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This year is about to become "one of the summers most impacted by floods" in the United States, according to A new report of Accuweather. Sudden floods are defined by the National Weather Service (NWS) as floods Start in three at six o'clock "extremely heavy" precipitation of thunderstorms.

Destruction is influenced by a number of factors, including topography and intensity, location and distribution of precipitation. For example, the NWS claims that urban areas are "subject to floods in a short time" and will probably undergo "more serious" floods compared to the suburbs or the countryside.

In relation: Meteorologists warn against the Hurricane season above average: "Be prepared".

There have already been 4,800 sudden floods this year.

The central flood of Texas, which won the county of Kerr during the weekend of July 4, caused a massive destruction and a significant loss of human life. The region has obtained more than 12 inches of rain, which means that the Guadalupe river swells 27 feet in less than an hour. The catastrophic event killed more than 130 people - many of whom were children and Three remain missing . According to Accuweather, this marks the second most defined flood event of State State in history.

Meanwhile, sudden floods were also reported in the Carolines, in New Mexico (where the houses were separated from their foundations) and New Jersey. A series of thunderstorms has torn the big cities like Chicago and New York earlier this month. At a given time, Central Park obtained 2.07 inches of precipitation in one hour, "by doing the second most paid hour ever recorded in the city", in accordance The New York Times.

There have been 4,800 sudden floods this year, so far - and what is even more terrifying is that the hurricane season is just beginning.

"Until now, in 2025, through the United States, there has been a 70% increase In sudden flood reports when you compare this to the 10-year historical average in mid-July, "said Chief Meteorologist Accuweather Jon carry . "This means that there have been more than 4,800 sudden flood reports. This is a large number and why so many people feel like they have heard a lot about the sudden floods in the news."

Meteorological experts have noticed a change in the precipitation patterns after consecutive years of flooding reports lower than the average. During the summer of 2024, light flood reports increased by 30% - this statistic has more than doubled in the past 12 months.

In relation: Meteorologists predict that forest fires are burning 9 million acres this year .

These areas are the most prone to sudden floods:

While hurricanes and blizzards are considered to be seasonal natural disasters, sudden floods are not, which means that they can occur every time. However, meteorologists consider summer as the peak period due to "how the atmosphere behaves".

“Diurnal heating fuels are stronger thunderstorms. The warmer air contains more humidity. The higher level winds slow down while the jet stream moves north. These combined factors can allow a slow movement to storms blocked to unload huge precipitation in the same area, more than the soil can absorb it or the infrastructure can open it, "explains Accuweather.

This was the case for the Sudden Central Floods of Texas. Experts warn that the Ohio Valley, the Midwest and the "South and Northeast" are for a wet summer due to a "very active storm of Canada". This opens the doors to an "ample opportunity" for serious precipitation.

In addition, high levels of water vapor in the air mean that "summer storms now bear more punch, increasing the flood potential across the country". This is obvious in forecast forecasts for the south and northeast.

"The Tennessee Valley should undergo an increase of 20 to 40% of these precipitation events, as well as parts of New England," according to Accuweather analysis.

In relation: The meteorologist warns that it is the n ° 1 sign a tornado is preparing .

How to stay away from sudden floods:

Although precipitation is a relatively good thing, it is important to reiterate that sudden floods are a serious threat to the life and infrastructure of a city. "It means that when the rain falls, it can fall quickly and hard," said Accuweather.

Actually, Central climate have found that time precipitation rates have skyrocketed over almost 90% of major American cities in the past 50 years.

As the battery explains: “These changes, combined with aging infrastructure, make floods with rapid appearance more likely to cause damage, injuries and death. And although each storm has its own configuration, the experts agree that the atmosphere is more humid, precipitation falls and the risk does not disappear. ”

Sudden floods, unfortunately, occur at any time, which is why preparation is the key.

"Sudden floods can occur with little warning, and in places that are not used to seeing it. Know your risk of flooding, pay attention to alerts and never underestimate a short burst of heavy rains. Being aware of weather conditions can make the difference between life and death," advises accuweather experts.

The Fema Flood Map service center has a interactive card This allows people to see if they live in an flood area designated via a simple address search.