Michigan and Northeast Flooding
One of the flooding disasters on NOAA’s billion-dollar list: $1.4 billion in losses at 2024 prices ($1.0 billion at the time) and 2 deaths.
What the offices filed during it
The 83 most significant flooding episodes filed in these dates, colored by kind.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Losses, 2024 dollars
- $1.4 billion
- Losses at the time
- $1.0 billion
- Deaths
- 2
The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.
By state, as filed
| State | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 12 | 0 | 0 | $1.8 billion |
| New York | 28 | 0 | 0 | $35 million |
| Maryland | 37 | 0 | 0 | $5.3 million |
| North Carolina | 10 | 0 | 0 | $2.5 million |
| Arizona | 32 | 0 | 0 | $2.3 million |
| South Carolina | 15 | 2 | 0 | $1.9 million |
| Maine | 14 | 0 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| California | 10 | 0 | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Washington | 19 | 0 | 0 | $466,000 |
| New Jersey | 9 | 0 | 1 | $350,000 |
| New Mexico | 3 | 0 | 2 | $250,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 22 | 0 | 0 | $110,000 |
| Kentucky | 12 | 0 | 0 | $86,000 |
| Nevada | 32 | 0 | 1 | $62,000 |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 0 | 0 | $51,000 |
| Georgia | 3 | 0 | 0 | $43,000 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| Wyoming | 2 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| Tennessee | 8 | 0 | 0 | $13,000 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 0 | 0 | $5,000 |
| Idaho | 10 | 0 | 0 | $2,000 |
| Alabama | 5 | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| Colorado | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Massachusetts | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Utah | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Virginia | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| Florida | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Texas | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ohio | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Alaska | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Delaware | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Connecticut | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Guam | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Episode by episode
- Heavy Rain in Guam, August 10, 2014Thunderstorms associated with heavy rain caused a drowning during the |afternoon of August 10th.
- Flash Flood in Georgia, August 9 to 10, 2014Slow moving thunderstorms with heavy rain of 3 to 4 inches in less than 3 hours produced isolated flash flooding in an eastern portion of the Atlanta metro area.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in South Carolina, August 9, 2014Heavy rains produced flash flooding in downtown Columbia at Main and Whaley streets and in the 5-points area.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in South Carolina, August 9 to 10, 2014A backdoor cold front moving from the northeast toward the southwest caused numerous thunderstorms and heavy rain showers to suddenly erupt as it moved across northern portions of Upstate South Carolina during the evening.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Kentucky, August 10 to 11, 2014Early on Sunday, August 10th, a nearly stationary front stretched from weak low pressure in Arkansas northeast along the Ohio River. This boundary became a focus for repeated episodes of slow moving heavy thunderstorms throughout the day, and even into Monday.
- Flash Flooding in South Carolina, August 10, 2014A very moist atmosphere within the vicinity of a stationary front supported excessive rainfall amounts and flash flooding as multi-cell thunderstorms merged over the area.
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Alabama, August 10, 2014A cluster of thunderstorms produced intense rainfall and isolated wind damage in the city of Decatur during the late afternoon hours. An amateur radio automated weather station measured 3.62 inches from these storms in less than 2 hours in southeast Decatur.
- Flash Flooding in Colorado, August 10, 2014Slow moving storms produced heavy rain amounts, in some cases over 3 inches, and flash flooding.
- Heavy Rain in New Mexico, August 10, 2014A moderately moist atmosphere was in place with a weak upper disturbance crossing the region. Weak low and mid level flow kept storm motion very slow allowing for locally heavy rain to develop over Southern Dona Ana County.
- Heavy Rain in Texas, August 10, 2014A moderately moist atmosphere was in place with a weak upper disturbance crossing the region. Weak low and mid level flow kept storm motion very slow allowing for locally heavy rain to develop over West El Paso.
- Flood in Kentucky, August 10, 2014Slow moving thunderstorms produced flooding which washed out one lane of a road in northwest Breathitt County.
- Flash Flooding in Georgia, August 10, 2014A very moist atmosphere within the vicinity of a stationary front supported excessive rainfall amounts and flash flooding as multi-cell thunderstorms merged over the area.
- Flash Flood in Nevada, August 10, 2014Thunderstorms with heavy rain caused flash flooding and debris flows across alternate State Route 93 near Lages Station.
- Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 10, 2014A thunderstorm produced heavy rain and hail in Cottonwood.
- Flash Flood in New Mexico, August 10, 2014Isolated thunderstorms developed along the high terrain of central New Mexico by mid to late afternoon on the 10th. Weak west to southwest steering flows forced this activity into the Rio Grande Valley between 4 and 5pm.
