What Are The Major Causes Of Floods?

Flood is a common natural disaster brought about by any of the following:

Excessive rain falls for hours or days such as during a thunderstorm or monsoon period in the tropics. The high tide especially during spring when the high tide is higher than the normal neap tide, this results in many low-lying areas in coastal regions being flooded. It occurs about the time of the new moon or full moon when the earth, sun and moon lie in a straight line and when the combined gravitational pull is at its maximum.

The melting of snow in spring also results in flooding. In a severe winter when the mountains are thickly carpeted with snow, the following spring melts the snow rapidly. The snow thaws into the water and floods the valley below.

Deforestation in the uplands, when forests are cleared on mountain slopes and there are no more roots to hold the excess water after a heavy rain, the rapid run-off erodes the topsoil and also floods the land below.

Poor drainage systems, in built-up areas such as cities and new housing estates where the drains are choked or there are insufficient outlets for the water to drain off after a heavy downpour.

- Highly developed (urbanized) areas
- High intensities and long durations of rainfall
- Flat topography with little storage
- Poor building practices in flood-prone areas
- No replacement of lost storage as area grows

This is more precise and concise :)