What Is SNOTEL? A Complete Guide to Snow Telemetry Data
If you ski, climb, or spend any time in the western mountains during winter, you’ve probably seen SNOTEL data referenced in trip reports, avalanche forecasts, or snow condition updates. But what exactly is SNOTEL, how do the stations work, and what do the numbers actually mean?
SNOTEL stands for Snow Telemetry
SNOTEL is a network of over 900 automated weather stations operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The stations are scattered across remote mountain locations in the western United States, from the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the Rockies and the mountains of Alaska.
Their primary purpose is water supply forecasting. In the American West, the majority of annual water supply comes from mountain snowpack that melts in spring and summer. Utilities, farmers, and water managers need to know how much water is stored in the mountains, and SNOTEL gives them that answer in near-real-time.
But the same data is incredibly useful for recreational users. Skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, and backcountry travelers use SNOTEL readings to gauge current conditions, track storms, and compare the current season to historical averages.
What does a SNOTEL station measure?
Every SNOTEL site records at least three things daily: snow water equivalent (SWE), snow depth, and air temperature. Some stations also measure precipitation, soil moisture, and wind.
Snow Depth is the physical height of the snowpack, measured by an ultrasonic sensor pointed downward from a pole above the snow surface. It bounces a sound pulse off the snow and calculates the distance. Snow depth is reported in inches.
Air Temperature is measured by a shielded sensor, typically at the same site. Temperature readings help forecasters predict whether incoming precipitation will fall as rain or snow, and whether the snowpack is warming toward melt.
The distinction between SWE and depth matters. Two feet of light, cold powder contains much less water than two feet of dense, wet Cascade cement. SWE captures this difference. For recreational users, depth tells you how much snow is on the ground; SWE tells you how heavy and dense it is. Together, they tell you a lot about snow quality.
How SNOTEL stations transmit data
SNOTEL stations are usually located in remote backcountry locations, far from roads and power lines. They run on solar panels and batteries, and transmit their data via meteor burst communication — a system that bounces radio signals off the ionized trails left by meteors entering the atmosphere. This sounds exotic, but it’s been in reliable use since the 1970s. The data is collected at a central hub in Portland, Oregon, and made available to the public through the NRCS website.
Readings are typically updated once per day, with the official daily measurement taken at midnight local time. Some stations report hourly data as well, but the daily value is the standard reference.
How to read SNOTEL data for skiing and climbing
When you look at a SNOTEL report for a mountain like Mt. Hood (station #651) or Mt. Rainier (station #679), here’s what to pay attention to:
Recent snowfall. Compare today’s snow depth to yesterday’s. A jump of 8 inches overnight means fresh snow. Cascade Snow calculates this automatically and shows 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour new snow totals for every station.
Season context. A snow depth of 80 inches might be great in January but disappointing in March. Compare the current reading to the historical average for today’s date. Cascade Snow ranks every season against all recorded seasons, so you can see at a glance whether the current winter is above or below normal.
SWE trends. If snow depth is dropping but SWE is steady, the snowpack is consolidating (settling). If SWE is dropping, you’re losing actual water content to melt. Rising SWE with flat depth usually means rain or warm snow is adding water without adding volume — not great for skiing.
Temperature. Sustained below-freezing temperatures preserve snow quality. A swing above freezing, especially overnight, signals melt-freeze conditions and can increase avalanche risk.
SNOTEL stations in the Pacific Northwest
The Cascades have excellent SNOTEL coverage. Major stations used by skiers and climbers include Wells Creek (#909) near Mt. Baker, Paradise (#679) on Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood Test Site (#651), Three Creeks Meadow (#815) near Mt. Bachelor, and Stampede Pass (#788) near Snoqualmie. In northeastern Oregon, Mt. Howard (#653) covers the Wallowa Mountains, and in Idaho, Galena Summit (#490) tracks Sun Valley’s snowpack.
Cascade Snow pulls data from 24 SNOTEL stations across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, processes it into daily snowfall totals and season rankings, and presents it alongside 5-day weather forecasts at three elevation zones for each mountain. It’s all free and updated every morning.
After the NWRFC graphs went away
For years, many recreationists relied on the Northwest River Forecast Center’s (NWRFC) snow depth and density graphs, which plotted current-season SNOTEL data against historical averages in a simple, visual format. In June 2025, the NWRFC discontinued those graphs. Cascade Snow was built in part to fill that gap — providing the same historical context and visual charting that the NWRFC graphs offered, plus forecasts and additional analysis the old tool never had.
If you used to check the NWRFC snow plot for Paradise, Hood, or any other Cascade station, the mountain pages on Cascade Snow are the closest free replacement available.
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