Flash flooding along Bear Creek in Boulder, CO

Flash Floods Teaching Box

Flash floods happen when quick and heavy rainfall causes placid waterways to turn into raging torrents. This teaching box is filled with explorations and readings that help secondary students learn the science of flash flooding. Students will learn that storms with unusually heavy rainfall can cause a flood, that the shape of the land and the ability of the ground to hold water influences whether a flood is likely, and they will learn how flash flood risk and probability is assessed. Get your feet wet by bringing the science of flash floods.

Teaching Boxes are themed collections of classroom-ready educational resources to build student understanding of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Resources highlighted within teaching boxes are from various science education programs and all have been vetted by the education team at the UCAR Center for Science Education.

  • Topic: Flash Flooding
  • Level: Middle and high school
Boulder Underwater film screenshot

Rainfall & Flash Flooding

Students learn that storms with unusual amounts of rainfall can cause a flash flood.

Boulder, Colorado Flood: How the City's Resilience Strategy Saved It

Geology & Flash Floods

Students learn that water flows downhill on land and that the shape of the land and the ability of water to soak into the ground influences whether a rainstorm causes a flash flood.

Aerial view of a flooded neighborhood

Determining Flood Risk

Students learn how flash flood risk and probability is assessed.

Predictions of Future Global Climate

Learn More About Flash Floods

Build your own understanding of flash floods with additional resources, data, maps, and research.