Met Mailbag is your chance to have a Weather Plus Meteorologist answer your weather question. Every other Thursday, our NBC Weather Pulse Blog will publish the answers to questions you send us. This week's question was answered by NBC Weather Plus meteorologist Bill Karins.

Question: What is the difference between a flood and a flash flood?
Submitted by Carrie O., Alexandria, Virginia

Answer: Hi, Carrie, and thanks for the timely question.

Spring is when we typically see the worst river flooding. On the other hand, summer is when we typically experience the worst flash flooding.

A flash flood warning occurs within six hours of a rain even, or after a dam or levee failure. There is often very little preparation time for flash flooding and slow-moving thunderstorms are the biggest culprit of flash flooding.

A flood warning occurs on rivers and streams when prolonged rainfall over several days, or intense rain over short time, occurs. Melting snow and heavy rain cause most of the issued flood warnings.

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