The contribution of SNOTEL precipitation measurements to climate analysis, monitoring and research in Colorado

Precipitation data collected by the Soil Conservation Service SNOTEL network in Colorado is compared to traditional National Weather Service data sources for the 1980-1986 period. Differences in gages and observational procedures are shown to have significant effects on precipitation measurements. Differences in gages and observational procedures are shown to have significant effects on precipitation measurements. Improved gage catch efficiencies make SNOTEL measurements surerior to NWS data for the October-May winter season. Summer SNOTEL accueulation undermeasures precipitation by at least 10%. NWS data are superior to SNOTEL data for assessing timing and frequency of daily events, but SNOTEL data are adequate to show relative differences in precipitation frequencies from one location to another.