When is heavy rainfall a cloudburst, and when is it not? | Explained
This article clarifies the meteorological definition of a cloudburst, distinguishing it from general heavy rainfall, and discusses the challenges in accurately recording these events. It notes that climate change is increasing the frequency of such extreme weather, which often causes significant destruction in high-altitude regions.
Why it matters
Understanding the distinction between heavy rain and cloudbursts is essential for disaster management, infrastructure planning, and public safety in vulnerable mountainous regions.
When a wall of water suddenly crashes from the sky and sweeps away homes and roads within minutes, one of the first words officials and the media in India reach for is ‘cloudburst’. However, the term is often misused in a way that can distract from poor planning and crumbling infrastructure.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a cloudburst occurs when a small area, around 20-30 sq. km, receives 10 cm or more of rain in an hour.
To put this in perspective, Indore receives 1,062 mm of rain every year on average. A cloudburst could dump nearly 10% of this in 60 minutes.
Heavy rains are a common feature of the southwest monsoon, but a cloudburst is still an extraordinary amount of rainfall and much rarer.
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