Some good news for Siskiyou County where I live: the major winter weather that’s pummeled us in recent weeks has left a lot of snow and moisture in the mountains.
Here is a press release with all the details of Klamath National Forest snow depths:
Fort Jones, CA – Forest personnel on the Salmon River and Scott River Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest have completed the February snow surveys.
The first snow measurements of 2010 indicate that the depth and water content of this winter’s snowpack is above average. According to the current measurements for the snow courses taken in the southern portion of Scott Valley, the snowpack has an above average depth of 146% and a water content of 128%, as compared to the historical averages for February 1. The snow course data shows the majority of the January storms accumulating snow in the southern portion of the Scott River watershed. The Swampy John course near Etna was the only measurement that showed below average numbers in depth and water content as compared to the historical averages for February 1.
Snow course data has been inventoried since 1946. Historic high measurements for Swampy John are 161.5 inches in February 1969; and 126 inches in February 2008. The historic high at Scott Mountain was 76 inches in February 1993 and 2008. Four out of the five measurement sites are above average and weather forecasts are predicting more snow accumulation at the end of this week.
During the winter and spring months (Feb-May), District employees travel to pre-determined measuring sites to collect information about snow accumulation in the mountains of the Klamath National Forest, west of Scott Valley in Siskiyou County. The “snow courses” are designated locations that are used to provide information about the amount of snow and moisture for each winter month. Some sites are located a few dozen yards off of forest roads; others require hours of travel by snow shoes and snowmobiles.
The snow depth and water content are measured by probing the snow with specially designed aluminum tubes. The depth is measured and the water equivalent is calculated by weighing the core of snow in the tubes. This information is forwarded to the State of California, where the data is compiled with other snow depth reports and becomes part of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys program, managed by the California Department of Water Resources. The information is used to help the state forecast the amount of water available for agricultural uses, power generation, and stream flow releases later in the year.
For more information, go to the California Department of Water Resources Website: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow. Following is the snow course data from this month’s measurements.
And here’s snow water equivalents data from the California Department of Water Resources for northern, central, and southern California:
| NORTH | Number of Stations Reporting | 32 | 32 |
| Average snow water equivalent | 27″ | 27″ | |
| Percent of April 1 Average | 95% | 95% | |
| Percent of normal for this date | 128% | 129% | |
| CENTRAL | Number of Stations Reporting | 45 | 45 |
| Average snow water equivalent | 20″ | 20″ | |
| Percent of April 1 Average | 66% | 66% | |
| Percent of normal for this date | 91% | 92% | |
| SOUTH | Number of Stations Reporting | 33 | 33 |
| Average snow water equivalent | 20″ | 20″ | |
| Percent of April 1 Average | 76% | 76% | |
| Percent of normal for this date | 110% | 111% |
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Looking forward to hitting the trails this fall. My favorite time of the year.