In hydrology, snow melt is surface runoff produced from melting snow. It can also be used to describe the period or season during which such runoff is produced. water produced by snow melt is an important part of the annual water cycle in many parts of the world. Predicting snow melt runoff from a drainage basin may be a part of designing water control projects. Rapid snow melt can cause flooding. If the snow melt is then frozen, very dangerous conditions and accidents can occur, introducing the need for salt to melt the ice.