RainBlue

= Celeste M. & Kimmy J. = = Blue Class =
 * Severe Rain**

=**__ Introduction __**=

Severe rain is simply a enormous mass of rain that occurs in a short period of time.(2) Severe rain appears the same as a normal rainstorm; however, because of the huge quantity of the rain it leads to flooding and water buildup, which often turns brown or oily gray due to soil and gasoline that the floods pick up as they sweep through an area.(1) Severe rain is often predicted by a large amount of cumulonimbus clouds.(3) Although severe rain may not sound threatening, the effects can be disastrous.(1)

=__** Dangers **__= = S evere rain can cause many problems but the most dangerous is flash flooding.(1) If someone is driving during a flood, the roads can quickly become emersed in water.(1) In only 6 inches of water a driver can easily loose control of a car; one foot of water can cause most cars to float, and two feet of water with a current can carry cars away including SUV's and pickup trucks.(1) After rains have stopped, flooding can still be dangerous. If the water is on a slope it can have a current that is dangerous to walk through.(6) If the rains knocked over electric lines the water can have an electric charge. (1)It can also have picked up oil, gasoline, or sewage. Anything thats has been touched by the water is likely unsanitary; drinking water after a storm or eating of anyhting touched by the water will likeley make one very ill. (1)This is because as the floods sweep through they pick up debris and gasoliene and sometimes even sewage.(1) =

media type="youtube" key="guBo0FQhjaM" width="425" height="350" Extreame dangers come with floods, along with massive destruction of property.

=__** Conditions of Formation **__= Severe rain must form under specific conditions in temperature, and pressure.(6) There are three main stages of severe rain/thunderstorms (since sever rain occurs during thunder storms.) (3)The first stage is the cumulus stage. (3)This is when the sun heats the earth's surface enough, which then heats the air around it, and the air becomes moist enough that it is less dense then the air around it.(6) This causes the less dense air to rise, creating a updraft.(6) As the updraft rises and it reaches it's dew point; This causes the formation of //cumulus// clouds. (6) The moist updraft begins to cool and since the air is so moist, the water vapor starts to condense into water droplets. (3) As the updraft continues, the forming cloud continues to rise due to the low density of the heated air (updraft); As it rises higher it continues to cool more, and more.(6) Thus, the quantity of water droplets continues to increase.(6) Eventually, after this process has continued, the updraft can no longer bear the weight of the water droplets.(6) They begin to fall causing what is known as downdrafts.(6) This is the point when the cloud reaches the mature stage.(3) At this point there are high winds as well.(6)The downdrift pulls the water droplets down, from the ground this is seen as rain. (6)The difference between a normal thunderstorm and one with severe rain is that in the Cumulus stage the cloud is so big that the updraft and downdraft happen side by side; this quick forceful movement cause more severe rain.(6)The final stage is the dissipating stage when the downdrafts overpower the updrafts, causing the storm to die out.(3) Very severe rain can often be the product of a squall line; a line of severe thunderstorms banded together in a line.(7) Squall lines form between cold fronts and warm fronts.(7) The line of storms cause a greater amount of precipitation causing flash floods.(7)

for more information on formation of severe thunderstorms: http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/tstorm/severe.html

Historical Examples 1.23 inches of rain. You are probably thinking "how is that severe rain?" Well, in Unionville Maryland on the fourth of July1956. 1.23 inches of rain fell in under 60 secounds.(4) Another example of sever rain is that in Foc-Foc, La Reunion on Januray 7th - 8th 1996 it rained over 72 inches in 24 hours!(4) this caused the streets and areas to have severe floods.(2)

for more information on historical flood dates visit: http://www.insidervlv.com/WeatherRecordRain.html

= = = = = = =__** S **** af ** e ** ty **__=

If you are expecting severe rain, you should prepare for flash floods and be ready to react fast.(1) Before a flood you should elevate your furnace, water heater, and electric panel; therefore, hopefully they will be above the water level. (1)You should also move valuables to high grounds (upper floors). (1)Another way to prepare for floods around your house is by building levees and flood walls. During the rainfall you should keep the radio or a TV on and keep up to date on any news on what is going on.(1) If you are in a house you should move to upper floors and above ground. (1)If you are outside move away from high, flat grounds where you are in danger of being swept away by flood currents.(1) You should turn off the gas, water, and unplug electrical devices. (1)Never walk through moving water because of risk of being swept off your feet or hit with floating debris.(1) Never drive through flooded areas with over 6 inches of water; you are at risk of loosing control or being caught in the current. (1)Once the rain stops you should boil all water before drinking it, to ensue that it is clean. (1)Even after the rain stops, it still isn't safe to walk through the water; it could be contaminated with oil, gasoline, sewage, or it could even be electricaly charged from fallen electrical lines. (2) When entering a building damaged by the flooding be cautious of hidden damage in ceilings and foundations. (1)Clean anything with water damage as well as disinfect because it is likeley unsanitary.(1)



Sources 1) unknown., “are you ready?- floods” Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security., Wednesday, 11-aug-2010. Web. Nov. 2010 <[]>

2) unknown., “thunderstorm Basics” Noaa national severe storms laboratory., Oct. 15, 2006. Web. 19 Nov. 2010 <[]>

3) Becca Hatheway. “Thunderstorms formation” Windows to the universe. The national earth science teachers association., May 2010. May 27, 2010 

4) unknown., “Facts about Thunderstorms” Sky-fire productions., web.,nov. 2010 

5) unknown. “Largest Rainfalls in USA & World - Per Time Unit” Insider Viewpoint of Las Vegas., 1994. Web., nov. 2010 

6) "Severe Thunderstorms." Earth Science Australia . Web. 18 Nov. 2010. <[]>

7) Becca Hatheway. Windows to the universe. The national earth science teachers association., May 2010. 27 Nov, 2010 