A sudden, violent flood that occurs within hours or minutes of heavy rainfall, typically in arid regions or areas with poor drainage. These floods are characterized by rapidly rising water levels and high-velocity flows that can move boulders and debris.
Compound of 'flash' (sudden burst) and 'flood,' first recorded in American English in the 1940s as settlement expanded into arid western regions prone to sudden flooding. The term emphasizes the speed and unpredictability of these events.
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