How does an intense rainfall that follows a servere drought increase flooding?

Soil surface acts as a filter that allows water to pass through (infiltrate). The rate at which the water passes through into the soil is called the infiltration rate or infiltration capacity. During a prolonged drought the soil surfaces dries and hardens considerably, greatly reducing infiltration capacity. When heavy precipitation (e. g. rainfall) occurs, the rate of infiltration cannot match the rate of precipitation. Due to this, a high level of surface runoff is produced and consequently, flooding is the result.