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.
Desert washes in Arizona can go from bone-dry to raging torrents in minutes, with water moving so fast it sounds like a freight train! These floods can occur miles from where it's actually raining, earning them the nickname 'blue sky floods.'
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