Home / Weather News /

Flood safety - Useful tips when driving in the rain

07:00 PM
August 30, 2025

Flood safety
Useful tips when driving in the rain

Areas that experience slow-moving storms or back-to-back downpours could see localized flash flooding.

Although driving in flooded areas and heavy rain is best avoided, it is essential to stay safe if you absolutely need to travel. Continue reading below for tips on how to drive carefully in heavy rain and flooding.

Before you start driving, check where the flood warnings are and view the WeatherRadar for your area. Try to avoid these routes where flood warnings are issued or are experiencing heavy rain. Secondly, you should check your windscreen and rear-view wipers. Make sure they are working well, as you will be relying on them for visibility.

When driving, have your lights on; this will increase visibility for you and those around you. It is also essential to leave a more significant gap between you and other cars as your stopping distance will be greater. Never drive fast to risk skidding or hydroplaning.

Lastly, never drive across a flooded area. Water often prevents the driver from adequately estimating the water's depth or knowing if the road has collapsed beneath. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars, and only 2 feet of flowing water can carry away SUVs and trucks.

Mary Mays
More on the topic
Saturday, August 9, 2025

Hot summer trends

Third warmest July Globally
On the left, a satellite image of a hurricane over the sea; on the right, a man in a clearance vehicle clearing debris and food in a flooded supermarket.
Friday, August 29, 2025

Twenty years ago today

Hurricane Katrina hit Gulf Coast
Perseid meteor shower and airglow above the Seemannskirche church in Prerow.
Sunday, August 10, 2025

Perseids flying overhead

Spot a meteor shower before its peak
All weather news
This might also interest you
Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Daily Briefing

Cooler air sticks around for many
Friday, August 22, 2025

Daily Briefing

Stormy central Plains and Midwest
Thursday, August 28, 2025

Daily Briefing

Flood risk for the Mississippi Valley
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement