snowmelt

American  

[snoh-melt] / ˈsnoʊˌmɛlt /

noun

1. water from snow that is melting or has melted.

2. the amount of such water.

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snowmelt British  

/ ˈsnəʊˌmɛlt /

noun

1. water produced by the melting of snow

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Etymology

Origin of snowmelt

First recorded in 1925–30; snow + melt ¹

Example Sentences

Dry soils can absorb large amounts of snowmelt before it ever reaches streams, while groundwater losses across the basin have surged in recent decades.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

Since 1999, precipitation across the Colorado River Basin has declined by about 7%, and in some years only about half of the expected snowmelt actually reaches rivers and streams.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

Five years ago, state forecasters badly missed their runoff predictions — overestimating the snowmelt expected to refill reservoirs by up to 68%.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

“It’s pretty obvious that this is the runoff — this is the snowmelt — and it’s just happening about two months early.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

She finished pouring snowmelt water from a second kettle into jugs in the sink, then dried her hands and turned to him.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson