Flood, decoded. Water where it should not be.
A flood is water where it should not be — over roads, into houses, across fields that were dry that morning. It needs no hurricane and no coast: an ordinary thunderstorm parked over one neighborhood can do it, and the dangerous kind, the flash flood, can arrive in minutes. This page is the short version of what counts as a flood, how a flash flood differs from a slow one, what the warning words actually mean, and the one rule that matters most when water covers the road: turn around, don't drown.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.
Slow water, fast water, same rule.
A flood is an overflow of water onto land that is normally dry — a river out of its banks, rain the ground cannot absorb, a storm surge pushed ashore. A flash flood is the fast version: flooding that begins within six hours of the heavy rain that causes it, often in minutes, when intense rain falls faster than the ground and drains can take it away. Flash floods are the deadliest kind precisely because they are fast — in a canyon, a dry wash, or a city street, the water can rise from ankle-deep to life-threatening before the rain overhead even stops.
HOW IT DIFFERS.
Watch means possible. Warning means happening.
A Flood Watch means conditions are favorable for flooding — the ingredients are in place, so stay aware. A Flood Warning means flooding is happening or will happen soon, so move to higher ground and follow local guidance. A Flash Flood Warning is the urgent one: rapid, dangerous flooding is imminent or already occurring, and immediate movement to higher ground is critical — the same ladder runs for coasts and lakeshores, where Coastal Flood and Lakeshore Flood Warnings mean water is coming over the shore.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
Turn around, don't drown.
Never drive through a flooded road: six inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult down, twelve inches can carry away a small car, and two feet of water can carry away most vehicles — and you cannot tell from the driver's seat how deep it is or whether the road underneath is still there. Most flood deaths happen in vehicles, which is why the rule is absolute, not a judgment call: turn around and find another route. Brzzy's forecast, live radar, and severe weather alerts turn the same kind of ground truth into a plain-language answer before you leave: go now, wait it out, or take the high road home.
What is a flood?
A flood is an overflow of water onto land that is normally dry — a river out of its banks, rain the ground cannot absorb, or a storm surge pushed ashore. It needs no hurricane and no coast: an ordinary thunderstorm can flood one neighborhood while the next stays dry.
What is a flash flood, and how is it different from a regular flood?
A flash flood is flooding that begins within six hours of the heavy rain that causes it, often in minutes, when rain falls faster than the ground and drains can take it away. A regular flood builds slowly as rivers rise; a flash flood arrives fast, which is what makes it the deadliest kind.
What do Flood Watch, Flood Warning, and Flash Flood Warning mean?
A Flood Watch means conditions are favorable for flooding. A Flood Warning means flooding is happening or will happen soon — move to higher ground. A Flash Flood Warning means rapid, dangerous flooding is imminent or already occurring, and immediate movement to higher ground is critical.
What should I do if I drive into a flooded road?
Turn around — do not drive through it. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult down, twelve inches can carry away a small car, and two feet can carry away most vehicles. You cannot tell how deep the water is from the driver's seat, or whether the road underneath is still there. Most flood deaths happen in vehicles.
Does Brzzy warn me about floods?
Brzzy shows your local forecast with hourly updates, live radar, severe weather alerts, GIF forecasts, and activity ratings that weigh the sky for your plans. Brzzy is free to download on iPhone.
More from Brzzy: Full weather glossary, Hurricane, Thunderstorms
