cloudburst

American  

[kloud-burst] / ˈklaʊdˌbɜrst /

noun

1. a sudden and very heavy rainfall.

---

cloudburst British  

/ ˈklaʊdˌbɜːst /

noun

1. a heavy downpour

---

Etymology

Origin of cloudburst

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; cloud + burst

Explanation

A cloudburst is a sudden deluge of rain that sends you running for cover. If the sky looks ominous and gray in the morning, you may want to grab an umbrella in case there's a cloudburst later. A cloudburst is exactly what it sounds like: torrential rain that seems to burst from a saturated cloud. This American English word was coined in the early 19th century, modeled after the German Wolkenbruch, or "cloud break." Whenever the weather abruptly changes from not raining to a downpour of heavy rain, you can call it a cloudburst.

Example Sentences

He might have been among the few people pleased with the cloudburst at the Italian event.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

After a heavy cloudburst forecast for Wednesday afternoon or night that could bring another few inches of rain, Southern California was expected to begin drying out Thursday and heading for a sunny weekend.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024

Some say it may have resulted from a cloudburst, while others say there was no such heavy concentrated rainfall.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2023

The Lhonak Lake in the mountainous northeastern state of Sikkim overflowed on Wednesday after a cloudburst triggered torrential rains and an apparent avalanche, causing major flooding in the Teesta river.

From Reuters • Oct. 6, 2023

I had gotten soaked during a couple of May downpours, and now that my house was done, I wanted the chance to sit in my hemlock and watch a cloudburst wet everything but me.

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George