Final answer:
Yes, rain in the distance can cause a flash flood in the desert due to heavy rains in nearby areas leading to rapid runoff and the inability of the hard desert soil to absorb water quickly.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that rain off in the distance can cause a flash flood in the desert. Deserts, despite being dry ecosystems with very low annual rainfall, can experience abrupt and extreme flooding events.
When heavy rains occur, typically in higher or surrounding terrain, the rainwater can rapidly converge into valley floors or stream channels, leading to sudden and violent floods. This can be exacerbated by the hard-packed soil in deserts, which doesn't absorb water well, causing more runoff to collect and flow quickly into low-lying areas.