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Brooks's Blog: Flooding in India today reminiscent of Houston weather with Harvey

Last August Houston faced epic flooding from the worst multi-day rain storm in US history. Today, southwest India is struggling through a similar catastrophe.
USA TODAY - "Flood victims are evacuated to safer areas in Kozhikode, in the Indian state of Kerala, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. Torrential monsoon rains have caused flooding, landslides and bridge collapses and killed dozens of people." (Photo: AP)

HOUSTON — During Harvey last August many parts of our region saw between 40"-60" of rain causing massive floods and leaving many homeless. It was the worst multi-day rainstorm ever recorded in the United States. Between 68 to 82 deaths were attributed directly to Harvey.

While we've avoided any tropical systems so far this year and hope that trend continues, India is facing a similar if not worse flood disaster right now. Monsoon-driven, seasonal heavy rains of more than 7 feet (84") have resulted in the worst flooding since the 1920s there, say local officials. Over 320 have died and that number will likely double or triple as the scope of this disaster is fully realized. Dams were released sending walls of water rushing into towns.

Unfortunately, flooding rain is somewhat normal in India and across southeast Asia this time of year as deep tropical moisture is drawn northward, forced to rise in mountainous terrain. This process efficiently wrings out the rain-laden, tropical clouds and causes regular downpours. Each year, tragically, the floods claim hundreds of lives throughout the country of 1.3 billion people. This year in the Keralam State of southwest India, for the first time since 1924, the flooding has rivaled those record monsoons which dumped nearly 11 feet (132"+) of rain. This year it's up to 7 feet of rain (84") and counting... This disaster comes just after last season's monsoon, which killed over 1,000 people near the country's capital.

-Meteorologist Brooks Garner

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