Why Is Detroit Flooding?

City officials have repeatedly pointed to climate change as the main culprit in last month's flood, when Detroit was overwhelmed by as much as 8 inches of rain in less than 19 hours.

What caused flooding in Detroit?

Detroit's combined sewer system, which connects sanitary sewers to storm drains, also plays a role in the city's frequent floods. “When you have rain, even just a couple of inches of rain, that combined sewer system gets overwhelmed. And that can lead to backups into people's basements. . .

Is Detroit prone to flooding?

Detroit regularly faces the hazards of flooding. Flooding can happen anytime from the spring through the fall—even winter if warmer than usual temperatures lead to rain rather than snowfall. Flooding tends to be caused by heavy rain: the faster the rainwater reaches the river channel, the more likely it is to flood.