- Heavy Rain in Michigan, August 11, 2014A cold front moving slowly across the area helped generate thunderstorms which dropped between 1 to 1.5 inches of rainfall over portions of western Upper Michigan on the 11th.
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, August 11, 2014Scattered slow-moving thunderstorms once again affected much of Middle Tennessee during the afternoon hours on August 11. A few reports of flash flooding and wind damage were received.
- Flash Flood in Alabama, August 11, 2014Slow moving thunderstorms developed across east Alabama during the peak heating of the day.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Michigan, August 11 to 13, 2014A historic rainfall event unfolded over Southeast Michigan on Monday, August 11, leading to major flooding and road closures. This event was caused by a strengthening low pressure system moving over the area, focusing the tropical moisture which came up from the south.
- Flash Flood and Hail in Nevada, August 11 to 12, 2014Low pressure moved into northern California on the 11th and 12th, aiding in the development of strong to severe thunderstorms. Some storms dropped very heavy rain (for western NV) with between 0.75 and 1.50 inches of rain in 20 to 30 minutes.
- Flash Flooding in Ohio, August 11, 2014A potent upper level through combined with a very moist air mass to produce showers and thunderstorms. These showers and thunderstorms were capable of producing very heavy rain and flooding.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, August 11, 2014A boundary across east Tennessee triggered thunderstorms during the evening hours. A couple of trees were downed by the wind. With a moist atmosphere in place reports of flooding was also seen on the roads.
- Coastal Flood in South Carolina, August 11, 2014A Proxigean Spring Tide led to elevated tide levels along the southeast South Carolina coast.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Nevada, August 11 to 14, 2014A push of monsoon moisture fueled thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
- Flash Flood in Oregon, August 12, 2014Heavy rain resulted in a rapid increase of water in the Sandy River. The sudden rush of water damaged a foot bridge as a group of people were walking across it. One of the hikers that fell into the water did not survive.
- Flood in Alaska, August 12 to 13, 2014A slow moving warm front moved over the Southeast Alaska from August 10-12 2014. This front produced constant rain for three days with an area average of one in a half to two inches.
- Flood in Alaska, August 12 to 13, 2014A very warm front slowly moved over Southeast Alaska from August 9-12. This warm front produced areal precipitation amounts of three to four in half inches with possible double amounts in the mountains.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Arizona, August 12, 2014A high amplitude ridge was centered over the western U.S. with surface high located in eastern New Mexico. Precipitable water values ranged from 1.25 to 2 inches, and a flash flood watch was in effect for the area.
- Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 12 to 13, 2014Deep monsoon moisture moved northwest over Arizona which interacted with an upper level low pressure trough over Sonora to produce heavy rain for a couple of days over portions of northern Arizona.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Maryland, August 12 to 13, 2014High pressure resided across the east coast while a warm front was located across the Carolinas. Moist air continued to move into the Mid Atlantic as showers intensified ahead of the warm front. Heavy rain produced flooding in parts of the Washington DC and Baltimore Metro Areas.
- Flash Flood in District of Columbia, August 12, 2014High pressure resided across the east coast while a warm front was located across the Carolinas. Moist air continued to move into the Mid Atlantic as showers intensified ahead of the warm front. Heavy rain produced flooding in parts of the Washington DC and Baltimore Metro Areas.
- Flooding in Virginia, August 12, 2014High pressure resided across the east coast while a warm front was located across the Carolinas. Moist air continued to move into the Mid Atlantic as showers intensified ahead of the warm front. Heavy rain produced flooding in parts of the Washington DC and Baltimore Metro Areas.
- Flood in Arkansas, August 12 to 17, 2014The Cache River at Patterson rose back above flood stage during the middle of the month of August as a result of additional heavy rainfall.
- Flash Flood in California, August 12, 2014Conditions across eastern Riverside county were especially favorable for the formation of thunderstorms on August 12th, and as a result a Flash Flood Watch was issued for both Joshua Tree National Park and the eastern Deserts of Riverside county.
- Flood and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, August 12, 2014Thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front the afternoon of August 12th with scattered severe thunderstorms over eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Minor road flooding also occurred across portions of Allegheny county in Pennsylvania.
- Debris Flow and Hail in California, August 12, 2014High pressure over the Southwest allowed monsoonal moisture to re-enter the region on this day, resulting in several intense heavy rain and hail-producing storms over the mountains and deserts.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Nevada, August 12 to 13, 2014Abundant monsoon moisture generated thunderstorms that produced flash flooding, large hail, and strong winds across portions of central and northeast Nevada.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in California, August 12 to 13, 2014A push of monsoon moisture fueled thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
- Flash Flood in Texas, August 12, 2014An upper ridge was located over the Rockies with southeast low level flow returning deep moisture to the region. Diurnally driven slow-moving thunderstorms developed around El Paso and caused flash flooding just east of Downtown El Paso.
