Forecasting 101: Flooding Types

As Meteorologist, one must look at several factors in order to decipher whether some sort of flooding is possible. Remember, it doesn't always have to rain in your backyard for it to flood. 

There are various reasons that flood can occur under, for example; multiple days of rain, snow melt, poor drainage. However, to break it down there are three main types of flooding.

1. Is your A-typical Basic Flood, which is commonly called "river flooding". This type of flood is caused by an overflowing river or some similar body of water that last for an extended amount of time, usually greater than 12 hours. This type of flooding is generally due to an excessive amount of rain over a couple of days. However, snow melt can be another cause.

2. Flash Flooding, is when an area receives an excessive amount of rain in a short time. This type of flooding can cause poor drainage areas to flood very suddenly. A big cause to flash flooding can also be leaves or clog drains, because there is no where for the water to drain in piles up and floods. Flash Flooding is probably the most severe kind of flooding because it can happen so quickly and catch people off guard.

3. Coastal Flooding, occurs when strong onshore winds push water from an ocean, bay or inlet onto land. This type of flooding can form from storm surges associated with tropical storms and hurricanes, or can be associated with non-tropical storms such as "nor'easters".



Info/ Picture From:
Noaa.gov
weather.com
news9.com