flash flood

/ˌˈflæʃ ˌflʌd/

/flæʃ fləd/

Other forms: flash floods

A flash flood happens very quickly during heavy rain, filling streets and valleys with water and creating potentially dangerous situations.

A flash flood occurs when a lot of rain falls in a short time, causing water to rise rapidly and flood the land. This can happen within minutes or hours of a storm, making flash floods extremely dangerous. They often occur in areas with poor drainage or where the ground can't absorb water quickly, like cities with lots of pavement. Flash floods can sweep away cars, damage houses, and even change the landscape.

Definitions of flash flood

1. noun

   a sudden and great flow of water in a short period of time
   synonyms: flashflood

   types:

   floodhead

   a wall of water rushing ahead of the flood

   type of:

   alluvion, deluge, flood, inundation

   the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land