We’ve talked before about the devastation of flash floods. While we often associate flooding with spring snowmelt or late summer hurricanes, flash floods happen most often when weather is hot and dry.
One explanation for the connection between heat and flash floods is thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are a primary cause of flash flooding and happen when weather is hot. Thunderstorms are caused by the rapid upward movement of warm, moist air. As the moist air rises, it cools and condenses. As the water droplets start to fall, they collect additional droplets and become heavy rain.
When heavy rain lands on dry, drought-stricken land, the soil can’t absorb water quickly. It accumulates, overwhelming existing rivers and streams, and flash flooding can result.
Fortunately, there are tools for monitoring water levels. D5G Technology has an app for iPhones, iPod touches and iPads that uses data from the US Geological Survey and National Weather Service. The FloodWatch app provides historical and current river heights, precipitation totals and flood stage data.
If you’d rather receive this type of information as an SMS or email, you can sign up for that too. The US Geological Survey has a WaterAlert service that automatically sends emails or text messages when levels exceed user-defined thresholds.
If your area is particularly prone to flooding from thunderstorms and high water levels, make flood vents part of your flood preparation plan. Flood vents allow flood waters to flow through your home as water levels rise. So you’re more likely to end up with a wet basement than severe structural damage.
Flood Solutions makes all its FEMA compliant flood vents in the United States. To learn more about our products, contact us.
