6.1.16 SNOTELs

The United States’ Natural Resources Conservation Service operates an extensive, automated system for collecting snowpack and related climatic data in the Western United States and Alaska. This system is called SNOwpack TELemetry or SNOTEL for short. The SNOTEL network consists of over 750 measuring sites over complex terrain. 

hotograph of a sample SNOTEL site that takes routine, standardized in-site snow measurements

The table shows the physical properties measured and tools involved. 

A list of the physical properties measured and tools involved in SNOTEL measurements

This example shows SNOTEL SWE measurements for a site in California in 2008 and 2009 (up to mid-March). The plot is useful because it shows the data in a historical context, since 1971. Note that the maximum values of SWE typically occur in late February/early March.  

Snow Water Equivalent (SWE, in inches) for the Truckee #2 site in California, for 2008 and 2009. The average SWE progression at that site is also shown.