People in Australia use this saying to warn others not to drive through water on the road. Even when the water does not seem deep, the road can be washed away underneath and the water may be moving very fast.

Flood is believed to be the second most deadly natural disaster. It happens when there is an overflow of a huge amount of water beyond its regular limits in a normally dry area. The two main factors corresponding to floods are heavy rainfalls and the land’s capacity to absorb water. When the land is saturated, the water will rise higher than the banks and eventually flow out onto the area.

Floods usually occur three or six hours after the heavy rainfall. Next to the riverine flood, short bursts of heavy rain can happen and cause rapid onset flooding. It is very dangerous as it appears with little or no warning at all. Sometimes, the soil can’t absorb any more water, which makes water rise seriously in a short period of time. It is particularly a crucial problem in urban areas, where the drainage system is not able to cope with so much water in such a short time. As a result, the roads become rivers.

It’s one of the most dangerous causes of flooding and can occur when a cyclone or an intense low‑pressure system hits the coast. That consequently causes the sea level to rise and flood the area within a kilometre inland. The effect of the storm is intensified by high tides. If it appears during low tides, the impact on the coast may not be huge. But if it happens during high tides, the impact can be serious. It is a tsunami‑like phenomenon that destroys buildings deep inland.

Not only do the floods destroy buildings but they also cost a lot of human lives yearly. People have created a Weather Satellite (GOES‑R) to keep an eye on atmospheric events. In 2016, the first version launched into orbit. Its purpose is to observe weather phenomena on Earth. It lets us watch the process of formation of different clouds, their later movements and it also follows hurricanes, tornadoes and floods. Moreover, it provides crucial information about the weather forecast to predict heavy rains or flash floods in order to keep people safe.

It turns out that flooding as a natural process can also be profitable. Floods fill wetlands and influence the life cycle of many plants and animals. Moreover, when the water retreats, it supplies soil with sediment, nutrients and minerals, which is useful for agriculture. This rich and natural fertiliser has a positive trigger for the quality of soil and improves plant growth, which consequently has a positive impact on agriculture.