Storms cause flash floods in Metro Detroit, cut power to thousands

Julia Cardi, The Detroit News on Jul 28, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Storms with heavy rain caused flash flooding across Metro Detroit early Monday evening, delaying flights at Detroit Metro Airport and leaving thousands of electricity customers without power statewide.

The Wayne County Airport Authority reported flooding at "several locations across the Detroit Metro Airport campus, including the Dingell Drive tunnel" and said the weather was affecting flights. According to Flight Aware, 411 flights were delayed and 64 canceled Monday at Detroit Metro. The airport authority advised visitors to reach and leave the McNamara Terminal from the south via Eureka Road.

As of 6:30 p.m., the Dingell Drive tunnel was open to northbound traffic to reach McNamara Terminal but closed southbound, airport authority spokesperson Matt Morawski said in an email.

The storms had for a time delayed arriving flights at the airport by an average of 45 minutes, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, though the alert was no longer on the FAA’s website by 6:30 p.m.

The Romulus Police Department reported flooding throughout the city as of 6:30 p.m., with Wayne Road and Interstate 94 impacted the most by standing water. A police dispatcher said officers pulled multiple vehicles out of floodwaters and that no motorists were injured.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for Macomb County through 7:15 p.m., and flood advisories for Wayne County through 7 p.m. and for Oakland County through 7:15 p.m.

As of 7:35 p.m., DTE Energy reported 10,398 customers without electricity in its service area, while Consumers Energy reported outages affecting 8,929 customers.

Sara Schultz, operation program leader for the National Weather Service station in White Lake Township, said Detroit Metro Airport received 2.68 inches of rain, breaking the record for July 28 of 2.16 inches set in 2011.

"We had half-inch hail that was reported at the airport," she said.

A Delta spokesperson said 27 planes at Detroit Metro "required hail inspections" before being returned to service.

Elsewhere in Metro Detroit, St. Clair Shores received 4 inches of rain, Roseville got 3.01 inches and 2.92 inches fell in Sterling Heights, Schultz said. Wind gusts of 44 mph were reported along the Lake St. Clair shoreline.

_____