Does Anyone Have A Clue?

[+Og's outfit]

Does anyone know the approximate snow level in the central Cascades right now?

[+WeightMan]

Does anyone know the approximate snow level in the central Cascades right now?

 

The last log I saw for Tunnel of Light mentioned that there was still some snow at the cache. Don't know the elevation there, but it must be around 3000-3500 feet.

[+EraSeek]

If you mean snow/freezing levels (not snow pack):

 

For rainier area:

 

.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS. SNOW LEVEL 7000

FEET.

.FRIDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. SNOW LEVEL 5000 FEET.

.FRIDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. FREEZING LEVEL 6000 FEET.

.SATURDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. FREEZING LEVEL 7000 FEET.

.SATURDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. FREEZING LEVEL 8500 FEET.

.SUNDAY...SUNNY. FREEZING LEVEL 10000 FEET.

.SUNDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. FREEZING LEVEL 10000 FEET.

 

LONGMIRE / PARADISE / CAMP MUIR / SUMMIT

ELEV 2700 5420 10188 14411

 

THURSDAY NIGHT 35 / CALM 26 / W15 15 / SW25 05 / W40

FRIDAY 52 / CALM 42 / W15 15 / SW25 10 / W40

FRIDAY NIGHT 30 / CALM 26 / NW10 15 / SW20 05 / W40

SATURDAY 62 / CALM 52 / W10 25 / SW20 15 / SW30

SATURDAY NIGHT 36 / CALM 30 / W10 25 / SW20 15 / S30

SUNDAY 68 / CALM 60 / W10 30 / S20 25 / S30

 

(TEMPERATURES AND WIND FOR THE SUMMIT AND CAMP MUIR ARE AVERAGE

CONDITIONS EXPECTED IN THE FREE AIR AT THOSE ELEVATIONS.

TEMPERATURES FOR PARADISE AND LONGMIRE ARE EXPECTED HIGH AND LOW

TEMPERATURES. WIND IS THE AVERAGE WIND EXPECTED DURING THAT PERIOD.)

 

.EXTENDED FORECAST...

.MONDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY AND WARM. FREEZING LEVEL 11000 FEET.

.MONDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. SNOW

LEVEL 10000 FEET.

.TUESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. SNOW LEVEL

9000 FEET.

.TUESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. FREEZING LEVEL 10000 FEET.

.WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. FREEZING LEVEL 10000

[+Map Only]

We drove to 3300' on the 8 mile road up icicle canyon Sunday. There were bare patches on the North-facing slopes up to 4000’, and only rocks stuck out above that. The colchuck glacier had wonderful snow and we skied down to the lake.

[+WeightMan]

Also the tunnel at Snoqualmie is now open. A cacher from California made the trek through the tunnel yesterday and did not report snow at any of the caches down to Tunnel Of Light.

[+Og's outfit]

There's no snow on Mt. Si, either!

[+dshifter]

Try this site. Hover your mouse cursor over any of the dots and then klick on it. This will take you to a page where you can look at the snow level for that area.

 

Washington Snotel

[+TotemLake]

Try this site. Hover your mouse cursor over any of the dots and then klick on it. This will take you to a page where you can look at the snow level for that area.

 

Washington Snotel

 

Be careful with how you read these sensor readings. They measure the snow water equivalent which has nothing to do with the depth of the snow but with the density the crystals are packed. That is, how much water the snow pack is capable of producing if it was to melt right away.

 

You can read more about it at this link.

 

The old way of measuring snow by depth didn't tell what the authorities needed to know about the watershed, which is the main reason for the snow measurment.

Edited May 17, 2006 by TotemLake

[+dshifter]

Looks to me like it gives both the snow water equivalent and the actual snow depth.

 

My wife and I cross country skied into an area where there is a snotel site and from what I could see the snow level was about the same as what I had looked at on the web site.

[+TotemLake]

Looks to me like it gives both the snow water equivalent and the actual snow depth.

 

My wife and I cross country skied into an area where there is a snotel site and from what I could see the snow level was about the same as what I had looked at on the web site.

Yes it does show it in inches. You didn't pay attention to my remarks.

 

They measure the snow water equivalent which has nothing to do with the depth of the snow but with the density the crystals are packed

 

I watched this information come about when it was being changed over about 4-5 years ago when I was using data from the past 40 years to predict the best snow season for camping in the snow.

 

The snow level in inches is an estimate based on the average density for the area. It can and has changed enough to be useful mostly as a visual aid when graphing. Use it only as a rough guide on the actual depth. Snow packs down over time, but the water density and estimated depth can stay the same.

 

=-=-Edited for grammatical error-=-=

Edited May 17, 2006 by TotemLake

[+dshifter]

I stand corrected.

 

Thought I was trying to be helpful.

[+TotemLake]

I stand corrected.

 

Thought I was trying to be helpful.

Not at all! Your link was very helpful! I just added a caution to its usage.

 

Cheers!

TL

[MarcusArelius]

I think what people are interested in right now is the snow pack not the snow level. I don't think there will be a lot of new snow falling now (snow level), but I would very much like to know where I should expect to encounter snow on the higher trails at this time of the year. And what the depth at the peaks would be.

 

I didn't see snow pack on the last link posted, are there any other resources?

 

The only one I know of is the forest service trail reports but they are terse and spotty.

Edited May 17, 2006 by MarcusArelius

[+Kiersolvd]

The Washington Trails Association has hiker's reports in it that usually mention where along the trail they encountered the snow.

[MarcusArelius]

I went up th Mailbox peak today. What is left of the snow pack started above 4100 feet. This particular trail was on the SW side and was bare except for one small section up to 4800 feet. Expect more if the trail is on the north side.