What is Flash flood?
{{more sources|date=March 2025}} [[File:Main and University, Charlottesville, during flash flood (comparison).jpg|thumb|right|250px|An underpass in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]], [[United States]] during normal conditions (upper) and after fifteen minutes of heavy rain (lower) in 2017.]] [[File:Driving through flash flood.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Driving through a flash-flooded road in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria]], [[Australia]] in 2007.]] [[File:GobiFlood.JPG|thumb|right|250px|A flash flood after a [[thunderstorm]] in the [[Gobi Desert]], [[Mongolia]] in 2004.]] A '''flash flood''' is very quick [[flood]]ing of low-lying land, usually without prior warning. It may be caused by heavy [[rain]] or water from [[melt]]ed [[ice]] or [[snow]]. Flash floods can also happen after the collapse of a [[dam]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mrx/hydro/flooddef.php | title=Definitions of flood and flash flood | publisher = National Weather Service | accessdate = 2008-08-19}}</ref> A [[tsunami]] causes similar problems but is not usually called a flash flood. How does a flash flood happen: Flash floods occur when heavy rainfall exceeds the ability of the ground to absorb it. They also occur when water fills normally dry creeks or streams or enough water accumulates for streams to overtop their banks, causing rapid rises of water in a short amount of time. Why does a flash flood happen: A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry [[lake]]s and [[:wikt:depression|depressions]]. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe [[thunderstorm]], [[hurricane]], or [[tropical storm]], or by melt-water from ice or snow flowing over [[ice sheet]]s or snowfields. What to Do in Case of Flash Flood: 7 Tips to Stay Safe: * 1. Evacuate the Area Under no circumstances should you or your family remain in the area during a flash flood. ... * 2. Be Aware of Your Surroundings ... * 3. Prepare Beforehand ... * 4. Flood Emergency Kit ... * 5. Have a Family Disaster Plan ... ==References== {