A cloudburst is an extreme amount of rainfall in a short period of time, usually over a small area, leading to sudden and severe flooding.
Meaning:
The term literally refers to “clouds bursting open,” but in reality, it is not that the cloud physically bursts. Instead, it’s a very intense localized downpour.
By definition, the rainfall intensity in a cloudburst is usually more than 100 mm (about 4 inches) in an hour over a small region (a few square kilometers).

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How it happens:
1. Moisture-laden clouds form
Warm, moist air rises quickly into the atmosphere. If the rising air is strong enough, it carries a large amount of moisture upwards.
2. Condensation and super-saturation
In mountainous regions (like the Himalayas), moist air from monsoon winds is forced to rise due to terrain (orographic lift). This cooling leads to rapid condensation, and the cloud becomes heavily saturated with water.
3. Strong convection currents
Vertical air currents (updrafts) inside the cloud prevent raindrops from falling for some time. This allows the cloud to accumulate an unusually large amount of water.
4. Sudden release
When the updraft weakens or the droplets become too heavy, the cloud releases an immense volume of rain all at once. This is perceived as a cloudburst.

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Common Conditions:
Mostly occurs in mountainous regions (Himalayas, Western Ghats, Rockies, Andes, etc.) because terrain forces moist air upwards quickly.
More frequent during monsoon season in South Asia.
Can also happen during thunderstorms when atmospheric instability is high.
🌧️ Impact: Cloudbursts can cause flash floods, landslides, and destruction of infrastructure because the ground cannot absorb so much rain so quickly.
🌧️ Cloudburst vs. Normal Heavy Rain
Feature Cloudburst Normal Heavy Rain
Rainfall Intensity Extremely high (≥100 mm in an hour over a small area) High, but usually spread over several hours or days
Area Affected Very localized (few square kilometers) Larger area (tens to hundreds of kilometers)
Duration Very short (minutes to a few hours) Longer (hours to days)
Cause Sudden release of water from highly saturated clouds due to strong convection and orographic effects General monsoon systems, cyclones, or widespread thunderstorms
Impact Flash floods, landslides, sudden destruction Flooding, waterlogging, crop damage, but less sudden
Occurrence More common in mountainous terrain (e.g., Himalayas, Western Ghats) Can occur anywhere (plains, coasts, cities, etc.)
✅ Simple Analogy:
Normal heavy rain = a tap running steadily for a long time.
Cloudburst = a balloon full of water suddenly bursting.