Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Flash flood
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images & Videos
Muddy, fast-moving floodwater surges over rocks and through trees, with dense green foliage in the foreground and forested riverbanks in the background. Infographic showing a cross-section of a landscape with mountains, valleys, farms, and houses, illustrating how heavy rainfall from a storm cloud leads to water flowing downhill, pooling in low-lying areas, and causing a flash flood when the ground cannot absorb it. Numbered steps explain rain runoff, water buildup, and the impact of hard or dry ground on flooding.
A dry river bed and surrounding land.
Watch a desert thunderstorm and resulting flash flood scour the sandy soil and terrain
Related Questions

Flash flood: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • John P. Rafferty
    John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to the natural world.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Article title updated for style. Nov 10, 2026
New article added. Jul 09, 2025
Added an illustration and a video. Jul 09, 2025
View Changes:
Article History
Revised:
By: