cloudburst

American  

[klaud-burst] / ˈklaʊdˌbɜrst /

noun

1. a sudden and very heavy rainfall.

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cloudburst British  

/ ˈklaʊdˌbɜːst /

noun

1. a heavy downpour

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Etymology

Origin of cloudburst

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

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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

See Examples For:

cloudburst

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

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

The massive floods were trigged by a cloudburst over a mountain lake this week.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2023

Then all four rabbits sat as though transfixed by the sudden, blinding light that poured over them like a cloudburst.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

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