Municipalities and weather services usually provide areal flood warnings and updates on flood stages, allowing nearby property owners to take measures to protect their buildings and material goods. As with a flash flood, areal floodwaters can contain harmful bacteria and other contaminants. The water volume may increase with snowmelt during a spring thaw or in a particularly rainy season.

Unlike flash floods, areal floods happen more slowly and in stages. Areal FloodsĪn areal flood occurs when rivers, lakes or retaining ponds overflow their banks due to a gradual increase in water volume. There is little or no time to prepare a property for the oncoming water, and the primary focus is on damage mitigation and recovery. Mechanical failures such as dams or levees burstingĪ sudden, large volume of water travels over dry ground, carrying any contaminants or hazards that it may sweep up.In a flash flood, water rises or accumulates in a matter of minutes or hours. Within the category of overland flooding, there are two important sub-categories: flash floods and areal floods. However, as weather patterns continue to change, these floods are becoming more likely throughout the year. Generally, overland floods will occur more often when the ground is still frozen or already saturated, such as during the springtime. This difference is especially important when it comes to insurance coverage. It is important to note that overland flooding is considered a separate problem from other causes of water damage, such as burst pipes or drain backups. A substantial amount of runoff from snowmelt.Overland flooding is defined as a situation in which water rises and covers ordinarily dry land.

Areal flood warning definition