meltoff

plural meltoffs

1. countableuncountableThe melting of snowpack at the end of winter.

   In years of late meltoff, ground squirrels emerge and burrow up through the snow with little difficulty.

   2013, H.H. Genoways, Current Mammalogy - Volume 1, →ISBN, page 169

   1 more example

   Thus mosses are in a position to photosynthesize at significant rates immediately after meltoff since their relative photosynthetic competence is high and since a substantial amount of evergreen tissue is present.

   2012, Larry L. Tieszen, Vegetation and Production Ecology of an Alaskan Arctic Tundra, →ISBN

2. countableuncountableThe water produced by the melting of the snowpack.

   The snowpack deepens as long as accumulation exceeds meltoff , usually until mid-March.

   2000, David Gilligan, The Secret Sierra: The Alpine World Above the Trees

   1 more example

   It was low and slow at this time of year, all the fish up the creek, all the meltoff out in the Gulf, but it was still beautiful.

   2001, Dana Stabenow, The Singing of the Dead, →ISBN, page 99