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Description
Flash floods are among the most severe natural disasters, typically triggered by intense rainfall or sudden snowmelt, and are characterised by high flow velocities and limited lead time for warning or evacuation. These events primarily affect moderate-sized mountainous basins, generally ranging from a few to several hundred square kilometres. In this context, the Oued Zat basin serves as a pertinent example, it is a sub-basin of the Oued Tensift one of Morocco’s largest watersheds and covering an area of 604 km². The basin is particularly known for the frequency and intensity of its flash floods. This study aims to identify, extract, and classify flash flood events in the Zat watershed and to analyse both natural and anthropogenic factors contributing to flash flood risk in the context of climate variability. Methodologically, the study relies on statistical analysis of instantaneous flow data collected at the Tafriat hydrometric station over 58 years (1965–2022). The research outcomes identified several types of flash floods in the study area. These findings underscore the necessity of implementing appropriate development strategies and preventive measures to safeguard both the population and infrastructure from such extreme events.
Key words: Flash floods, Factors, Statistical analysis, Mountainous basins.
