What is a cloudburst?

A cloudburst — usually accompanied by thunderclouds — is a sudden, aggressive and copious downpour within a small radius of area. While it lasts for a short period of time it is capable of flooding the entire area and causing massive damage. 

The phenomenon occurs when vertically formed clouds move higher. As the clouds move up, due to a rapid decrease in the temperature, or an excess of electrostatic induction, or lightning, it results in thunderclouds that remain trapped inside the cloud. 

The water molecules get denser and condensed but do not leave the cloud due to an excess of electroforces. The clouds, now concentrated with water, move higher and get heavier, which results in heavy precipitation. A rainfall rate equal to or greater than 100 mm per hour is a cloudburst. However, different definitions are used.

Cloudbursts can occur not only in the monsoon seasons but also during March to May which is known for severe convective weather activities. Unlike cyclones, forecasting a cloudburst is quite difficult due to the very dynamics of rapid developing cloud cover.