- Flash Flooding and Flood in North Carolina, August 12 to 13, 2014A cluster of showers and storms develop across the triangle region of central North Carolina. A few of these storms became severe and produced damaging wind gusts.
- Flash Flooding in Maryland, August 12 to 13, 2014A slow moving warm front and a low pressure system that formed along it that enhanced the convergence brought flash flooding rains to the Eastern Shore on the 12th. Rainfall amounts reached as high as ten inches.
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Arizona, August 12, 2014A push of monsoon moisture fueled thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Arizona, August 12 to 13, 2014Thunderstorms continued to develop across south central Arizona during the afternoon hours on August 12th, and they persisted well into the evening. Many of the storms affected the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
- Debris Flows and Dust Storm in Washington, August 12, 2014A ridge of high pressure over the region for the last few weeks was nudged east by a potent upper-level trough coming off the Eastern Pacific. The trough took on a strong negative tilt and passed through during peak heating.
- Flash Flooding in New York, August 12, 2014Thunderstorms trained across the southern tier during the late evening hours. This resulted in two- to two-and-a-half inches of rain in a narrow line extending from near Salamanca to Ellicottville. Numerous roads were inundated and/or closed.
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 12, 2014Several strong thunderstorms developed across Yavapai County with heavy rain and flash flooding.
- Flash Flood in Virginia, August 12, 2014Slow moving thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced heavy rain which caused flash flooding across southern portions of the Virginia Eastern Shore.
- Flash Flood and Flood in Delaware, August 12, 2014A slow moving warm front and a low pressure system that formed along it that enhanced the convergence brought flooding rains to northern Delaware during the afternoon and in particular the evening of the 12th.
- Flash Flooding in New Jersey, August 12 to 13, 2014A slow moving warm front and a low pressure system that formed along it that enhanced the convergence brought flash flooding rains to southeastern New Jersey during the evening and overnight on the 12th.
- Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 12, 2014Thunderstorms produced heavy rain and flooding in Prescott.
- Flash Flood in Arizona, August 12, 2014Thunderstorms produced heavy rain and flash flooding in the Agua Fria River.
- Heavy Rain in Texas, August 12, 2014Thunderstorms developed ahead of a weak cold front nearly stationary across the Hill Country. Outflow from this convection combined with the seabreeze moving inland to enhance shower and thunderstorm development across the ranchlands and the brush country.
- Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 12, 2014Thunderstorms caused heavy rain, flash flooding, and debris along and over Interstate 17 between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point rest area. The interstate was closed for a while because of rock slides and multiple accidents. Side roads were flooded underneath the interstate.
- Flash Flooding in New York, August 13, 2014A surface low with its associated warm front approached the area early in the morning before partially lifting through. This boundary provided the focus for very heavy rain in an extremely moist air mass and resulted in historic flash flooding on Long Island.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Washington, August 13 to 15, 2014A closed upper-level low over the Washington Cascades delivered a low shear but unstable environment. Sufficient atmospheric moisture, characterized by precipitable water values near one inch, was already in place.
- Flash Flooding in Connecticut, August 13, 2014A surface low with its associated warm front approached the area early in the morning before partially lifting through. This boundary provided the focus for very heavy rain in an extremely moist air mass and resulted in flash flooding in New Haven County.
- Flash Flooding and Coastal Flood in Rhode Island, August 13, 2014An area of low pressure over New York City lifted northeast across Southern New England. This worked together with a warm humid airmass to produce heavy downpours.
- Flash Flood in Massachusetts, August 13, 2014An area of low pressure moved up the eastern seaboard along a stalled frontal boundary during the morning on Wednesday, August 13th. This system, aided by plenty of moisture off the Atlantic Ocean, produced heavy rain for several hours over the region.
- Flash Flooding and Coastal Flood in Massachusetts, August 13, 2014An area of low pressure over New York City lifted northeast across Southern New England. This worked together with a warm humid airmass to produce heavy downpours.
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Nevada, August 13, 2014Monsoon moisture generated thunderstorms that produced numerous reports of large hail, flash flooding, and wind damage across northeast Nevada, primarily in Elko county.
- Flash Flood in Wyoming, August 13, 2014A slow-moving thunderstorm developed over the Teton Range and produced heavy rain along an axis parallel to and over Paintbrush Canyon. Rainfall amounts of one-half inch to one inch fell in 20 to 30 minutes in the steep-sided canyon.
