Cloud burst

Why in discussion?

• Flood in Uttarakhand: Cloud burst at three places in Uttarkashi in a single day.

Cloud Burst Phenomenon:- The phenomenon of excessive rainfall (high rainfall) in a short time at a particular place is called ‘cloud burst’. This happens when clouds with high moisture content stop at one place and the moisture present there mixes with each other. Due to their weight, the density of the cloud increases and heavy rain starts. Cloud burst causes flood situation in that area.

Technical Defenition:- If in a small area (10km * 10 km) 10 centimetre of rain occurs in 1 hour or in proportion to that such as 5 cm rain in 30 minutes then it is called cloud burst.

Main Features:-

• High intensity rainfall,
• Cloud burst incident is a localized phenomenon
• Short duration
• Difficult to predict.

Major cloudburst incidents in India:-

• Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) – 2025.
• Himalayan region – Amarnath cave 2022, Kashmir valley- 2014, Ukhimath- 2013.
• In the Western Ghats region.