Maine Cooperative Snow Survey

2012 Maine Cooperative Snow Survey began this week. Fifty-nine sites were visited across the state. Only sixteen of the visited sites had measurable snow, with five sites recording a trace. This left thirty-eight sites with no snow at all!

New data came in to fill in some big holes in the Allagash and St. John headwater areas so we have revised the maps. Snowpack depth and water content have increase significantly in the northern part of the state since early January while southern Maine shows a slight improvement. The most comprehensive survey of the year begins at the end of this month.

Snowpack depth and water content have risen to normal levels in northern Maine since the survey done in early February. Over 180 sites were surveyed across the state this week. High point for snow depth was in Ashland with almost 36 inches of snow. A couple sites in northern Maine had water content of over seven inches. The March 1st snowstorm in southern Maine will show up in next week's survey.

A few new sites were reported so the maps were revised. High points for the week of March 5th were Allagash with 35.6 inches of snow and Guerette with 7.7 inches of water in the snowpack.

One hundred and eight sites were visited this week. Twenty of the sites in northern Maine had snowpack depths of over twenty inches. The high spot was Russell Pond, near the headwaters of the St. John River, which reported 28.5 inches of snow, holding 7.3 inches of water. Recent warm temperatures caused southern Maine to quickly lose the snow it had received early in the month.

Snow is melting fast across the southern regions of the State. Ninety-two sites were measured this week. High point was again Russell Pond with measurements of 26.8 inches of snow and 8.2 inches of water. With our record warm temperatures many sites in southern Maine will drop out this week.

A few new readings were reported from last week so the maps have been revised. The 2012 season of the Maine Cooperative Snow Survey is winding down fast. High spots for the week were Churchill Dam on the Allagash River with 8.8 inches of snow (2.9 inch water content) and Winterville with 9 inches of snow (2.7 inches of water). Most of the 69 sites visited across the State of Maine were either devoid of snow or just showing a trace. A map may be posted next week if anyone reports in.

Thirty-eight sites were visited across the State this first week of April. Only three sites reported snow; the Seven Islands site at Charlie Pond with 3.7 inches of snow (1.6" water content), Portage at Hathaway Road with 1.7 inches of snow (.4" water content), and Churchill Dam on the Allagash River with 7.2 inches of snow (2.3" water content).

Two readings were called in today (4/10/12). Richard Albert, USGS observer, called to report 50% cover (accounted for in the readings) at Charles Pond near St. Pamphile. Snow depth was 3.50 inches with a water content of 1.50 inches. Density was 0.43 percent. Kevin Brown, Chief Ranger on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, reported 7.5 inches of snow with a water content of 2.5 inches at Churchill Dam. Density was 0.33 percent.