Severe Weather History


Michigan Flash Flood History: 541 Recorded Events

541

Recorded events

78

Counties affected

6

Direct deaths

$2.6B

Property damage

Michigan flash flood history: 541 recorded events across 78 counties between 1996 and 2026.

Decade by decade

Michigan flash flood history by decade

Michigan flash flood history: recorded events per decade
Michigan flash flood history: recorded events per decade

The 2000s are the busiest decade on record with 235 reported flash flood events across Michigan. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.

County ranking

Counties with the most flash flood events in Michigan

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1Wayne County350$1.3B1996–2025
#2Macomb County250$303.3M1997–2025
#3Oakland County241$407.2M1996–2025
#4Berrien County180$7.4M1996–2023
#5Washtenaw County170$8.4M1998–2025
#6Marquette County170$3.0M2003–2022
#7Genesee County160$7.6M1997–2025
#8Allegan County142$8.5M1996–2010
#9Kent County140$1.1M1996–2026
#10Grand Traverse County130$2.2M1999–2023
#11Dickinson County130$288K1999–2022
#12Ottawa County131$38.5M1996–2011
#13Barry County110$1.1M1997–2011
#14Lenawee County100$435K1996–2010
#15Mason County90$3.3M1997–2012
#16Houghton County91$106.8M2006–2025
#17Muskegon County90$785K1997–2001
#18Cass County90$01996–2018
#19Manistee County90$5.0M2000–2024
#20Wexford County90$832K2000–2013
#21Ingham County80$5.3M1996–2011
#22Clinton County80$325K1996–2009
#23Lapeer County80$6.3M1996–2017
#24Isabella County80$4.2M1996–2011
#25Eaton County80$1.9M1996–2013
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

Significant events

Deadliest flash flood events in Michigan

DateCountyScaleDeathsInjuries
Jun 8, 2008Allegan County—20
Jun 22, 1996Bay County—10
Jun 17, 2018Houghton County—10
Jun 18, 1996Oakland County—10
Jun 8, 2008Ottawa County—10
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

All hazards in Michigan · Flash Flood across the U.S.