Impact-Based Assessment of Cloudburst Flooding on Access to Critical Infrastructure

Pluvial flood risks and impacts have been extensively studied; however, floods triggered by cloudbursts have received comparatively less attention. Cloudbursts are frequent, short-lived extreme precipitation events that often trigger flash floods. Due to their short duration and highly localized nature, cloudbursts are difficult to detect and monitor. Moreover, the lack of high-resolution data to adequately represent affected areas significantly limits impact assessment.

This study addresses this gap by using high-resolution cloudburst flood hazard data from a Copenhagen cloudburst event as a reference case, which are intersected with detailed building footprints, road network data, and gridded population datasets. Using an impact-based approach, the analysis focuses on the accessibility of critical facilities, such as hospitals and healthcare centers, in Karlstad municipality, Sweden. Network analysis demonstrates that disruptions to the road network caused by flooding can indirectly compromise access to critical facilities, even in the absence of direct flooding at those locations.

The results highlight the need for a deeper understanding of cloudburst-related flooding and its indirect impacts on urban systems and accessibility, emphasizing the importance of impact-based early warning systems and inclusive urban flood adaptation strategies.