A rising body of water (as in a stream, lake, or sea, or behind a dam) that over tops its natural or artificial confines and that covers land not normally under water; esp. any relatively high stream flow that overflows its banks in any reach of the stream, or that is measured by gage height or discharge quantity. Resulting impacts include flooding, erosion and damage to infrastructure. (Neuendorf, K.K.E. and others, 2011)
