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Information about Cascade Snowdepth Measurement Sites
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(last updated April 2005)
See the main Cascade Snowfall and Snowdepth page for historical snowpack info.
Detailed Snow Season Reports: 2005-2006, 2004-2005,
2003-2004, 2002-2003; see also
Previous Seasons and
Cascades El Niño / La Niña
NEW: Historical NWAC Snowdepth Data & Plots and
Paradise & Crater Lake Snowfall/Snowdepth Plots
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Skimountaineer.com has tracked the snowdepth data recorded at numerous sites along the entire
length of the Cascade Range since the 2002-2003 season, on a monthly and now semimonthly basis. This data is
painstakingly compiled from numerous separate sources, both government and private-sector, including snow
surveys, avalanche forecast offices, and ski areas. This is the only comprehensive summary available anywhere
of snowpack conditions throughout the Cascade Range in BC, WA, OR, and CA. It includes primarily sites which
are on or near the Cascade volcanoes, along with a few other interesting sites in the North Cascades of WA.
Over 40 sites are now tracked in the semimonthly reports, but numerous other low-elevation and low-snowdepth
sites which are of limited interest to skiers have been omitted due to time and space limitations. The table
below has brief information about each of these snowdepth measurement sites, including the period of record and
expected normal (average) snowdepths at the beginning of each month during the usual Cascade snow season
(November to July). This information was collected primarily for my own reference, but it may be interesting or
useful for others. The historical records on which the normals are based are easily available online for the
BCRFC, NRCS, and CCSS snow surveys, while records for other sites are less trivial to obtain.
The frequency of data collection varies at these sites, from hourly automated telemetry to manual
daily or monthly measurements. Note that multiple sites or data sources are found at several of these
locations, and their data values typically differ slightly from each other. The codes used below for Data
Frequency read as follows: H = Hourly Snowdepth Telemetry, H* = Hourly Snow-Water Telemetry, D = Daily Manual
Snowdepth (snow stake), M = Monthly Manual Snowdepth (snow course data, generally taken Jan 1–May 1 for
CCSS, Jan 1–June 1 for NRCS, and Jan 1–June 1 plus May 15 and June 15 for BCRFC), A = April 1 Manual
Snowdepth Only (snow course data). Daily snowfall records (and thus annual averages) are available for only a
few of the sites marked "D". See the info from California snow surveys
and NRCS snow surveys to learn more about
manual snow courses, or the info from NRCS SNOTEL
and BCRFC to learn more
about automated snow telemetry. Unfortunately, most manual snow courses managed by NRCS (including those in OR
and WA) were discontinued in the 1980s, replaced by a smaller number of automated SNOTEL sites which typically
provide only snow-water equivalent and not snowdepth (although they do offer the huge advantage of hourly
telemetry versus monthly manual measurements). Most of the NRCS SNOTEL sites listed here were installed in the
late 1970s and early 1980s to replace existing manual snow courses (these sites have older "M" data listed), and
snowdepth gauges are finally being added to many of these older sites. In addition, a number of newer SNOTEL
sites have been built since the mid 1990s (not associated with former snow courses), most notably several sites
near Mounts Baker and Saint Helens.
The normal snowdepth values listed in the table below for the first of each month are based on
data over the full period of record. In several cases, early and late season averages (Nov-January and
June-July) are based on only a small number of available data points, or they have been estimated using
snow-water content to calculate snowdepth if only snow-water telemetry is available for some years. Such
limited-sample and estimated values may have significant inaccuracies, and therefore they are italicized
below. It is difficult to accurately estimate normal snowdepths for sites which have an insufficient period of
snowdepth records (less than 10 years), and those for which historical snowdepth data is missing or otherwise
not publicly available (unfortunately, snowdepth data for NRCS SNOTEL sites is not available online except for
the current water year).
