flash flood

plural flash floods · alternative flashflood

1. climatologyA sudden, rapid flood, usually of short duration and local impact.

   The West Highland Line reopened for passengers on July 11, following emergency repair works after more than 1,600 tons of material was washed away by a flash flood on June 25.

   2020 August 12, Philip Haigh, “Short-term access planning is not in passengers' interest”, in Rail, page 55, photo caption

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   One of the most heavily hit regions was Germany’s Ahrweiler district, where flash floods surged through the village of Schuld, washing away six houses and leaving several more on the verge of collapse. The police said at least 50 people had died in Ahrweiler district.

   2021 July 15, Melissa Eddy, “Hundreds Missing and Scores Dead as Raging Floods Strike Western Europe”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 11 Aug 2021