Roadways at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport have reopened after overnight flooding caused disruptions on Thursday. The McNamara Terminal, which was partly blocked due to flooding, is now accessible again, according to airport authorities. The northbound and southbound tunnels on Dingell Drive have also reopened. However, the airport is still experiencing ground delays as a result of the prior ground stop, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The National Weather Service reported that three inches of rain fell on the airport over a five-hour period, leading to some flooding. The McNamara Terminal was particularly affected due to flooding in the Dingell Drive tunnels. The airport attributed the flooding to the sheer amount of rain in a short period of time.
The impact of the flooding and thunderstorms resulted in the cancellation of approximately 18% of flights originating from the airport on Thursday, with Delta Air Lines being hit the hardest with 96 canceled flights. Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), a major hub for both Delta and Spirit, operates over 1,100 flights per day, according to its website.
The heavy rain and flooding at the airport are part of a larger risk of severe storms and flooding in the Great Lakes area. A level 2 out of 4 risk for flooding extends from Ohio into Pennsylvania, affecting over 40 million people in the Great Lakes region, including cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland. More strong to severe storms are expected in these areas.
CNN’s Sara Smart, Ross Levitt, and Dave Hennen contributed to this report.
How did the flooding at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport affect travel operations and flight cancellations?
Roadways at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport have finally reopened, bringing relief to travelers after disruptive overnight flooding. The McNamara Terminal, which had been partly blocked due to the flooding, is now accessible again, as confirmed by airport authorities. Additionally, the northbound and southbound tunnels on Dingell Drive have reopened, allowing for smoother traffic flow. However, the airport’s operations are still experiencing ground delays as a consequence of the previous ground stop, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The National Weather Service disclosed that torrential rains caused around three inches of precipitation over a span of five hours, leading to some flooding at the airport. Among the affected areas, the McNamara Terminal bore the brunt of the flooding due to water accumulation in the Dingell Drive tunnels. Airport officials attributed the flooding to the tremendous amount of rainfall within a short period.
As a result of the flooding and thunderstorms, approximately 18% of flights originating from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport were canceled on Thursday, with Delta Air Lines being the hardest hit, experiencing 96 canceled flights. Being a major hub for both Delta and Spirit, Detroit Metropolitan Airport operates over 1,100 flights per day, according to its website.
The heavy rain and flooding experienced at the airport reflect a broader risk of severe storms and flooding in the Great Lakes area. A level 2 out of 4 risk for flooding, affecting over 40 million individuals in the Great Lakes region, including cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland, extends from Ohio into Pennsylvania, as indicated by recent weather reports. Moreover, these areas should brace themselves for the likelihood of more strong to severe storms in the near future.
This report contains contributions from CNN’s Sara Smart, Ross Levitt, and Dave Hennen.
Hope everyone stays safe and that the airport can quickly recover from this situation.
Sophia: Stay strong, Detroit! Hopefully the roads and airport will be back to normal soon.
David: Flooding can be such a hassle. Wishing a smooth recovery for both the airport and the affected travelers.