Application of a snow water-equivalent prediction model to rain-on-snow events in the central Sierra Nevada

TitleApplication of a snow water-equivalent prediction model to rain-on-snow events in the central Sierra Nevada
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1983
AuthorsBerg, N. H., and Hannaford M. A.
Conference Name51st Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 51st Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1983
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationVancouver, Washington
KeywordsMultiple regression, Prediction model, Snow water equivalent
Abstract

Knowledge of snowpack water-equivalent is critical in evaluating the reaction of the snowpack to rainfall. Deep, high water-equivalent packs may retain some portion of the rainfall, while flood flows are more likely to result from rainfall on shallow, low water-equivalent packs. A regression model, involving 19 equations, has been developed for estimating real-time snowpack water-equivalent for locations within the American, Yuba and Mokelumne River basins of the central Sierra Nevada of California. The model yields multiple correlation coefficient values reaching 0.94. The equations use snowpack data from two manned hydrometeorological index stations and include information on site elevation, geographical coordinates, date and snowpack conditions at the index stations. Evaluation of the model during rain-on-snow conditions shows close agreement between predicted values and actual observations.

URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1983Berg.pdf