There are many types of flooding that can impact us across the country, including river flooding, areal flooding, and flash flooding. These are different types of one of the deadliest natural disasters in the United States.
Flash flooding is the most dangerous kind as it can happen in the blink of an eye! This is when water levels rise within six hours of the cause, which can be from heavy rain and sometimes rapid runoff from elevated terrain.
River floods happen when the water level rises to the point it spills out of its banks and inundates typically dry areas. Some of the causes include ice jams, rapid snow melt, heavy rain, or dam failures. This type of flooding will be classified as minor, moderate, or major depending on the water height and potential impacts.
Areal flooding develops at a slower pace and can occur more than six hours after moderate to heavy rain begins. Think about flooding covering large areas such as farm land and neighborhoods as a visual example.
It’s important to pay attention to the type of flooding that could threaten your neighborhood so when a watch, warning, or advisory is issued, you know the best way to prepare. Just remember – flooding can happen anywhere in the United States, and during any time of year.