Floods in Kuwait

Floodwaters at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, after a flash flood in November 2013.

Flooding in Kuwait is primarily caused by sudden heavy rainfall, which leads to rapid surface runoff due to the desert terrain and inadequate drainage infrastructure. The Kuwait Meteorological Center is responsible for monitoring weather conditions and issuing warnings for extreme weather events, including floods. ^{[1] [2]} While the average annual rainfall in Kuwait is approximately 100 mm, ^[3] flash floods can occur when intense rainfall exceeds the drainage capacity of urban areas, posing risks to the population and infrastructure. ^[4]

List of floods

• The first recorded flood in Kuwait occurred on December 14, 1934, and is called Al-Haddāmah, meaning The Destroyer. ^[5] This flood destroyed approximately 500 homes and displaced an estimated 18,000 individuals. Reports indicate that the flood resulted in at least 15 fatalities and caused significant property damage. Over 18% of the total housing in Kuwait was reported to have been affected. ^[6]

References

1. "Kuwait Meteorological Center - About Us". www.met.gov.kw. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
2. "Index". www.dgca.gov.kw. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
3. "World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal". climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
4. Hassan, Ahmed; Albanai, Jasem A.; Goudie, Andrew (2024-01-01), El Kenawy, Ahmed M.; Mohamed Robaa, El Sayed; Mustafa Torab, Mohammed Magdy; Hereher, Mohamed (eds.), "Chapter 7 - Modeling and managing flash flood hazards in the state of Kuwait: a hydrogeomorphological study", Hydroclimatic Extremes in the Middle East and North Africa, Elsevier, pp. 129–147, ISBN   978-0-12-824130-1 , retrieved 2025-01-10
5. "Al-Haddamah: Floods, Ecological Time, and the Modernization of Kuwait". Arab Urbanism العمران العربيّ. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
6. "KUNA : Dec. 8 chronicled as Kuwait's first "haddama" heavy rain - History - 07/12/2014". www.kuna.net.kw. Retrieved 2025-01-11.