Why do Uttarakhand and Himachal face frequent cloudbursts? Explained

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are the states where cloudbursts often happen during the monsoon season. Cloudburst also has its own meaning. Know what happens, why such incidents occur and where in the country it is more dangerous.

Dehradun: At least 12 people are said to be lost their lives and 60 are missing in a cloudburst in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. However, this data has not been confirmed yet.

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are the states where cloudbursts often happen during the monsoon season. Cloudburst also has its own meaning. Know what happens, why such incidents occur and where in the country it is more dangerous.

How Cloudburst Occur?

A cloudburst is a sudden and heavy downpour of rain that happens quickly. It usually happens when there is a lot of moisture in the air, and the conditions become just right for the moisture to turn into rain very rapidly. This can happen when warm, moist air rises and meets cooler air, causing the water droplets to grow larger and fall as rain.

Cloudbursts can be dangerous because they can cause flash floods and damage to property and infrastructure. The Meteorological Department says that when a small area gets more than 10 cm of heavy rain in one hour, it is known as a cloudburst. Sometimes, more than one similar event can happen in the same location.

Cloudburst events depend on two main factors. First, the place's location and then the weather. When the monsoon winds and humid air meet the mountains, they quickly climb up. As they go up, they become colder. The steam quickly changes into water droplets, and a heavy rain starts falling there.

#uttarkashi -खीर गंगा में बादल फटने से तबाही, धराली बाजार मलबे में तब्दील, कई लोगों के बहने की आशंका...देखें भयावह वीडियो#cloudburst #Uttarakhand #viralvideo #Disaster #uttarkashi pic.twitter.com/9rCTJtB9ML

— डाइनामाइट न्यूज़ हिंदी (@DNHindi) August 5, 2025

Cloudbursts happen when there is a sudden and intense release of rain from a cloud, usually due to rapid changes in weather conditions. This can occur when warm, moist air rises quickly, leading to the formation of heavy rain within a short period. The process is often triggered by factors like strong updrafts, atmospheric instability, or the presence of certain weather systems.

As a result, cloudbursts can lead to heavy rainfall in a very short time, causing flash floods and other related effects. The event, recorded on camera, happens as strong rains cause trouble in the mountainous regions. The mountains are falling. Matba grows quickly as the population increases, especially with heavy rains, and it carries things along with it. When the air holds more moisture, the chance of a cloudburst increases. If a cloud that moves slowly stops in one place and doesn't go anywhere, there might be more rain coming soon.

Why Uttarakhand and Himachal Affected?

During the monsoon season, wet winds carrying moisture come from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and move toward the Himalayas. When it reaches the hills in Uttarakhand and Himachal, it starts to increase quickly. They form because of the cold temperature on the upper part, which leads to more rainfall.

The valleys in Uttarakhand and Himachal are quite narrow. Storm clouds get stuck in this area and can't move away quickly enough. That's why there is not as much rain. Because of this, cloudbursts happen.