G.11. USDA/NRCS Snowcourse Network (NRCS-SC)
- Purpose of network: collect snowpack and related climate data to assist in forecasting water supply in the western U.S.
- Primary management agency: NRCS.
- Data website: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snowcourse/.
- Measured weather/climate elements:
o Snow depth.
o Snow water equivalent.
- Sampling, reporting frequency: monthly or seasonally.
- Estimated station cost: cost of man-hours needed to set up snowcourse and make measurements.
- Network strengths:
o Periods of record are generally long.
o Large number of high-altitude sites.
- Network weaknesses:
o Measurement and reporting only occurs on monthly to seasonal basis.
o Few weather/climate elements are measured.
USDA/NRCS maintains a network of snow-monitoring stations known as snowcourses. Many of these sites have been in operation since the early part of the twentieth century. These are all manual sites where only snow depth and snow water content are measured.
G.12. Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Network (NWAVAL)
- Purpose of network: support snow- and avalanche-monitoring efforts at NWAC.
- Primary management agency: NWAC.
- Data website: http://www.nwac.noaa.gov.
- Measured weather/climate elements:
o Air temperature.
o Relative humidity.
o Precipitation.
o Wind speed and direction.
o Wind gust and direction.
- Sampling frequency: hourly.
- Reporting frequency: hourly.
- Estimated station cost: unknown.
- Network strengths:
o Strategic location in montane and alpine environments, locations that traditionally have sparse weather/climate observations.
o Data are readily available.
- Network weaknesses:
o Geographic coverage – limited to mountain areas.
o Data quality is sometimes questionable.
The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center (NWAC) operates a network of weather stations in the mountainous areas of the Pacific Northwest, primarily in Washington. These stations are operated in support of NWAC’s primary mission of monitoring avalanche conditions in the mountains of Washington and northern Oregon. Hourly weather and climate elements that are measured include temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation. Daily measurements are made of snowfall and snowdepth.
