spate
Rush of many
A spate is a sudden rush or outpouring, typically of events or occurrences: a spate of burglaries, a spate of resignations.
The word originally referred to a river flooding after heavy rain, and that sense of sudden overwhelming volume carries into figurative use.
Things that come in spates arrive in concentrated bursts rather than steady streams.
Overwhelming surge of water
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- torrentViolent rushing flow
- overflowExceed capacity and spill
- outpouringCopious, spontaneous release
barrage · avalanche · onslaught · cascade · blitz · bombardment · volley · profusion
Sudden large arrival
- upsurgeRapid marked increase
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- flurryBrief burst of activity
rash · epidemic · uptick · spike · rise · escalation · increase · swell
Snowmelt-driven flood
- flash floodRapid overflow from storms
- high waterMaximum tidal level
- runoffExcess water drainage
- currentDirected flow of charge
flow · discharge · floodwater · swollen · rushing · turbulent · rapids · streamflow
inundation
Overwhelming surge of water
outpouring · barrage · avalanche · onslaught · cascade · blitz · bombardment · volley · profusion · glut
influx
Sudden large arrival
flurry · rash · epidemic · uptick · spike · rise · escalation · increase · swell · proliferation
freshet
Snowmelt-driven flood
- flash floodRapid overflow from storms
- high waterMaximum tidal level
- runoffExcess water drainage
current · flow · discharge · floodwater · swollen · rushing · turbulent · rapids · streamflow · watershed