Flash floods occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or sudden release of water held by an ice jam. Most flash flooding is caused by slow-moving thunderstorms, thunderstorms repeatedly moving over the same area, or heavy rains from hurricanes and tropical storms.
Another frequent query is “What is a flash flood and why does it happen?”.
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lakes and depressions. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane, tropical storm, or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields.
Here are just a few:
Heavy rainfall
Ocean waves coming on shore, such as a storm surge
Melting snow and ice, as well as ice jams
Dams or levees breaking.
Another frequent question is “What is flash flooding, and how can you avoid it?”.
The National Weather Service Guam Weather Forecast Office has upgraded to a flash flood warning for and low-lying areas. • Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can.
Flash floods most often occur in dry areas that have recently received precipitation, but they may be seen anywhere downstream from the source of the precipitation, even many miles from the source. In areas on or near volcanoes, flash floods have also occurred after eruptions, when glaciers have been melted by the intense heat.
Flash flood: A flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours. Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains that rip through river beds, urban streets, or mountain canyons sweeping everything before them.
While a watch does not a guarantee that a flash flood will occur, it is a very good indication that your community will experience severe weather. A flash flood warning means a flash flood is either imminent or occurring . In fact, a flash flood can occur so quickly that there isn’t time to send out a flood warning alert.
What to do in case of flash flood?
Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Keep children and pets out of the water. Be especially cautious at night when it’s harder to see flood danger.
One of the next things we wanted the answer to was, how to stay safe during a flash flood?
One article argued that Plan escape routes – ensure all family members know where to go and how to get out. Meeting place – choose a physical location to meet if communication between family members is down. Family communication – identify a family member who lives out-of-state who everyone can notify when they are safe.
What damage do floods cause?
Loss of life and infrastructure. Impacts life of people, they have to be rehabilitated. They lose their homes. Floods destroy agricultural lands and crops. They result in various water borne diseases. Loss of communication network. Roads and railways are completely brought to a stop. Relief can be provid.