Evaluation of SNOTEL data during January 9-16, 1980 storm in the Tahoe-Truckee basins

TitleEvaluation of SNOTEL data during January 9-16, 1980 storm in the Tahoe-Truckee basins
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1981
AuthorsMoreland, R. E.
Conference Name49th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 49th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1981
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationSt. George, Utah
KeywordsPrecipitation data, Rain on snow event, SNOTEL data site, Snow pillow data, Snowpack profiles chart, Temperature data
Abstract

This paper covers the operation of SNOTEL data sites during the severe storm period January 9 to 16, 1980, in the Tahoe-Truckee Basins of California and Nevada. These sites are part of the Soil Conservation Service's SNOTEL data collection system. Precipitation over the basins was almost continuous from the 9th through the 16th of January. The nine SNOTEL sites in the Tahoe-Truckee Basins and four sites in the adjacent Carson-Walker Basins were the only near real time data collection sites functioning in these basins during the January 9-16 event. Four SNOTEL sites--Ward Creek No. 3, Independence Lake, Fallen Leaf, and Marlette Lake--all with different average annual precipitation patterns, provided snowpack snow water, precipitation, and temperature information to help interpret what was happening during the entire January 9-16 event. Snow water equivalents and precipitation amounts of the Central Sierra Snow Lab and the Blue Canyon gage are also presented. Data collected at SNOTEL sites during this storm period appears to be quite accurate.

URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1981Moreland.pdf