HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL

HAZARDS

FLOODING
 FLOODING
is when areas usually not covered by water are
engulfed or submerged. It is usually caused by a
temporary rise in or overflowing of streams, rivers, or
confined bodies of water. It may also be caused by
heavy and prolonged rainfall, tsunamis, and storm
surges. Failure of manmade structures such as dams
and clogging of drainage systems are also common
causes of flooding.
Floods typically develop in a span of hours to a few
days. In cases wherein there is rapid inundation (less
than six hours), it is considered a flash flood.
 FACTORS THAT
INFLUENCE FLOODING
Several factors influence the
occurrence of flood:
include rainfall intensity and
duration,
topography, soil conditions, and
ground cover.
Most flash flooding is the result
of prolonged, heavy rainfall from
typhoons or slow-moving
thunderstorms.
 Flooding is more common in
low-lying areas such as plains
and deltas which stream
networks naturally drain water
to.
Surface runoff, or the water
that does not enter the soil and
moves downslope, is more
dominant in impermeable
materials such as clay, or in
cases where the soil is too
saturated to allow infiltration.
Runoff (and consequently, the
likelihood of flooding) is high in
urban areas since much of the
ground is covered by concrete
and such places are often
situated in flat, low-lying
topographies. Vegetation
lessens runoff, as it absorbs
water and improves the ability
of the ground to take in more
moisture.
 EXAMPLE:

Typhoon “Ondoy” (Ketsana) brought record-

breaking rainfall to the northern Philippines,
with the highest recorded amount having
been 455 mm of rain in 24 hours in Metro
Manila. This is equivalent to a month’s worth
of rainfall in the area! Rainfall-induced floods
affected over 400,000 people in Manila and
surrounding areas, submerging entire
streets and stranding pedestrians and
vehicles. Marikina City, in particular,
experienced floodwaters from the waist level
to about two storeys high, which can be
attributed to the 10.99m rise in the water
level of Marikina River.
 Flooding can also occur in
coastal areas due to tsunamis
and storm surges
FLOOD HAZARD
MAPPING
 FLOOD HAZARD MAPS

are used to anticipate the degree of

flooding in an area and the extent of
damage that the event can cause. In the
Philippines, these are sourced from
PAGASA and Nationwide Operational
Assessment of Hazards (NOAH).
 PAGASA makes use of aerial
photographs and satellite images to
produce a preliminary flood hazard map.
This method involves the analysis of the
geology and morphological
characteristics (geomorphology) of the
area. Verification of this map is done
through geomorphological field mapping
and interviews. All data is then
integrated using Geographic
Information System (GIS) software. GIS
is a system that allows integrate and
analyze geographic or spatial data and
organize them into visualizations such
as maps. Google Earth is an example of
a GIS software.
The Nationwide Operational Assessment
of Hazards (NOAH) is a program for
disaster research development which
makes use of advanced technologies and
provides information services for
improved disaster risk reduction and
mitigation. Some of NOAH’s projects
include: weather monitoring equipment
such as rain gauges and water-level
sensors; high-resolution landslide, flood,
and storm surge maps; hazards
information dissemination through media
and communication platforms; and
providing open access to real-time data
and information which is especially
helpful for communities affected by these
 NOAH makes use of GIS software,
simulations and models, and crowd
sourcing of flood events to create flood
hazard maps.
TYPES OF
FLOODS
 FLASH FLOOD

Floods occuring within six hours, mainly due

to heavy rainfall associated with towering
cumulus clouds, thunderstorms, tropical
cyclones or during passage of cold weather
fronts, or by dam failure or the other river
obstruction.
Flash floods are local flood of great volume
and short duration.
 A FLASH FLOOD IN THE WADI
THROUGH THE CENTRE OF TOWN,
NIZWA, OMAN, MIDDLE EAST
A flash flood generally results from a
torrential rain or “cloudburst” on
relatively small and widely-dispersed
streams.
 RIVER FLOODS

Floods caused by precipitation over a large

catchment’s area, melting of snow or both.
Built up slowly or on regular basis, these
floods may continue for days or weeks.
Riverine floods are caused by precipitation
over large areas or by melting of the
winter’s accumulation of snow, or by both.
TACKLING CHINA'S DEVASTATING
YELLOW RIVER FLOODS
 COASTAL FLOODS

Floods associated with cyclonic activities like

Hurricanes, Tropical cyclones, etc. generating
a catastrophic flood from rain water which
often aggravate wind-induced storm and
water surges along the coast.
NEW ENGLAND BRACES
COASTAL FLOODING
 URBAN FLOOD

As land is converted from agricultural

fields or woodlands to roads and
parking lots, it loses its ability to absorb
rainfall.
 ICE JAM

Floating ice can accumulate at a

natural or human-made obstruction
and stop the flow of water thereby
causing floods.
CALIFORNIA
GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD
(GLOF)

Many of the big glaciers which

have melted rapidly and gave birth
to the origin of a large number of
glaciers.
 STORM SURGE OR TIDAL SURGE

An offshore rise of water

associated with a low pressure
weather system, typically a tropical
cyclone.
Caused primarily by high winds
pushing on the ocean’s surface.