WHAT IS A CLOUDBURST?

A cloudburst is defined as an extreme amount of precipitation in a short period of time. It is sometimes accompanied by hail and thunder and is capable of creating flood conditions, like in the case of

Kerala. Cloudbursts can quickly dump large amounts of water, according to experts.

Most cloudbursts occur in connection with thunderstorms. In these storms there are violent uprushes of air, which at times prevent the condensing raindrops from falling to the ground.

A 2017 study of cloudbursts in the Indian Himalayas noted that

most of the events occurred in the months of July and August.

Where does cloudburst happen?

Cloudburst is basically a rainstorm and occurs in highaltitude areas due to the formation of a low-pressure area on the top of a mountain. In some cloudbursts, up to 13 centimetres of rain can fall in an hour, often in the form of extremely large droplets.

Why is a cloudburst dangerous?

Cloudbursts are dangerous, especially if it lasts for several hours, due to their ability to cause heavy flash floods as well as landslide events. It can cause rivers and lakes to swell to critical levels.