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Decoding the difference: Cloudburst and flash floods explained
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Cloudburst

Definition: An extreme, sudden and very heavy rainfall (≥100 mm/hour in a localised area, often < 20–30 km²).
Cause:
• Occurs when warm air currents rapidly carry moisture-laden air upward.
• At higher altitudes, condensation happens quickly, leading to a massive downpour in a short time.
• Common in mountainous regions like the Himalayas.
Impact:
• Can trigger flash floods, landslides and damage to infrastructure.
• Not every cloudburst causes a flood, but many do if terrain is steep.

Flashflood

Definition: A sudden, violent flood that develops within minutes to hours of heavy rain, dam break or glacial lake outburst.
Cause:
• Intense rainfall (sometimes from a cloudburst).
• Rapid snowmelt or breach of natural/artificial barriers.
Impact:
• Water level rises very quickly.
• Sweeps away roads, houses, people and livestock.
• Can occur without a cloudburst (e.g., after a dam break).
Key difference
• Cloudburst = the cause (intense local rainfall event).
• Flash flood = the effect (sudden flooding that may or may not result from a cloudburst).
Example for clarity:
• Kedarnath 2013: A cloudburst + glacial lake outburst led to devastating flash floods.
Here’s a crisp UPSC-style comparison table for quick revision:
Cloudburst vs flash flood
Aspect
Cloudburst
Flash flood
Definition
Sudden, very heavy rainfall in a small area (≥100 mm/hour).
Sudden and violent flooding that develops within minutes to hours.
Nature
Meteorological event (extreme rainfall).
Hydrological event (sudden water flow).
Cause
Rapid condensation of moisture-laden air, often in mountainous regions.
Intense rainfall (often from cloudburst), dam/glacial lake breach or rapid snowmelt.
Scale
Very localised (10-30 km²).
Can affect larger downstream areas.
Timeframe
Rainfall occurs within minutes to a few hours.
Flood develops very quickly after trigger (minutes-hours).
Impact
Can trigger flash floods, landslides, soil erosion.
Sweeps away infrastructure, lives, crops, livestock.
Relation
A cause (extreme rainfall event).
An effect (sudden flooding event).
Example in India
Leh (2010), Uttarakhand (2013).
Kedarnath floods (2013), Himachal Pradesh flash floods (2023).
Mnemonic for exam:
• Cloudburst = Sky event (rainfall)
• Flash Flood = Ground event (flooding)
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