Understanding cloudbursts and what follows them is very important to understand why flash floods have plagued Uttarkashi and Kishtwar in recent times.
A cloudburst is a sudden, intense “burst” of rainfall on a specific area, often flooding the area very fast.
It takes place when warm, moisture-rich air rises fast and cools rapidly at higher altitudes (also called orographic lift).
Orographic lift and strong updrafts prevent rainfall, which leads to rain being stored in certain clouds—until they burst when they can no longer hold the rain in.
Unlike a long downpour, cloudbursts are short, violent and concentrated over a particular area.
Cloudbursts often occur with little warning and are very difficult to predict, but may be preceded by tall cumulonimbus clouds, strong winds, and thunderstorms, the IMD has said.
Although cloudbursts typically take place in hilly regions—especially those in the Himalayan belt—they can also occur in coastal and tropical regions, as per an NDMA report.
Apart from a significant loss of life and damage to property, cloudbursts often trigger flash floods that lead to environmental degradation and displace hundreds.
Precautionary measures include heading to higher ground, avoiding attempts to travel through the floodwater, and constantly monitoring weather alerts from reliable, trustworthy sources.