A stalled low pressure system and frontal boundary across the southern Great Lakes region brought record rainfall to southeast Michigan beginning the morning of May 17, 2020 and continuing into the afternoon hours of May 19, 2020. Total rainfall reached 1 to 6 inches across southeast Michigan, with the 4 to 6 inches focused across the Tri-Cities region. As a result, several rivers across the region flooded including significant flooding occurring along the Saginaw River and historic flooding along the Tittabawassee River in Midland county. The heavy rain in the Tri-Cities region resulted in the catastrophic failures of the Edenville and Sanford dams northwest of the city of Midland, which lead to extensive damage to structures and roads.  The evacuation of  10,000 residents in the city of Midland before the dams gave way prevented any loss of life. The heavy rain also resulted in hundreds of road closures across the region.
In addition to the heavy rainfall, a tight pressure gradient resulting from the area of low pressure further exacerbated already high Great Lakes water levels and enabled strong east to northeast winds to produce significant lakeshore flooding along the shorelines of Lake Huron (particularly Saginaw Bay), Lake St. Clair, and western Lake Erie. Significant river flooding once again occurred along the St. Clair River as well along Anchor Bay in portions of Macomb and St. Clair counties. While a stalled low pressure system bringing soaking rainfall often occurs at least once or twice during the spring months in the vicinity of southeast Michigan, the combination of heavy rainfall, significant lakeshore and river flooding, and the resultant dam failures in Midland county make this event historically significant.

Lakeshore Flood in BAY, MICHIGAN
From 18-MAY-20 15:15:00 to 18-MAY-20 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The water level at Essexville peaked at 70.60 above LWD at 1542 LST.

Flood in MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
From 20-MAY-20 06:30:00 to 21-MAY-20 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: EDENVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The flooding from the failure of the Edenville and Sanford Dams was slow to recede, with road closures persisting for days.

Flood in SAGINAW, MICHIGAN
From 18-MAY-20 11:00:00 to 19-MAY-20 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FENMORE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread flooding closed over 100 roads across Bay, Midland, and Saginaw Counties. In Saginaw County, there were numerous structures that suffered flood damage. A total of 148 buildings suffered major damage, with 13 homes or buildings destroyed, while another 287 buildings were affected or suffered minor damage from a combination of areal flooding and river flooding.

Flood in SAGINAW, MICHIGAN
From 18-MAY-20 23:00:00 to 26-MAY-20 10:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: FORDNEY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 9.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Saginaw River experienced moderate flooding due to the heavy rainfall across the Tri-cities, with the river cresting at 22.32 feet during the evening of May 22nd. In Saginaw County, there were numerous structures that suffered flood damage. A total of 148 buildings suffered major damage, with 13 homes or buildings destroyed, while another 287 buildings were affected or suffered minor damage from a combination of areal flooding and river flooding.

Flash Flood in MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
From 19-MAY-20 16:38:00 to 20-MAY-20 06:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: EDENVILLE
Flood cause: Dam / Levee Break
Property damage: 100.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The failure of Edenville Dam lead to the failure of the Sanford Dam downstream and historic flooding along the Tittabawassee River as the river stage at Midland reached 35.05 feet on May 20th.  Widespread homes and businesses suffered damage.  Two bridges were washed away and the highway U.S. 10 bridge was also damaged.

Flash Flood in MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
From 19-MAY-20 19:30:00 to 20-MAY-20 11:07:00 (EST-5)
Location: SANFORD
Flood cause: Dam / Levee Break
Property damage: 100.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Sanford Dam failed due to the failure of the Edenville Dam upstream in response to widespread heavy rain.  This lead to historic flooding along the Tittabawassee River as the river stage at Midland reached 35.05 feet on May 20th. Approximately 1000 buildings or homes were severely damaged or destroyed, with about 1500 homes or buildings being affected or suffering minor flood damage in total across Midland County.

Flood in BAY, MICHIGAN
From 18-MAY-20 11:00:00 to 19-MAY-20 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BENTLEY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread flooding closed over 100 roads across Bay, Midland, and Saginaw Counties.

Flood in MIDLAND, MICHIGAN
From 18-MAY-20 11:00:00 to 19-MAY-20 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLEASANT VLY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread flooding closed over 100 roads across Bay, Midland, and Saginaw Counties.

Lakeshore Flood in MONROE, MICHIGAN
From 16-MAY-20 16:50:00 to 19-MAY-20 19:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The water level at Toledo peaked at 88.20 above LWD at 2330 LST on May 18th.

Lakeshore Flood in WAYNE, MICHIGAN
From 17-MAY-20 19:40:00 to 19-MAY-20 18:10:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The water level at Fermi peaked at 81.60 above LWD at 2218 LST on May 18th.
The water level at Gibraltar peaked at 79.20 above LWD at 2224 LST on May 18th.