A cloudburst is an extreme weather phenomenon characterized by a sudden, intense rainfall over a small geographical area in a short period, often less than two hours. During a cloudburst, rainfall can exceed 100 mm per hour, overwhelming the ground’s capacity to absorb water and causing flash floods.
Causes of Cloudbursts:
- Orographic Lifting: Cloudbursts often occur in mountainous regions when warm, moisture-laden air is rapidly uplifted due to a barrier like a mountain. This causes the air to cool quickly, condensing the moisture and leading to heavy precipitation.
- Convective Clouds: Highly localized convective clouds, which hold large amounts of water, are unable to release it gradually and burst suddenly, leading to intense rainfall.
Effects:
- Cloudbursts result in flash floods, landslides, and destruction of property, particularly in hilly regions, causing significant damage and loss of life. They are unpredictable and difficult to forecast accurately.
