A sudden, rapid rise of water in a normally dry or low-flow area, typically caused by intense rainfall over a short period, dam or levee failure, or the sudden release of water from an ice jam. Flash floods develop within minutes to a few hours of the triggering rainfall, giving little warning time, and their fast-moving water is a leading cause of weather-related deaths, particularly among people caught in vehicles or slot canyons.
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The intense, concentrated rainfall a tropical cyclone delivers is a direct and well-documented cause of flash flooding, both along the coast and far inland as the storm weakens.
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