Michigan, 2000

Flash Flooding and Hail in Michigan, July 27 to 28, 2000

July 27 to 28, 2000 · NWS DTX · 13 events in 5 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed along the lake breeze fronts as they moved inland off of Lakes Huron and St Clair. Several of these became marginally severe, producing hail up to the size of quarters.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$718,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Events
13

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.

Thunderstorms developed along the lake breeze fronts as they moved inland off of Lakes Huron and St Clair. Several of these became marginally severe, producing hail up to the size of quarters. The largest hail fell in Washington Township in Macomb County. A couple of storms produced wind gusts approaching 60 mph, downing large tree limbs in Washington Township and near Deckerville. The storms were also slow movers, producing locally heavy rain. Flash flooding covered roads in Macomb Township to 18 inches deep. Six roads were washed out in northern Sanilac County, and water was two feet deep over M-53.

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:20 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 hail, 2 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Macomb

When
July 27, 2:23 PM EST to 2:25 PM EST
Where
Macomb County, Washington
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.717, -83.033

Flash Flood, Macomb

When
July 27, 2:30 PM EST to 4:30 PM EST
Where
Macomb County, Washington
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.673, -82.910 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Macomb

When
July 27, 2:30 PM EST
Where
Macomb County, Washington
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.717, -83.033

Hail, Sanilac

When
July 27, 4:05 PM EST
Where
Sanilac County, 4 mi NE of Deckerville
Measured
0.75 in hail
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
43.567, -82.683

Thunderstorm Wind, Sanilac

When
July 27, 4:05 PM EST
Where
Sanilac County, 4 mi NE of Deckerville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
43.567, -82.683

Hail, Saginaw

When
July 27, 6:38 PM EST
Where
Saginaw County, Fosters
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.300, -83.933

Hail, Lapeer

When
July 27, 7:20 PM EST
Where
Lapeer County, Lapeer
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.050, -83.317

Hail, Genesee

When
July 27, 7:31 PM EST
Where
Genesee County, Mt Morris
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.117, -83.683

Lightning, Lapeer

When
July 27, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Lapeer County, Dryden
Property damage
$650,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
43.090, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a staircase manufacturing company. The building was destroyed in the resulting fire, and a neighboring flooring company was damaged.

Hail, Lapeer

When
July 27, 8:45 PM EST
Where
Lapeer County, Otter Lake
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
43.217, -83.467

Lightning, Sanilac

When
July 27, 8:45 PM EST
Where
Sanilac County, Sandusky
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
43.443, -82.646 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A lightning strike ignited a fire that partially destroyed a barn.

Hail, Genesee

When
July 27, 9:43 PM EST
Where
Genesee County, Gaines
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
42.867, -83.900

Flash Flood, Sanilac

When
July 27, 10:30 PM EST to July 28, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Sanilac County, 12 mi N of Marlette
Property damage
$35,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
43.443, -82.646 (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.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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, July 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: 5163555, 5163556, 5163559, 5163557, 5163558, 5163560, 5163561, 5163563, 5163824, 5163562, 5163825, 5163564, 5163565.