W 3 SE Lincoln Park 1.64 in 0800 AM 08/24 42.21N/83.15W 1 NW Dearborn 1.10 in 0900 AM 08/24 42.32N/83.23W Livonia 2.0 NE 1.05 in 0700 AM 08/24 42.42N/83.34W Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
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| August 23-24, 2023 Severe Weather Reports (Courtesy of Iowa Environmental Mesonet) |
Local Storm Reports (Flooding & Thunderstorm Wind Damage):
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI
1244 PM EDT Thu Aug 24 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1150 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SW Wyandotte 42.20N 83.17W
08/23/2023 Wayne MI Public
Pictures sent of large tree limbs downed at
16th and Pine in Wyandotte.
0116 AM Waterspout Bolles Harbor 41.87N 83.39W
08/24/2023 Monroe MI Broadcast Media
Video of waterspout over Lake Erie filmed
near Bolles Harbor.
0145 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg South Lyon 42.46N 83.65W
08/24/2023 Oakland MI Fire Dept/Rescue
South Lyon Fire reported trees down near
Whipple St and Hagadorn St.
0212 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 NE Oak Crest Trailer 42.66N 83.86W
08/24/2023 Livingston MI 911 Call Center
Dispatch reported trees down across the
whole county.
0220 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WNW Flat Rock 42.11N 83.31W
08/24/2023 Wayne MI 911 Call Center
Huron Charter Township Police Department
reported multiple trees and power lines down
throughout the city.
0248 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSW La Salle 41.85N 83.46W
08/24/2023 Monroe MI Dept of Highways
MDOT reported tree down at Telegraph Rd and
Stein Rd.
0312 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SE Wolverine Lake 42.54N 83.44W
08/24/2023 Oakland MI Public
Image of downed power lines on Haggerty and
W Maple Rd.
0353 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 W Erie 41.79N 83.51W
08/24/2023 Monroe MI Dept of Highways
MDOT reported tree down at Telegraph Rd and
Erie Rd.
0418 AM Flood Monroe 41.91N 83.38W
08/24/2023 Monroe MI Public
Image of residential street submerged in
water sent in.
0450 AM Flood 2 N Plymouth 42.40N 83.47W
08/24/2023 Wayne MI Broadcast Media
Flooding reported at Five Mile Rd and
Northville Rd.
0542 AM Flood 1 W Romulus 42.22N 83.39W
08/24/2023 Wayne MI Dept of Highways
MDOT reported ramp closure at I-275 and I-94
due to flooding.
0700 AM Flood 1 NNE Rawsonville 42.22N 83.55W
08/24/2023 Washtenaw MI Dept of Highways
Washtenaw County Roads reported a road wash
out on Tyler Rd near Willow Run Airport.
0737 AM Flood 2 WNW West Monroe 41.92N 83.46W
08/24/2023 Monroe MI Public
Pictures of King's Park Rd and Regents Park
Dr completely flooded sent on Twitter.
0748 AM Flood 2 SSE Romulus 42.20N 83.36W
08/24/2023 Wayne MI County Official
Wayne County Airport Authority reports
flooding of Dingell Drive at Detroit Metro
Airport limiting access to the McNamara
Terminal.
0800 AM Flood Canton 42.31N 83.48W
08/24/2023 Wayne MI Emergency Mngr
Numerous reports of roadway flooding across
Canton Township.
0800 AM Flood 1 W Romulus 42.22N 83.39W
08/24/2023 Wayne MI Dept of Highways
Update to earlier report - MDOT reports all
lanes of I-275 closed at I-94 due to
flooding across the road. Vehicles stranded
in several feet of water.
1000 AM Flood Woodhaven 42.14N 83.24W
08/24/2023 Wayne MI Public
Photo of several inches of water covering a
residential street.
Environment
The flooding was part of a larger severe thunderstorm and heavy rainfall scenario that was set up by a wavy surface front stalled west to east across southern Lower Michigan and roughly along the I-75/US-23 corridor in SE Michigan. Surface observations in the warm sector of this system featured several reports of lower 80s dewpoint in NW Ohio, northern Indiana, and SW Lower Michigan indicative of the tremendous moisture supply summarized by precipitable water of 2.0 inches in the 00Z 8/24 DTX sounding. The larger scale mid level flow was broadly anticyclonic around a 500 mb ridge which supported a strong mid level cap over the Midwest and western Great Lakes but also steep mid level lapse rate tied to a surface based CAPE gradient of 1000-3000 J/kg. Early day convection affected the Thumb region down into the Macomb county area where isolated residential street flooding was reported. This activity moved out over Lake Huron and into southern Ontario and northern Ohio during the evening. A better defined surface low was then projected to ripple along the front during the evening leading to low level jet enhancement and the next round of potentially severe storms along the front/edge of the cap in central Lower Michigan. This eventually occurred but not until later in the night with lower coverage and sub-severe intensity. Instead, the Ontario to Ohio convection migrated closer to the SE Michigan surface front while backbuilding northward where the low level jet/850 mb moisture transport found weakness in the mid level cap. A zoomed out view of radar and satellite imagery displayed this as a near textbook regenerative MCS spanning from SE Michigan across Ohio and into West Virginia. MRMS indicated large bands convection producing 3 in/hr rainfall rate with imbedded 5 in/hr rate having peak coverage from 1 AM to 5 AM before nocturnal forcing weakened and the storms broke away to the south toward 6 AM.
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| Figure 1: WPC Surface Analysis, valid 06 UTC 24 August 2023 | Figure 2: DTX Sounding, valid 00 UTC 24 August 2023 | Figure 3: SPC Day 1 Severe Weather Outlook, valid 01 UTC 24 August 2023 |
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| Figure 4: Mixed-Layer CAPE, CIN, and EBS 06 UTC 24 August 2023 | Figure 5: Effective Wind Shear, valid 06 UTC 24 August 2023 | Figure 6: 700-500 mb Lapse Rates valid 06 UTC 24 August 2023 |
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| Figure 7: 850 mb Moisture Transport valid, 06 UTC 24 August 2023 | Figure 8: Precipitable Water (in) in lowest 400mb valid, 07 UTC 24 August 2023 |
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