Michigan, 2000

Flash Flood and Lightning Strike in Michigan, September 22 to 23, 2000

September 22 to 23, 2000 · NWS DTX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed on the evening of the 22nd, north of a warm front that was moving north into southern Michigan. These storms produced very heavy rain in northern Oakland and southern Lapeer Counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
$160,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 on the evening of the 22nd, north of a warm front that was moving north into southern Michigan. These storms produced very heavy rain in northern Oakland and southern Lapeer Counties. Holly measured 4.7 inches of rain, while Almont had 3.5 inches. Just to the south, the National Weather Service Office in White Lake had just 1.6 inches of rain. Runoff from the heavy rain resulted in localized flooding in northwest Oakland County, but flooding problems were more widespread and severe in southern Lapeer County.

The radar

The Detroit radar (KDTX), 48 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood, 1 heavy rain, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Lapeer

When
September 22, 9:00 PM EST to September 23, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Lapeer County, 5 mi W of Metamora
Property damage
$125,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
43.090, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gravel roads were washed out in Almont and Dryden Townships. Roads were also flooded to the west, in Deerfield and Metamora Townships. Some culverts were displaced where the gravel had washed out. Annrook Park in the city of Lapeer was flooded by the Flint River. Fields were flooded and driveways washed out in Imlay City.

Heavy Rain, Oakland

When
September 22, 9:00 PM EST to September 23, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Oakland County, Holly
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.660, -83.386 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Grange Hall and North Holly Roads in Holly were covered with standing water. A canal connecting Simonson and Bush Lakes flooded, covering Thomas Street with water a foot deep. On the north side of Holly, several feet of water covered some yards and entered barns.

Lightning, Oakland

When
September 22, 11:00 PM EST
Where
Oakland County, Holly
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.660, -83.386 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a tree, which was downed onto a nearby van, destroying it.

What these are

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.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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, September 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: 5158408, 5158409, 5158410.