Heavy Rains & Inland Flooding
Flooding in Asheville, NC, 690 miles (1110 km) north of where Hurricane Frances (2004) made landfall in Florida
Widespread rainfall of 6 inches (15 cm) or more is common during landfall, frequently producing deadly and destructive floods. Heavy rain from these storms can last for days. Such floods have been one of the primary causes for tropical cyclone-related fatalities over the past 30 years, including many who were children.
Heavy rainfall isn’t confined to the coast. Large amounts of rain can occur thousands of miles inland. Much of the damage in 4 of the 20 costliest tropical cyclones resulted from inland floods caused by torrential rain, rather than strong winds. For example, Tropical Storm Allison (2001) made landfall with 50 mph (80 km/h) winds but dumped over 40 inches (102 cm) of rain in Texas. As it moved back into the Gulf and then turned northeast, heavy rains along its path contributed to billions of dollars in damage and 41 deaths.
In addition to localized and urban flooding, there can be other impacts from the heavy rain associated with tropical systems. This includes river flooding, dam breaks, lake overflow, and mudslides.