flash flood

noun

: a local flood of short duration generally resulting from heavy rainfall in the immediate vicinity
flash flood verb

Examples of flash flood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 Aug. 2025 With more rain expected over the next several days, flash floods swept through southeastern Tennessee late Tuesday, Aug. 12, as storms tracked the region, dumping 6 inches of rain onto Chattanooga and nearby suburbs. Brandi D. Addison, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025 The storms brought destructive heavy rainfall and flash floods to the nation’s Sao Vicente island. Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 The flood watches and flash flood warnings in Tennessee come as numerous rainstorms have inundated the U.S. this summer, including more than a foot of rain that fell in the Milwaukee area over the weekend. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flash flood

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flash flood was in 1940

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flash flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flash%20flood. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on flash flood

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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