For the most part, Florida is a very low-lying
state, and therefore highly susceptiple to flooding. Flooding can be as local as the
flooding of a neighborhood street, or as catastrophic as the Midwest Flood of 1993 where
several states dealt with the overflowing river banks and tributaries of the Mississippi
River. Floods can be caused by melting snow, prolonged rainfall or even a very heavy, but
short-lived rainstorm. Of course, melting snow is not a big dilemma for Florida, but the
added caution our state must deal with is hurricanes. Hurricanes can cause local flooding,
flash flooding, coastal flooding, and possibly mud slides (erosion).
Weather Terms:
Flood: water
overflowing the natural or artificial confines of a stream or other body of water, or
accumulates by drainage over low-lying areas.
Flash Flood: a flood that rises and falls with little or no advance warning, usually as
a result of intense rainfall over a relatively small area. Other causes include ice jams,
dam failure, etc..
Flood Stage: the stage at which overflow or the natural banks of a stream or other
body of water, begins to cause damage in any portion of the reach for which a guage is
used as an index.
Flood Current (or Flood Tide): the movement of a tidal current toward the coast or up an
estuary or tidal waterway; the worst floods occur when this current occurs at high tide.
Flood Forecast: rainfall is heavy enough to cause waterways to overflow their banks.
Flood Warning: a forecast of where, when and how severe an impending flood may be.
Flash Flood Watch: heavy rains are either occurring or will be occurring such that flash
flooding may occur.
Flash Flood Warning: Flash flooding is occurring or is imminent along designated areas. Take
precautions.
