In order to study the development law of overtopping breach of embankments during ice flood season, the homogeneous and non cohesive soil embankment burst tests were carried out under the flood and ice flood conditions. The breach process under these two conditions was divided into four stages, which are seepage and overflow, scouring behind the embankment, widening of the breach and balance of scouring and silting. The development speed and form of each stage were different. The similarities and differences of the breach process, breach width, flow velocity and water level change process under the two conditions were analyzed emphatically. The results show that the change trend of the flow velocity and water level are in substantial agreement under the two conditions. Under the ice flood condition, the peak velocity increased significantly and occurred earlier than usual, which could reach twice as much at most. So, increasing the top width of the embankment has little effect on the velocity and water level, whereas increasing the slope ratio can significantly reduce the rising speed and peak velocity of the water level behind the embankment. The test results can help understand the process and characteristics of embankment breach in the period of ice flood, so as to provide scientific reference for the formulation of control measures for non cohesive soil embankments during ice flood season.