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If you live near a river or stream, you may have heard the term “bankfull” or “bankfull stage.” It’s an important term to know in a flooding event. Bankfull refers to the water level at which a stream, river or lake is at the top of its banks. If the water is at its bankfull stage, any additional water will overflow the banks and potentially result in flooding.

For many locations, this is a predetermined height. Therefore, meteorologists can determine if flooding is imminent based on flood gauges in that particular area. Think of it as a glass of water. The “bankfull” would be when the glass is at its highest capacity – one more drop would cause it to spill over the brim.

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We have seen many river flooding events in recent years, from river flooding from the Mississippi River to hurricane-induced river flooding from rainfall. Therefore, it’s always good to know at what point a river near you is at “bankfull” so you are better prepared for potential river flooding.

J​ennifer 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.