snowmelt

noun

snow·​melt ˈsnō-ˌmelt How to pronounce snowmelt (audio)
: runoff produced by melting snow

Examples of snowmelt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Additionally, floods can be caused by ice jams and snowmelt, meaning areas prone to these conditions are at risk, as well as anywhere where recent burns have occurred, such as wildfires. Abigail Adams, People.com, 9 July 2025 Before the calendar turns to midsummer, the river’s flow is typically higher, as the snowmelt releases more water and a greater volume flows from Lucky Peak. Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 4 July 2025 Lake levels fluctuate throughout the year, with water levels typically beginning to rise when California's wet season begins in the fall and continuing to do so throughout the spring, when snowmelt supplements the reservoir. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025 Fed by the snowmelt of Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the continental United States, the 165-mile river winds through the Sequoia National Forest, a majestic landscape that has long held sway over seasoned fly-fishermen and hardened river rats. David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for snowmelt

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snowmelt was circa 1927

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Cite this Entry

“Snowmelt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowmelt. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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