snowpack
noun
snow·pack
| \ ˈsnō-ˌpak
\
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Definition of snowpack
: a seasonal accumulation of slow-melting packed snow
Examples of snowpack in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to one modeling study, for example, if the Amazon were ever completely deforested, the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains—a crucial water reservoir for California—would be diminished by half. — Craig Welch, National Geographic, "How Amazon forest loss may affect water—and climate—far away," 27 Aug. 2019 This year’s snowpack in the Tuolumne River watershed, as of April 1, was 176 percent of a normal year, according to sensors verified by wilderness rangers. — Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Yosemite to open Tioga Road Friday," 20 June 2019 The Sierra Nevada snowpack — a vital source of water for consumers in the summer and fall — was at 32% of average, according to the Department of Water Resources. — Joseph Serna, latimes.com, "Storm brings light rain and chance of thunderstorms to Southern California," 1 May 2018 However, one of those winters — 2001-02 — finished with one of the lowest statewide snowpack figures on record. — Chris Bianchi, The Denver Post, "Bye bye, El Niño: What does that mean for this winter in Colorado?," 10 Aug. 2019 Across the Sierra, the melt off of this year’s big snowpack has the watersheds flush with water. — Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Cherry Lake a testament to NorCal lakes," 8 Aug. 2019 As temperatures rise in the lower elevations, the snowpack melts slowly and creates a steady stream of runoff as temperatures rise into the higher elevations. — John D'anna, azcentral, "For a while in 1983, sheets of plywood were all that kept the mighty Glen Canyon Dam from overflowing," 18 July 2019 Statewide, the snowpack was 133 percent of the normal peak value this year (which takes into account the median peak value, 1981-2010). — Sarah Kuta, The Know, "As the Royal Gorge turns 90, now is the time to visit Cañon City," 27 July 2019 Statewide snowpack was more than 400% of normal, with highs of more than 700% in the San Juan Mountains. — Ryan Osborne, The Denver Post, "Here’s how much the snowmelt boosted Colorado’s reservoirs," 13 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'snowpack.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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