cloudbursts
Intense brief rainstorms
Cloudbursts is the plural of cloudburst, a sudden, intense downpour—rain so heavy it seems the clouds have burst open.
The word emphasizes the abruptness and violence of the rainfall rather than its duration: The cloudburst flooded the streets within minutes.
Cloudbursts are typically brief but can cause flash flooding.
Intense precipitation event
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- torrentViolent rushing flow
- rainstormHeavy precipitation event
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
monsoon · flash flood · waterspout · cascade · gush · drenching · soaking · sheets of rain
Violent weather with lightning
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
- tempestViolent windstorm or turmoil
cumulonimbus · nimbus · gale · cloudscape · atmospheric · barometric · weather front · tropical storm
Brief burst of light
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- swiftMoving with speed
rapid · unpredictable · instantaneous · fleeting · momentary · transient · ephemeral · brief
downpour
Intense precipitation event
rainfall · monsoon · flash flood · waterspout · cascade · gush · drenching · soaking · sheets of rain · wall of water
thunderstorm
Violent weather with lightning
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
tempest · cumulonimbus · nimbus · gale · cloudscape · atmospheric · barometric · weather front · tropical storm · convection
flash
Brief burst of light
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- abruptSharp and unexpected
swift · rapid · unpredictable · instantaneous · fleeting · momentary · transient · ephemeral · brief · short-lived
- monsoonmonsoon winds, wet season, rainy season, heavy rain, torrential rain
- monsoon seasonrain, rainfall, monsoon, flooding, showers
- disastersdisaster, earthquake, earthquakes, catastrophe, floods
- monsoonsmonsoon winds, monsoon rains, wet season, break, seasonal shift
- desert phenomenasandstorm, dust storm, mirage, heat wave, dust devil
- desert wateroases, wadi, wadis, wells, springs
cloudburstsdrizzle
Very light precipitation
mist · sprinkle · light rain · sprinkling · scattered showers
cloudburstsdrought
Prolonged water scarcity
dry spell · aridity · dryness · clear skies · fair weather