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| CURRENT SITES: List of data sites for semimonthly reports during the 2004-2005 season |
State /
Prov. |
Measurement Site Location |
Elevation |
|
Data Source
and Frequency |
|
Period of
Record |
|
Normal Snowdepths on First of Month |
|
Annual
Snowfall |
|
| Nov |
Dec |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
| BC |
Tenquille Lake
(east of Mt Meager) | 5500 ft |
BC RFC |
| M
H*, H | 1953–
2000– |
— | — | 68" | 90" | 108" |
116" | 105" | 74" | — |
— |
|
| Upper Squamish River
(NW of Cayley) | 4400 ft |
BC RFC |
H*, H | 1989–, 1995– |
10" | 53" | 97" | 120" | 137" |
146" | 130" | 83" | 20" | — |
| Callaghan Creek
(east of Mt Cayley) | 3400 ft |
BC RFC |
M | 1976– |
— | — | 40" | 59" | 75" |
77" | 60" | 17" | — | — |
| Whistler Mtn, Pig Alley
(N of Garibaldi) |
5400 ft | Ski Area |
D | 1973– |
10" | 42" | 63" | 81" | 95" |
102" | 92" | 62" | 14" | 457" |
| Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) |
3900 ft |
BC RFC |
M | 1972– |
— | — | 80" | 107" | 145" |
166" | 157" | 99" | — | — |
| Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) |
3600 ft |
BC RFC |
M | 1936– |
— | — | 51" | 80" | 99" |
113" | 103" | — | — | — |
|
3700 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 1971– |
2" | 29" | 57" | 87" | 106" |
122" | 91" | 34" | 11" | 325" |
| WA |
Mt Baker Ski Area (NE of Mt Baker) |
4200 ft |
Ski Area
NWAC |
D
H | 1926–
1990?– |
7" | 48" | 90" | 124" | 151" |
175" | 142" | 80" | 22" | 643" |
| Mt Baker, Wells Creek
(north side) | 4200 ft |
NRCS |
H*, H | 1995–, 1997– |
2" | 15" | 40" | 55" | 65" |
73" | 56" | 18" | 3" | — |
| Mt Baker, MF Nooksack
(NW side) | 5000 ft |
NRCS |
H*, H | 2002– |
5" | 28" | 56" | 82" | 99" |
123" | 110" | 74" | 10" | — |
| Mt Baker, Elbow Lake
(SW side) | 3200 ft |
NRCS |
H*, H | 1995–, 1997– |
1" | 16" | 46" | 67" | 80" |
87" | 59" | 20" | 2" | — |
| Rainy Pass
(far NE of Glacier Peak) | 4800 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1930–
1982–, 2002– |
— | — | 66" | 87" | 100" |
101" | 91" | 35" | — | — |
| Park Creek Ridge
(E of Cascade Pass) | 4600 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1928–2000
1979–, 1999– |
— | — | 69" | 107" | 117" |
109" | 85" | 26" | — | — |
| Stevens Pass (far south of Glacier Peak) |
4000 ft |
Ski Area
NWAC |
D
H |
1939–
1990?– |
6" | 31" | 62" | 87" | 99" |
101" | 83" | 24" | 2" | 494" |
| Stevens Pass
[snow course / SNOTEL] | 4000 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H |
1946–1987
1980–, 2002– |
— | — | 75" | 103" | 121" |
127" | 109" | 60" | — | — |
| Snoqualmie Pass (far NE of Mt Rainier) |
3000 ft |
Ski Area
NWAC |
D
H | 1929–
1990?– |
2" | 25" | 52" | 79" | 90" |
86" | 61" | 6" | 0" | 440" |
| Crystal Mtn Ski Area (NE of Rainier) |
4400 ft |
Ski Area
NWAC |
D
H | 1967–
1990?– |
— | 24" | 40" | 58" | 64" |
69" | 75" | — | — | 321" |
| Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) |
5600 ft |
NWAC |
H | 1990?– |
snowdepth records not readily available |
— |
| Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) |
6400 ft |
NWAC |
H | 2003– |
insufficient period of snowdepth record |
— |
| Mt Rainier, Paradise (south side) |
5400 ft |
NPS
NWAC |
D
H | 1926–
1990?– |
10" | 48" | 91" | 132" | 158" |
175" | 161" | 122" | 44" | 692" |
| White Pass (north of Goat Rocks) |
4500 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 1976– |
— | 20" | 35" | 52" | 56" |
54" | 25" | — | — | — |
| White Pass E. S.
