Flood Stage

FLOOD STAGE
The level of a river or stream where overflow onto surrounding areas can occur.

FLOOD STAGE: The level of a river or stream at which considerable inundation of surrounding areas will occur.

Flood Stage A gage height at which a watercouse overtops its banks and begins to cause damage to any portion of the defined reach. Flood stage is usually higher than or equal to bankful stage.

Flood Stage
That stage, on a fixed river gauge, at which the overflow of the natural banks of a stream begins to cause damage in any portion of the reach for which the gauge is used as an index.

Flood Stage - The level at which a stream, river or other body of water begins to or will begin to leave its banks.

E-3, Flood Stage Report: A form that a Service Hydrologist/Hydrology Focal Point completes to document the dates in which forecast points are above flood stage, as well as the crest dates and stages.

Flood Stage - The stage at which water overflowing the banks of a river, stream or body of water begins to cause damage.

6. Flood stage - the height of the river at which property damage begins to occur. Often differs from bankfull. The river may overflow its banks into flood plain without reaching flood stage.

E-3, Flood Stage ReportIn hydrologic terms, a form that a Service Hydrologist/ Hydrology Focal Point completes to document the dates in which forecast points are above flood stage, as well as the crest dates and stages.

For example, at the level where a river reaches flood stage, it may be considered moderate flooding. However, at least one of these three flood categories must start at flood stage.

It will contain the forecast point covered by the warning, the current stage (if it is available), and the established flood stage. It will also contain the forecasted crest from the River Forecast Center (RFC) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Warning stage The stage on a fixed river gauge at which it is necessary to begin issuing warnings or river forecasts if adequate precautionary measures are to be taken before flood stage is reached.

CRPCritical Rainfall Probability - in hydrologic terms, the probability that a given rainfall will cause a river, or stream to rise above flood stage.

Flood stage, flood crest and dates in which flooding occurred is covered within this report for each data point which was in flood. If the flooding involved a forecast point, an E-3 must be filled out as well.

Flood stage is 22 feet at Allentown. ''Hopefully, we will be getting some regular rainfall to keep up the flows,'' Mashek said. Another record rainfall was recorded at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Airport, with 6.42 inches marked over a 24-hour period.

This is product is issued by the local National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWFO) when forecast points (those that have formal gaging sites and established flood stages) at specific communities or areas along rivers where flooding has been ...

River levels rose to as much as 27 feet above flood stage! Large pieces of floating ice blocked the flow of the river, forcing it out of its banks and into nearby residences and businesses.
Photo by: Paul Thomson
Midwest Flooding
June-August 1993 ...

river flooding, high winds, winter storms, etc. The National Weather Service does not wait for the event to occur before warning the public; there must be some lead time associated with it, such as a flood warning prior to reaching flood stage.

River flood warningIssued when main stem rivers are expected to reach a level above flood stage.Roll cloudA relatively rare, low-level horizontal, tube-shaped accessory cloud completely detached from the cumulonimbus base.

See also: Flood, Water, Weather, Temperature, Pressure