Discover real natural events happening around our amazing planet right now!
Real-time flood data from NASA satellites and global monitoring networks
View on Globe →A flood happens when water overflows its normal boundaries and covers land that is usually dry. Floods can happen after very heavy rain, when a river rises too high, or when snow melts too quickly. They can move with great force and carry cars and trees.
NASA satellites monitor river levels, rainfall rates, and soil moisture globally, giving scientists and emergency managers early warning before floodwaters reach communities downstream. Satellite-derived flood maps can be generated within hours of an event, guiding rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.
NASA's Landsat and Sentinel satellites use shortwave infrared imaging to map flooded areas from space, detecting standing water even when cloud cover obscures visible-light cameras. MODIS provides daily global coverage that lets scientists watch rivers swell and floodplains fill with water in near-real-time.
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission — a joint NASA and JAXA project — uses a constellation of satellites to measure rainfall rates anywhere on Earth every few hours. These precipitation estimates feed directly into flood forecasting models run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), giving emergency managers hours or days of advance notice.
NASA's GRACE-FO satellites detect changes in Earth's gravity caused by large-scale shifts in water storage — including floodwaters spreading across plains — providing a large-scale picture of where water is accumulating on land.
Earth Explorer displays active flooding events tracked by NASA's EONET satellite network. Major flood events worldwide — river floods, coastal floods, and large flash flood systems — appear as glowing dots on the interactive globe.
View Live Flood Events →Floods are caused by heavy rainfall that overwhelms drainage, rivers overflowing their banks, coastal storm surges, dam or levee failures, rapid snowmelt, and tsunamis. Deforestation and urbanisation worsen flooding because roads and buildings prevent water from soaking into the ground, channelling it rapidly into rivers and streams instead.
A flash flood develops in under six hours — sometimes in minutes — after intense rainfall. Flash floods can move boulders, uproot trees, and carry vehicles. They are especially dangerous because they can strike dry desert areas far from where the rain fell, and often happen at night with little warning. If you hear rushing water or see it rising rapidly, move to high ground immediately.
A storm surge is an abnormal rise in sea level caused by a severe storm. Strong winds push ocean water toward the coast while low atmospheric pressure lifts the water surface, raising sea level by several metres above normal. Storm surges are the deadliest and most destructive element of coastal tropical cyclones — more dangerous than the wind itself.
Floods contaminate drinking water, damage homes, roads, and crops, and displace millions of people from their homes. Even after waters recede, communities face waterborne disease, structural damage, mould, and the slow process of recovery. Floods are the costliest natural disaster type globally by insurance claims, and the number of flood events has increased significantly with climate change.
Move to higher ground immediately. Never walk or drive through floodwater — even 15 cm of moving water can knock you down, and 60 cm can sweep away a car. Turn off electricity at the mains if safe to do so. Prepare an emergency kit with food, water, medication, and important documents. After floodwaters recede, watch out for contaminated water and weakened structures.
NASA uses MODIS for daily global flood mapping, Landsat and Sentinel for detailed water extent mapping, and the GPM mission to measure rainfall rates globally. NASA's LANCE (Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS) system delivers flood-related satellite imagery within a few hours of acquisition, helping emergency managers see exactly where water is spreading on the ground.