- Flash Flood in Idaho, August 13, 2014An upper level wave tracked from southern Idaho to western Montana initiating thunderstorm activity. Due to an above normal amount of atmospheric moisture, the embedded thunderstorms brought very heavy rainfall triggering debris flows across the Mustang burn scar west of Shoup.
- Flash Flooding in New Hampshire, August 13, 2014A warm and humid air mass along with an approaching cold front combined to produce 4 to 6 inches of rain in less than 3 hours across Merrimack County. The resulting flash flooding washed out several roads in Bradford and Sutton.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Idaho, August 13, 2014An upper level low pressure system off the coast of Oregon moved slowly inland on the 13th leading to more severe weather across Southwest Idaho.
- Debris Flow in Colorado, August 13, 2014Heavy rainfall on the afternoon of the 13th caused a significant debris flow.
- Flash Flood in Idaho, August 13, 2014Thunderstorms brought flash flooding to Bannock County.
- Flash Flooding in Maine, August 13 to 14, 2014A warm and humid air mass combined with an approaching cold front to produce over 6 inches of rain in 2 to 4 hours causing tremendous flash flooding in eastern Cumberland County. Roads were washed out or flooded by several feet of water.
- Flash Flooding in Maine, August 13 to 14, 2014A warm and humid air mass along with an approaching cold front produced 3 to 5 inches of rain in less than 3 hours resulting in flash flooding. Many roads were washed out or flooded and 1 person was recued from a submerged car.
- Heavy Rain in New Mexico, August 13, 2014An isolated thunderstorm that developed over the Albuquerque Foothills around 3pm on the 13th produced very heavy rainfall within the Embudo Arroyo drainage. In two separate events, a teenage girl and a homeless man were swept away by the flood waters within Embudo Arroyo.
- Flash Flooding in Maine, August 13 to 14, 2014A warm and humid air mass along with an approaching cold front produced 3 to 5 inches of rain in less than 3 hours resulting in flash flooding. Many roads were washed out or flooded.
- Flash Flood in Maine, August 13 to 14, 2014A warm and humid air mass along with an approaching cold front produced over 6 inches of rain in 2 to 4 hours resulting in tremendous flash flooding. Many roads were washed out or flooded resulting in damages of 100,000 dollars in Brunswick.
- Flash Flooding in Utah, August 13 to 14, 2014Heavy rainfall occurred in eastern Utah which filled the Salt and Winter Camp washes in Arches National Park and washes along the Colorado River valley. In the latter, the runoff was swifter and affected county roadways and a highway bridge.
- Flash Flooding in Maine, August 13 to 14, 2014A warm and humid air mass along with an approaching cold front produced 3 to 5 inches of rain in less than 3 hours resulting in flash flooding. A few roads were washed out or flooded in several towns in Kennebec County.
- Heavy Rain in Florida, August 14, 2014Deep tropical moisture was across the area with PWAT of 2.1 inches with deep layer WSW flow. A surface front meandered over SE Georgia. Slow storm motion of 8 kts favored slow storm motion, and multiple forcing mechanisms spawned widespread rainfall covered.
- Coastal Flood in New Hampshire, August 14, 2014An early season Nor'easter developed and moved into the Gulf of Maine early on the 14th.
- Coastal Flood in Maine, August 14, 2014An early season Nor'easter developed and moved into the Gulf of Maine early on the 14th.
- Flash Flooding in Colorado, August 14, 2014Heavy rainfall amounts and rates caused flash flooding west of Divide on US Highway 24 and over portions of Colorado Springs.
- Flash Flooding in Utah, August 14 to 15, 2014Thunderstorms on August 14 and 15 were heaviest east of the spine of Utah, with Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument both reporting flash floods during this period.
- Flash Flood in Idaho, August 14, 2014An upper level wave initiated a thunderstorm that produced very heavy rainfall and subsequently a debris flow along Magruder Road.
- Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 14, 2014Thunderstorms produced heavy rain across central Apache country form Vernon to Concho.
- Flash Flood in Wyoming, August 14, 2014Slow-moving thunderstorms developed over eastern Idaho and drifted east into Lincoln County. A moist airmass combined with the slow movement of the storms resulted in heavy rainfall and several mudslides across US Highway 89 just east of Alpine.
- Heavy Rain in Arizona, August 14, 2014Thunderstorms produced heavy rain northeast of Show Low.
- Flash Flood in Idaho, August 14, 2014Flooding occurred in the basement of an apartment building in Inkom.
More
Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2014Tornadoes in 2014
Sources
NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.