Flash Flood — Baraga, Michigan

2025-05-15 · near Arnheim, Baraga, Michigan

Event narrative

A localized area of up to 4.2 inches of rainfall fell (per a public source in Pequaming) in a few hours between about 12:30 AM through about 5 AM, with the Baraga and L'Anse CWOP stations recording rain rates of a quarter to half inch of rain per 15 minutes and various stations recorded 1-2+ inch per hour rates. This sudden rainfall caused road overtopping and washouts in the communities of Keweenaw Bay, Baraga, L'Anse, and Pequaming as well as rural surrounding areas. Bus routes were rerouted and beaches were closed due to wastewater backups causing E. Coli and Fecal Coliform contamination. Many basements and private drives were flooded as well. Local rivers such as the Silver River reported up to a 5 foot increase in only a few hours.

Wider weather episode

Training thunderstorms around the Keweenaw Bay produced impactful flash flooding in Baraga County on the morning of the 15th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (46.8954, -88.4806)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1266270. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.