[snow course / SNOTEL] | 4500 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1953–
1980–, 2002– |
— | — | 35" | 51" | 59" |
63" | 54" | 28" | — | — |
| Pigtail Peak
(N of Goat Rocks) | 5900 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1961–1985
1981–, 1997– |
— | — | 88" | 135" | 150" |
159" | 139" | 106" | — | — |
| Mt Saint Helens,
Swift Creek (S side) | 3800 ft |
NRCS |
H*, H | 2002– |
3" | 25" | 56" | 82" | 107" |
124" | 117" | 72" | 5" | — |
| Mt Saint Helens,
June Lake (SE side) | 3300 ft |
NRCS |
H*, H | 1984–, 2003– |
2" | 20" | 49" | 71" | 79" |
78" | 53" | 12" | 2" | — |
| OR |
Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge (S side) |
6000 ft |
Ski Area
NWAC |
D
H | 1973–
1990?– |
— | 45" | 76" | 117" | 140" |
163" | 152" | — | — | 550" |
| Mt Hood Test Site
(south side) | 5400 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1937–
1980–, 1997– |
— | — | 70" | 100" | 123" |
140" | 134" | — | — | — |
| Mt Hood,
Government Camp (SW side) | 4000 ft |
NCDC |
D | 1951– |
3" | 15" | 31" | 45" | 46" |
40" | 14" | 2" | 0" | 270" |
| Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area (SE side) |
5200 ft |
Ski Area
NWAC |
D
H | 1974–
1990?– |
— | 41" | 72" | 100" | 119" |
124" | 115" | — | — | 438" |
| Hogg Pass
(near Santiam Pass) | 4800 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1938–1983
1979–, 2002– |
— | — | 50" | 76" | 91" |
102" | 91" | 40" | — | — |
| McKenzie
(NW of Three Sisters) | 4800 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1939–1992
1981–, 2003– |
— | — | 52" | 73" | 91" |
99" | 89" | — | — | — |
| Mt Bachelor Ski Area (north side) |
6300 ft |
NRCS
Ski Area |
M
D | 1930–
1960?– |
— | — | 62" | 89" | 104" |
116" | 105" | 64" | — | 366" |
| Cascade Summit
(NE of Diamond Peak) | 4900 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1929–1989
1980–, 1998– |
— | — | 42" | 60" | 69" |
75" | 59" | 16" | — | 306" |
| Crater Lake, Caldera Rim (SW side) |
7100 ft |
NWAC |
H | 1990?– |
snowdepth records not readily available |
— |
| Crater Lake, Park HQ (SW side) |
6400 ft |
NPS
NWAC |
D
H | 1931–
1990?– |
7" | 32" | 65" | 95" | 113" |
122" | 100" | 50" | 5" | 528" |
| Crater Lake,
Annie Springs (SW side) | 6000 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1929–
2000– |
— | — | 53" | 81" | 99" |
108" | 91" | 45" | — | — |
| Fourmile Lake
(east of Mt McLoughlin) | 6000 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1950–1983
1978–, 1998– |
— | — | 40" | 47" | 60" |
63" | 48" | 7" | — | — |
| Mt McLoughlin,
Billie Creek (SE side) | 5300 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1929–1983
1978–, 2002– |
— | — | 30" | 45" | 53" |
53" | 33" | 3" | — | — |
| CA |
Medicine Lake (west side of caldera) |
6700 ft |
CCSS |
A
H* | 1940–
1985– |
2" | 17" | 33" | 47" | 65" |
79" | 42" | 11" | 1" | — |
|
Mt Shasta, Horse Camp (SW side) | 7900 ft |
CCSS |
M | 1930– |
— | — | 76" | 88" | 108" |
122" | 108" | — | — | — |
| Mt Shasta, Old Ski Bowl (south side) |
7600 ft |
MSAC |
H | 2002– |
snowdepths probably comparable to previous site |
— |
| Mt Shasta, Sand Flat (SW side) |
6800 ft |
CCSS |
M
H*, H | 1945–
1983–, 1998– |
2" | 21" | 56" | 73" | 93" |
100" | 82" | 23" | 3" | — |
|
Mt Shasta, Brewer Creek (east side) | 6200 ft |
CCSS |
M | 1945– |
— | — | — | 56" | 74" |
80" | 55" | — | — | — |
| Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) |
5800 ft |
NPS |
D | 1949– |
0" | 6" | 15" | 22" | 26" |
18" | 5" | 0" | 0" | 190" |
|
Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) | 8200 ft |
CCSS |
M
H | 1930–
2003– |
— | — | 82" | 122" | 151" |
178" | 162" | — | — | — |
| Lassen Chalet (SW of Lassen Peak) |
6700 ft |
NPS |
D | 1986– |
4" | 22" | 58" | 86" | 111" |
104" | 80" | — | — | 450" |
OTHER SITES: Some of these may be added to the list for the 2005-2006 season |
State /
Prov. |
Measurement Site Location |
Elevation |
|
Data Source
and Frequency |
|
Period of
Record |
|
Normal Snowdepths on First of Month |
|
Annual
Snowfall |
|
| Nov |
Dec |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
| BC |
Bridge Glacier
(north of Mt Meager) | 4600 ft |
BC RFC |
| M | 1995– |
— | — | 47" | 61" | 65" |
69" | 61" | — | — |
— |
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| Conflict Lake
