
National Water and Climate Center
Basin Site Name | Elev (ft) | Snow Water Equivalent | Snow Water Equivalent | Snow Water Equivalent |
Current (in) | Median (in) | Pct of Median | Current (in) | Median (in) |
Mud Flat | 5730 | -M | 0.0 | * |
Taylor Canyon | 6325 | 0.0 | 0.0 | * |
Jul 3 2022
What does the snow water equivalent percent of normal mean?
The snow water equivalent percent of normal represents the current snow water equivalent found at selected SNOTEL sites in or near the basin compared to the average value for those sites on this day. Data based on the first reading of the day (typically 00:00).
What is the snow water equivalent (SWE) of SNOTEL?
Westwide SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal 1800 4356 50 50 150 41 575 25 100 1220 700 160 1900 257 225 0 471 50 48 767 107 40 50 217 971 75
Where can I find more information about the drought in Oregon?
Check out the NRCS National Water and Climate Centerwebpage for additional climate data and resources. » External Resources NDMC Drought Monitor The most up-to-date drought conditions for the state of Oregon from The National Drought Mitigation Center. OWRD Drought Declarations
What are the major river basins in Oregon?
Major River Basins Grande Ronde, Powder, Burnt, ImnahaHarneyHood, Sandy, Lower DeschutesJohn DayKlamathLake County, Goose LakeMahleurOwyheeRogue, UmpquaUmatilla, Walla Walla, WillowUpper Deschutes, CrookedWillamette Period of Record Daily Average Air Temperature

What is water equivalent of snowfall?
Snow Water Equivalent, or SWE, is a commonly used measurement used by hydrologists and water managers to gage the amount of liquid water contained within the snowpack. In other words, it is the amount of water that will be released from the snowpack when it melts.
How is Oregon’s snowpack?
Oregon snowpack 126% of normal, drought improvement, new normals. The snow has piled up in Oregon’s mountains over the past two weeks, bringing major improvement to a statewide snowpack that started the season in a pretty dreadful place.
How do you calculate snow to water?
Commonly, the percentage of water to snow is called the “snow ratio”. An old rule of thumb was that for every 10 inches of snow, there would be 1 inch of water (10:1).
What does high snow water equivalent mean?
Snow water equivalent (SWE) is the measurement of how much water is present within a snowpack. To make sound water management decisions, it is essential that SWE measurements be as effective and accurate as possible.
Is Oregon’s drought getting better?
(KOIN) – Oregon is seeing major improvements to its drought conditions as the extremely wet spring conditions persist. The latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor show that less than 2% of the state remains in exceptional drought and less than 70% of the state remains in some level of drought.
Is Oregon in a drought 2022?
OREGON WATER SUPPLY SUMMARY AS OF JUNE 21ST, 2022 Most of the areas projected to be below average are already stressed due to drought conditions for much of the past 2 years.
How much water is in 12 inches of snow?
For instance, for 12 inches of snowfall at a temperature of 16 °F, all you need to do is divide the amount of snow in inches by the snow coefficient, which in this case is 20. The result is 0.6 inches of rain.
How much snow does it take to make 1 gallon of water?
Say you’re using a one gallon container. One gallon (US measure) of water weighs approximately 8.3 pounds. If the snow in your one gallon container weighs four pounds then the water content of the snow is almost 50 percent which means it will take two gallons of snow to make one gallon of water.
How much water is in a square foot of snow?
The water content of any given cubic foot of snow can strongly influence how much the snow actually weighs. 1 cubic foot of water weighs 62.4 lbs. One cubic foot of snow usually weighs 5% to 32% of that. In the Midwest, the water content of a cubic foot of snow averages about 20%, or 12.48 pounds.
Why is Snow Water Equivalent important?
The snow water equivalent (SWE) describes the amount of liquid water in the snowpack that would be formed if it were completely melted. SWE is an important measure of availability of water resources, since it relates to the runoff of rivers and variations in groundwater levels.
What is snow water good for?
Snow can not only provide plants with moisture but also trace amounts of minerals. Compared to tap water snow contains no chlorine and other harmful irons that can harm plants. Snow can be used to water plants although it is advised to avoid watering plants with ice because it can damage the plant’s roots.
Is snow water safe to drink?
Answer: Drinking water made from clean white snow melt is generally considered safe because pathogens don’t usually survive in it.
Is Oregon in a drought 2021?
The most intense period of drought occurred the week of August 31, 2021, where D4 affected 26.59% of Oregon land. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a national map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are in drought.
What is the Sierra snowpack?
The mountain snowpack, as measured by snow sensors across the Sierras, now stands at just 38% of the long-term average. Advertisement. State officials stood on bare ground at a snow survey site in the mountains on Friday, saying the paltry snowpack reflects the state’s accelerating water challenges with climate change.
What is the snowpack on Mount Hood?
During seasonal peaks, snowpack on this mountain can reach levels as high as 246″, while the historical average snowpack during the winter sits around 77″.
Is Eugene Oregon still in drought?
Eugene has received only about 80% of the precipitation in a normal water year following two other drought years. Soil moisture is still historically low, he said, a drought metric that affects stream flow and the health of vegetation.
NRCS Oregon Snow Survey
NRCS Oregon Snow Survey collects mountain hydroclimatic data that is used to produce
volumetric streamflow forecasts and generate products that quantify surface water
supplies and inform natural resource management.
Time Series
These charts show current SWE, precipitation and temperature data for basins or sites in comparison to the historical record.
Interactive Map
The interactive map provides an interface allowing users to quickly view and access parameters associated with a site or basin.
Daily Update
The Daily SNOTEL Update Report provides provisional data for SWE and precipitation values at each site.
What is snow water equivalent?
What Are Z/R Relationships? Snow water equivalent is the depth of water that would cover the ground if the snow cover was in a liquid state.
Is snow depth a true indicator of average snow depth?
Snow depth is not always a true indicator of the average snow depth over an entire area, but the values are used qualitatively to see if the estimated water equivalents are in need of review or revision. These maps show an estimate of what percentage of the ground is covered by snow.
