“Thus, according to the Drought Monitor in Mexico, as of July 15, the area with some type of drought in Sonora was reduced to 83.1% from the 100% registered on June 15, 2022. In the same period, the number of municipalities with extreme drought decreased from 43 to 14”, detailed the Conagua in a statement .
The presence of this phenomenon of floods occurring after a dry season is reminiscent of the phenomenon known as lightning floods either sudden.
What are flash floods?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains that flash floods correspond to rapid water level rises in creeks or streams above the flood stage. It is a frequent phenomenon in mountain areas subjected to intense rains or rapid thaws or in normally dry areas.
Although the international body focuses on the European continent, this type of flooding can occur anywhere in the world.
In our country, the National Center for Disaster Prevention (Cenapred) details that flash floods can cause small streams to transform in a matter of minutes into violent torrents capable of causing great damage. They are normally associated with land with a steep slope.
Also, the combination of the following characteristics increase the risk of flash floods:
- terrain orographyparticularly in areas with steep slopes, and which determine the speed that the water can reach.
- Vegetation densitywhich often helps to reduce the amount of water that runs freely over a surface.
- Failures in hydraulic infrastructures leading to its breakage.
- Soil absorption capacity, which may be saturated by previous rainfall. In relation to this condition, the waterproofing effect that forest fires usually generate or the presence of non-porous pavements that facilitate runoff deserves a special mention.