snowpack

American  

[snoh-pak] / ˈsnoʊˌpæk /

noun

1. the accumulation of winter snowfall, especially in mountain or upland regions.

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snowpack British  

/ ˈsnəʊˌpæk /

noun

1. a quantity of fallen snow that has become massed together

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snowpack Scientific  

/ snō′păk′ /

1. An area of naturally formed, packed snow that usually melts during the warmer months.

2. The amount of snow that accumulates annually in a mountainous area.

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Etymology

Origin of snowpack

First recorded in 1945–50; snow + pack ¹

Example Sentences

This year, the snowpack in the upper portion of the river’s watershed in the Rocky Mountains measures just 22% of average, the smallest on record.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

A poor snowpack this winter in the Rockies means it is forecast to keep falling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Current forecasting methods rely heavily on snowpack measurements taken in early April.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

That came as welcome news weeks after record-warm March temperatures melted much of the snow in the Sierra, resulting in the second-smallest April 1 snowpack since 1950.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Icy fingers of water trickled down from the snowpack above into small frozen pools that cracked and broke beneath the hooves of their garrons.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin