There is a lot of talk surrounding tropical systems and how rainfall is even more severe in mountainous terrain. This is because of a phenomenon called orographic lift.

Orographic lift occurs when moist air is forced to rise over elevated terrain, such as a mountain range or series of hills. As the air ascends, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and precipitation. This process can dramatically enhance rainfall on the windward side of mountains, while the air that descends on the leeward side often becomes warmer and drier, creating a “rain shadow” effect.

When a tropical system moves inland, orographic lift can play a major role in amplifying rainfall totals. Moist tropical air being funneled toward higher terrain, like the Appalachian Mountains, the Sierra Madre in Mexico, or the mountains of Central America, can produce intense and prolonged rainfall as it’s forced upward.

Even if a storm weakens after landfall, the combination of deep tropical moisture and mountainous terrain can lead to catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides well away from the coast.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.