Characteristics of July 2019 Cherna Mesta River flash flood

Abstract

One of the biggest rivers in the southern part of the Balkan peninsula – the Mesta River is wellknown for frequent flash floods, especially in the upper river course. As a result of severe storms and related heavy rain in mid-July 2019, the Cherna Mesta River flooded, and this resulted in heavy damage to the road infrastructure and water-supply systems. All data indicate that this was not a usual water flood, instead at peak flow, the river carried a huge amount of gravel. Our mapping of erosional and depositional features related to the 2019 event, as well as geomorphological analysis, allows for distinguishing distinct sectors along the river valley. Most hazards are defined in the lower reaches of the Cherna Mesta River, where the processes of channel aggradation and lateral erosion are pronounced. The field analysis of the flood-related deposits indicates the operation of debris flood and hyperconcentrated and water flood processes.

Keywords

• catchments
• Cherna Mesta River
• flash flood
• geomo