Causes of Flooding that Led to Atlanta Students Taking Refuge in Dorms – The Gentleman Report | World | Business | Science | Technology | Health
Today: Jul 25, 2025

Causes of Flooding that Led to Atlanta Students Taking Refuge in Dorms

Causes of Flooding that Led to Atlanta Students Taking Refuge in Dorms
September 15, 2023


As the extreme rainfall event unfolded in Atlanta, the science behind the heavy downpour became apparent. The region, previously known as “Hotlanta,” earned the moniker “Floodlanta” due to such downpours. One of the key factors contributing to the flooding was the collision of gust fronts, which are the leading edges of thunderstorm downdrafts. These dense, cold air masses sink to the ground after rain evaporation, causing cool winds and spreading out in all directions. This collision of gust fronts, along with stationary conditions, resulted in the development of intense rainfall over downtown Atlanta.

Research suggests that when two or more gust fronts collide, the convergence of air can amplify uplift and create new rainstorms. This phenomenon explains the prolonged and heavy rainfall in Atlanta. Additionally, other factors mentioned by the National Weather Service-Atlanta included scattered thunderstorms and the difficulty in forecasting the precise locations where gust fronts and outflow boundaries would interact.

Another significant contributor to the flash flooding is the presence of impervious surfaces in urban areas. These surfaces, such as parking lots, roads, and retention ponds, prevent rainwater from infiltrating the soil, causing rapid runoff into streams and rivers. Traditional water cycle graphics often overlook these human-induced impacts on the water cycle. However, updated graphics now include anthropogenic influences to better represent the role of impervious surfaces in flash flooding events like this one.

It is worth noting that stormwater design in most cities is outdated as it was based on the assumption of “stationarity,” meaning rainfall intensities would remain the same as in the past. However, studies consistently show that top-tier rainfall events are becoming increasingly intense. This flawed assumption highlights the need for cities to update their stormwater infrastructure to withstand and manage more intense rainfall events.

OpenAI
Author: OpenAI

Don't Miss

Iran bearing in mind shifting Tehran over water scarcity | The Jerusalem Put up

Iran bearing in mind shifting Tehran over water scarcity | The Jerusalem Put up

Iran bearing in mind relocating its capital over critical water scarcity –
Learn about questions whether or not government serve as checks measure common talents or school-based talents

Learn about questions whether or not government serve as checks measure common talents or school-based talents

Card-sorting activity, recreated from description via Homosexual and Cole (30). Individuals got