(north of Mt Cayley) | 4500 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 2002?– |
insufficient period of snowdepth record |
— |
| Town of Whistler
(N of Mt Garibaldi) | 2200 ft |
ECNCA |
D | 1976– |
0" | 7" | 18" | 24" | 25" |
9" | 0" | 0" | 0" | 158" |
| WA |
Beaver Pass
(far east of Mt Baker) | 3700 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1944–
2001– |
— | — | 47" | 59" | 70" |
79" | 67" | 22" | — | — |
| Washington Pass (far NE of Glacier Pk) |
5500 ft |
NWAC |
H | 1990?– |
snowdepth records not readily available |
— |
| Lyman Lake
(NE of Glacier Peak) | 5900 ft |
NRCS |
M
H* | 1928–2000
1979– |
— | — | 94" | 121" | 140" |
142" | 138" | — | — | — |
| Stampede Pass
(far NE of Mt Rainier) | 3900 ft |
NWAC |
D | 1943– |
4" | 31" | 58" | 88" | 100" |
101" | 81" | 20" | 1" | 439" |
| Stampede Pass
[snow course / SNOTEL] | 3900 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1945–1982
1982–, 2002– |
— | — | 61" | 88" | 107" |
114" | 95" | 37" | — | — |
| Mt Rainier,
Longmire (SW side) | 2800 ft |
NCDC |
D | 1931– |
1" | 5" | 16" | 25" | 28" |
22" | 5" | 0" | 0" | 170" |
| Mt Adams,
Potato Hill (north side) | 4500 ft |
NRCS |
M
H* | 1950–1985
1983– |
— | — | 54" | 69" | 77" |
84" | 81" | — | — | — |
| Mt Saint Helens,
Spirit Lake (N side) | 3500 ft |
NRCS |
H*, H | 1985–, 2004– |
0" | 6" | 10" | 14" | 16" |
9" | 1" | 0" | 0" | — |
| Mt Saint Helens,
Sheep Canyon (W side) | 4000 ft |
NRCS |
H* | 1983– |
2" | 22" | 44" | 60" | 71" |
77" | 60" | 22" | 3" | — |
| OR |
Red Hill
(N of Mt Hood) | 4400 ft |
NRCS |
M
H* | 1948–1989
1978– |
— | — | 52" | 69" | 89" |
102" | 86" | — | — | — |
| Blazed Alder
(NW of Mt Hood) | 3600 ft |
NRCS |
H*, H | 1981–, 1996– |
2" | 18" | 39" | 59" | 69" |
69" | 47" | 9" | 0" | — |
| Three Creeks Mdw
(E of Three Sisters) | 5600 ft |
NRCS |
M
H* | 1928–1989
1980– |
— | — | 18" | 37" | 46" |
48" | 30" | — | — | — |
| Summit Lake
(south of Diamond Peak) | 5600 ft |
NRCS |
M
H* | 1928–1976
1978– |
— | — | — | 82" | 96" |
108" | 100" | — | — | — |
| Diamond Lake
(west of Mt Thielsen) | 5300 ft |
NRCS |
M
H*, H | 1937–1989
1980–, 2004– |
— | — | 29" | 44" | 51" |
54" | 40" | 8" | — | — |
| Pelican Butte,
Cold Springs (NW side) | 6100 ft |
NRCS |
M
H* | 1959–1989
1981– |
— | — | — | 69" | 77" |
87" | 77" | 23" | — | — |
| CA |
Mount Shasta Ski Park (south side) |
5500 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 1985– |
snowdepth records not readily available |
| City of Mount Shasta
(SW side) | 3600 ft |
NCDC |
D | 1948– |
0" | 1" | 6" | 5" | 2" |
1" | 0" | 0" | 0" | 104" |
|
Thousand Lakes (north of Lassen Peak) | 6500 ft |
CCSS |
M | 1946– |
— | — | — | 61" | 79" |
80" | 63" | — | — | — |
|
Harkness Flat (SE of Lassen Peak) | 6200 ft |
CCSS |
M | 1930– |
— | — | 36" | 52" | 68" |
68" | 42" | — | — | — |
|
Feather River Meadow (south of Lassen) | 5400 ft |
CCSS |
M | 1930– |
— | — | 29" | 42" | 56" |
55" | 29" | — | — | — |
| Mineral, Park HQ (SW of Lassen Peak) |
4900 ft |
NPS |
D | 1948– |
0" | 4" | 13" | 20" | 20" |
9" | 2" | 0" | 0" | 153" |
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The graph below summarizes snowdepths at 10 important sites throughout the entire Cascade Range.
Place your mouse over the links below to compare
the same plot for several previous seasons with normal values for
the period of record (this only works if you have a JavaScript-enabled browser).
Mouse-over links to change season graph, click to load season report:
2002-2003 |
2003-2004 |
2004-2005 |
2005-2006 |
Normals
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Data on this page provided by:
Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center,
Mount Shasta Avalanche Center,
Oregon & Washington Snow Surveys (NRCS),
California Cooperative Snow Surveys,
British Columbia River Forecast Centre & Snow Surveys,
Western Regional Climate Center,
National Climatic Data Center,
Environment Canada National Climate Archive,
Mount Rainier,
Crater Lake, and
Lassen Volcanic National Parks,
Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort,
Mount Baker Ski Area,
Stevens Pass Ski Area, and
Mount Bachelor Ski Resort.
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