Michigan, 2000

Flooding and Hail in Michigan, April 20, 2000

April 20, 2000 · NWS DTX · 11 events in 7 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system moved east along a stationary front just south of Michigan during the day. Elevated thunderstorms formed north of the front, some of which produced marginally severe hail.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
2
Property damage
$80,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS DTX wrote it up.

A strong low pressure system moved east along a stationary front just south of Michigan during the day. Elevated thunderstorms formed north of the front, some of which produced marginally severe hail. The storms were also unusually prolific lightning producers for so early in severe weather season.During the mid to late afternoon hours, some of the storms moved repeatedly over the same areas.. Rainfall amounts were as high as 3.58 inches at Detroit Metro Airport, 3.5 inches in Monroe, 2.5 inches in Macomb County, and 2.09 inches in White Lake. Radar estimated as much as four inches of rain fell in parts of Monroe, Wayne, and Oakland Counties. Some spotty urban flooding resulted, closing roads during the busy late afternoon rush hour. In addition, the thunderstorms seriously disrupted air travel at Detroit Metro Airport. Over 160 flights were cancelled, and all traffic at the airport was halted for a half hour period during the afternoon.During the closest approach of the low pressure system, east winds increased dramatically. A brief surge of wind in mid afternoon brought gusts to around 40 mph. A few power lines were downed here and there, but the worst of the wind was three miles north of Utica, where a tree fell on a home.

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:43 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flood, 3 hail, 3 lightning, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lenawee

When
April 20, 7:45 AM EST
Where
Lenawee County, 1 mi E of Britton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.983, -83.817

Lightning, Monroe

When
April 20, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Monroe County, 2 mi S of Maybee
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.921, -83.494 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A lightning-caused fire destroyed a farmhouse.

Hail, Lenawee

When
April 20, 1:59 PM EST
Where
Lenawee County, 3 mi NE of Hudson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.883, -84.317

Hail, Washtenaw

When
April 20, 2:08 PM EST
Where
Washtenaw County, 4 mi E of Manchester
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.150, -83.950

Lightning, Washtenaw

When
April 20, 2:30 PM EST
Where
Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.253, -83.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two 18 year old men were struck by lightning and briefly hospitalized.

Lightning, Oakland

When
April 20, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Oakland County, 2 mi W of Orchard Lake Vlg
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.660, -83.386 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A lightning strike ignited the roof of a home in West Bloomfield Township.

Flood, Washtenaw

When
April 20, 3:15 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.253, -83.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Wayne

When
April 20, 4:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Wayne County, Livonia
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.285, -83.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Macomb

When
April 20, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Macomb forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.673, -82.910 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Lapeer

When
April 20, 4:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Lapeer County, Lapeer
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.090, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Macomb

When
April 20, 4:25 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Macomb County, 3 mi N of Fraser
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.673, -82.910 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Michigan in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, April 2000

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5139041, 5139048, 5139042, 5139043, 5139044, 5139045, 5139049, 5139046, 5139047, 5139050, 5139051.