What Is a Flash Flood?

Flash floods are usually caused by intense storms that drop a lot of rain over a short period. A flash flood can also be due to the breakup of an ice dam, or the destruction of a human-constructed dam. These kinds of floods are sudden and highly unpredictable. They may sweep everything before them for a short while, and can be deadly. In arid regions, flash floods may occur far downstream of the rainstorm, with little warning. You always should be wary of walking in a streambed in a region prone to flash floods. People are killed every year when the unexpected surge of water, rocks, wood, and other debris comes crashing down on them.

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