Flash Flood in Michigan, July 7 to 8, 1998

A stationary front was located across far southeast Michigan during the evening of the 7th. A weak area of low pressure was moving slowly east along the front, in response to a strong shortwave approaching the area. A very moist and unstable airmass was across the region, and a number of thunderstorms developed as a result. The stationary front acted as a focusing mechanism, allowing thunderstorms to move repeatedly over the same area.Heavy rain occurred in a band from just east of Ypsilanti to east of Flat Rock, where an average of 2 to 3 inches of rain fell during the evening. This rain was not enough to cause significant flooding, although some standing water developed in places with poor drainage. However, a small area within this band saw substantially more rainfall. The heaviest rain fell near the intersection of Interstate 275 and Eureka Road, on the southwest edge of Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Radar estimated 4.9 inches of rainfall near this location. On Metro Airport proper, 4.34 inches of rain fell.The resultant flash flooding caused substantial damage to the Davey Terminal at Metro Airport. The baggage handling area was flooded with 3 feet of water. In the parking area outside, water 6 feet deep floated some cars. An electrical room inside the terminal was flooded, cutting power to 19 gates. About fifty Northwest Airlines flights had to be cancelled as a result of the flooding and electrical outage, and as Metro Airport is the largest hub for that airline, the effects rippled across the country.Flash flooding also occurred in the suburban communities around the airport. Some primary roads on the west side of Taylor were closed for hours, including Beech Daly and Monroe. Three feet of water covered parts of Telegraph Road (US-24) near Interstate 94. Water was also several feet deep on Mayfair Street in Brownstown Township, Wayne Road in Romulus, and Belleville Road near Belleville. It took until the morning of the 8th for high water to recede.