Michigan, 2020

Lakeshore Flood in Michigan, May 3 to 4, 2020

May 3 to 4, 2020 · NWS DTX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A sharp increase in northeast winds above 30 mph lead to brief but significant water level rises along the Lakeshores of western Saginaw Bay and western Lake St. Clair.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
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.

A sharp increase in northeast winds above 30 mph lead to brief but significant water level rises along the Lakeshores of western Saginaw Bay and western Lake St. Clair.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 lakeshore flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Lakeshore Flood, Bay

When
May 3, 7:00 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where
Bay forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.721, -83.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The water level at Essexville peaked at 71.40 above LWD at 1912 LST.

Lakeshore Flood, Macomb

When
May 3, 9:30 PM EST to May 4, 12:45 AM EST
Where
Macomb forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
42.673, -82.910 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The water level at St. Clair Shores peaked at 62.40 above LWD at 2136 LST.

Lakeshore Flood, Wayne

When
May 3, 9:50 PM EST to May 4, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
42.285, -83.261 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The water level at Windmill Point peaked at 65.40 above LWD at 2230 LST.

What these are

Lakeshore Flood
Flooding along the shore of one of the Great Lakes or another large lake.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Michigan in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, May 2020

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: 881620, 881722, 881621.