CLOUDBURST

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Context

The occurrence of cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, their impact, and the challenges in forecasting such events.

Details

• Recent heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have led to landslides, resulting in casualties and damage.
• Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu mentioned cloudbursts as part of the ongoing weather situation.

Defining a Cloudburst

• A cloudburst is an intense, localized rainfall event, often occurring in hilly regions.
• The rainfall intensity is specific: 10 cm or more within an hour over an approximately 10 km x 10 km area constitutes a cloudburst.
• Even 5 cm of rainfall in a half-hour within the same area qualifies as a cloudburst.

Comparing Cloudbursts to Regular Rainfall

• In comparison, India receives about 116 cm of annual rainfall on average.
• During a cloudburst, a location may receive around 10% of its yearly rainfall in just one hour, causing extreme and sudden flooding.

Frequency of Cloudbursts

• Cloudbursts are not uncommon, especially in hilly regions during monsoon months.
• The unique local topology, wind patterns, and temperature differences contribute to their occurrence.

Impact and Connection to Damage

• Cloudbursts often lead to landslides and flash floods due to the terrain, causing significant destruction downstream.
• Despite localized impact, the consequences of cloudbursts can extend beyond the immediate area.

Forecasting Challenges

• While the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts rainfall events, predicting exact rainfall quantities is challenging.
• Forecasts cover relatively large geographical areas, becoming less accurate for smaller regions.
• Specific cloudbursts cannot be precisely predicted due to limited instruments and technology.

Increase in Extreme Rainfall

• While there is no clear rise in cloudburst incidents, extreme rainfall and weather events are increasing globally.
• Climate change contributes to more intense wet spells with heavier rainfall in shorter periods.
• This pattern suggests a potential increase in cloudbursts as part of the changing climate scenario.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/himachal-pradesh-cloudbursts-explained-8892242/