how does saturated ground cause flooding
1 Wet or saturated soil. 2  Saturated soil can't absorb rain and water from melting snow. 3  The excess water becomes runoff that rapidly flows into rivers and streams. 4  Unsaturated soil acts like a sponge, absorbing some of the water from rain or snow melt. 5  Saturated soil by itself does not cause flooding. Frozen ground. 2  Frozen soil can not absorb as much water as unfrozen soil. 3  Rain or rapid snow melt atop frozen soil can cause flooding that wouldn't have occurred if the soil were not frozen. 4  Wet or saturated soil. 5  Saturated soil can't absorb rain and water from melting snow.