ice jam

American  

noun

1. an obstruction of broken river ice in a narrow part of a channel.

2. a mass of lake or sea ice broken and piled up against the shore by wind pressure.

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Etymology

Origin of ice jam

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

While the temperature upswing was welcome news for many who had grown weary of the cold weather, Greg Carbin, chief of forecast operations at the Weather Prediction Center, said such a change in weather can cause problems, such as potholes and ice jam flooding, when ice breaks loose, then gets trapped and piles up, creating a temporary dam.

From New York Times

Ice jam warnings were issued in Wyoming and Montana, where the bitter cold could cause rivers and streams to lock up with ice and overflow their banks.

From Seattle Times

In Crooked Creek, most residents in the village of about 90 people evacuated to the school, which is on higher ground, as an ice jam on the Kuskokwim River caused rapid flooding late Saturday and into Sunday, Zidek said.

From Seattle Times

The ice jam on the Buckland River is about a quarter-mile below the community.

From Seattle Times

National Weather Service and local officials anticipate the water levels will stay high and fluctuate a little until the ice jam breaks, said Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

From Seattle Times