Follows a situation in which rainfall is so intense and severe and runoff so rapid that it precludes recording and relating it to stream stages and other information in time to forecast a flood condition (FEMA definition). See also flood.

A flood which is caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours. Also, at times a dam failure can cause a flash flood, depending on the type of dam and time period during which the break occurs.

Flood of short duration with a relatively high peak discharge.

A brief rush of water through a valley or canyon following a heavy downpour of rain in an otherwise dry region. (See Acts 2)

a flood that occurs suddenly during or shortly following heavy rains or from a sudden release of water (as in a dam break). Small streams and creeks usually react the fastest to heavy rains and rise several feet in hours or even minutes. Flash floods can also be caused by ice jams.

A rapid surge of flooding that subsides after several days and lasts no longer than 10-12 days.

A flood that occurs during unusually intense rainfall or as the result of a dam collapse, during which the floodwaters rise very fast.

a flood caused by a sudden downpour in the desert.

a sudden-onset, severe, but often locally restricted flood event occurring mainly in arid or semi-arid areas with steep topography following intense, short-lived rainstorms. Also occur in narrow valleys or developed urban areas where impervious surfaces increase rapid runoff. Warning times are severely limited.

Flooding with rapid water rise.

A sudden, violent flood, as after an intense rain.

a sudden local flood of great volume and short duration

a flood that develops very quickly along a river or creek, low water crossing, or along a dry streambed due to heavy rain or water releases from dams upstream

a rapid flood ing of low-lying areas, river s and stream s that is caused by the intense rain fall associated with a thunderstorm , or multiple training thunderstorms

a rapidly rising and rapidly flowing surge of water that

a rapid rise of water along a waterway or low-lying area that cannot be dispersed by soil absorption, runoff or drainage

a sudden and extreme volume of water, which flows rapidly and causes inundation and because of nature, is difficult to forecast

a sudden flood event caused by a hydrologic

a sudden local flood of great volume, but short duration, and the deserts are particularly prone to them, as there isn't much soil to absorb the moisture

a torrent of water rushing through normally dry or low-flowing creeks, streams, rivers, washes, ravines, culverts or lower lying ground

a sudden flood caused by heavy rain and or the rapid melting of snow. A flood crest is the highest level reached before the water recedes.

A sudden rise in the level of water in a small river or stream so that the water overflows the banks. The rise in water is caused by sudden rainfall, ice jams, or melting winter snows.

a sudden, intense, localized flooding caused by persistent, heavy rainfall or the failure of a levee or dam.

A flood which is caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally under 6 hours, leading to water that rises and falls quite rapidly. The term may also be used to alert the public of non life threatening flooding of small streams, streets, storm drains, and low lying urban areas. A flash flood can also be caused by the failure of a dam or from ice jams on waterways.

a very rapid rise of water with little or no advance warning. It happens most often when an intense thunderstorm drops a huge rainfall on a fairly small area in a very short period of time.

A dangerous and sudden flood that threatens lives and property and usually occurs after heavy rain. May also occur after an ice jam breaks up or after a dam fails.

A dangerous rise in water level of a creek, stream, or river in a few hours or less, caused by heavy rain, ice jam break-up, earthquake, or dam failure.

A sudden flood of great volume, usually caused by a heavy rain. Also, a flood that crests in a short length of time and is often characterized by high velocity flows. It is often the result of heavy rainfall in a localized area.

Flood with a very rapid rate of rise that occurs shortly after a storm begins.

a local flood of great volume and short duration generally resulting from heavy rainfall in the immediate vicinity

Rapid rises in water in streams, creeks and storm drains that pose a threat to life and property. Flash floods are usually caused by excessive rainfall but ice jams and dam or levee failures can also cause flash flooding.

Flooding caused by a rapid rise in the water level of rivers, streams, or lakes, usually as a result of heavy rains.

The result of heavy or excessive amounts of rainfall within a short period of time, usually less than 6 hours, causing water to rise and fall quite rapidly.

A flood that occurs within a few hours (usually less than six) of heavy or excessive rainfall, dam or levee failure.

A flood that rises quite rapidly with little or no advance warning, usually as a result of intense rainfall over a small area, or possibly, an ice jam, a dam failure, etc.

A flood that can occur very rapidly. Flash floods occur as the result of very heavy rainfall in a short period of time, generally over a relatively small area.

the flooding of an area that occurs in a matter of hours

A flood event occurring with little or no warning where water levels rise at an extremely fast rate.

flood that rises and falls quite rapidly with little or no advance warning, usually as the result of intense rainfall over a relatively small area. Some possible causes are ice jams, dam failure, and topography.

flood that rises and falls quite rapidly with little or no advance warning, usually as the result of intense rainfall over a relatively small area. Flash floods can be caused by situations such as a sudden excessive rainfall, the failure of a dam, or the thaw of an ice jam.

A Flash Flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas (washes), rivers and streams, caused by the intense rainfall associated with a thunderstorm, or multiple training thunderstorms. Flash floods can also occur when ice jams block the normal course of a river, or when a man-made structure, such as a dam, collapses, e.g., the Johnstown Flood of 1889. Flash flooding occurs when the ground becomes saturated with water that fell so quickly that it could not be absorbed.