Maine Cooperative Snow Survey

This information is provided by a partnership with Department of Conservation, Maine Geological Survey and the USGS Maine Water Science Center.

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Survey Date Equivalent Water Content in Snowpack Change in Water Content from Preceding Survey Snowpack Depth Snowpack Density Water Content in Snowpack Compared to Historical Values Mean Water Content in a Drainage Basin ASCII Text File
January 9, 2013

2013 Maine Cooperative Snow Survey began this week. Snow was measured at approximately 75 sites across the state. Deepest snow in the state was measured at Knowles Corner in southern Aroostook County with 24.2 inches. Several areas in western Maine came close to that depth. Highest water content was also found at Knowles Corner with over five inches of water in the snow. The next survey will be conducted the first week of February.
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February 6, 2013

Diminished snow amounts in northern regions, with no snow measured in parts of southern Maine, was the rule in the early February 2013 Maine Cooperative Snow Survey. High reading for the State was in Weld with sixteen inches of snow containing over five inches of water.

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March 6, 2013

With about 164 sites reported in this 2013 Maine Cooperative Snow Survey's most extensive coverage date, a lot of snow is found across the State of Maine. Highest readings are found in the upper Kennebec and Androscoggin River drainage basins. Quite a change in water content is found across the state since the early February survey.
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March 13, 2013

Ninety-two sites reported this week. High values for the week were measured at Russell Pond, north of Seboomook Lake, with 35 inches of snow holding 9.7 inches of water.
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March 20, 2013

A Tuesday snowstorm fell on one of the survey days so we decided not to post snow survey maps for this week. We have only posted the text file with this week's readings.
No data for 3/20/2013 No data for 3/20/2013 No data for 3/20/2013 No data for 3/20/2013 No data for 3/20/2013 No data for 3/20/2013 final_no_rev map 3/20/2013
March 27, 2013

This is the first week with maps coming from a new mapping program. Comments on the changes are welcome.
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April 3, 2013

Measurements took place between March 29th and April 2nd. High values for the week were again at Russell Pond in northwestern Maine with almost 29 inches of snow holding over 10 inches of water. One hundred and twenty nine readings were reported. Measurements will continue for a few more weeks as the snow is holding on in western and northern Maine.
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April 10, 2013

Eighty sites were visited this week with many southern and coastal sites reporting no snow. High snow depth for the week was in Winterville with 23.8 inches of snow, while the high water content was found at Middle Dam with 8.5 inches of water. A historical comparison map has been constructed for the first time with the new mapping program.
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April 17, 2013

Seventy five sites were visited this week. High values were found at Parlin Pond in Somerset County with 31 inches of snow and 14.6 inches of water. Snow is holding on in northwestern sections of the state but much of southern Maine is snow free.
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April 24, 2013

Forty-seven readings were reported this week. High spot in Maine was the Bald Mountain site north of Jackman with 12.1 inches of snow containing 5.8 inches of water. If there are no reports sent in next week this will be the last report for 2013.

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May 1, 2013

Parlin Pond, just south of Jackman, was the only site reporting snow this week. 8.0 inches of snow with 4.6 inches of water were reported. Other sites which reported snow the week before were down to zero. This is the last report on the 2013 snow conditions.
No data for 5/1/2013 No data for 5/1/2013 No data for 5/1/2013 No data for 5/1/2013 No data for 5/1/2013 No data for 5/1/2013 final_no_rev map 5/1/2013
May 8, 2013
No data for 5/8/2013 No data for 5/8/2013 No data for 5/8/2013 No data for 5/8/2013 No data for 5/8/2013 No data for 5/8/2013 No data for 5/8/2013
Provisional product Provisional product; subject to revision Final product; no revisions Final product; no revisions Final product; revised from original product Final product; revised from original product No product for this survey data No product for this survey date
Map and Data Type Descriptions
Equivalent water content in snowpack: Maps of equivalent water content in the snowpack in 1-inch increments based on measurements obtained from the sources listed above.
Change in water content from preceding survey: Maps of the change in equivalent water content in the snowpack from the preceding survey.  Only prepared while weekly surveys are being conducted.
Snowpack depth: Snowpack depth in 6-inch increments based on measurements obtained from the sources listed above.
Snowpack density: Snowpack density (water equivalent in inches divided by snowpack depth in inches) based on measurements obtained from the sources listed above. A snowpack with densities above 0.33 is considered "ripe". A ripe snowpack no longer has the ability to absorb rainfall and would tend to release water during a rain event.
Equivalent water content in snowpack compared to historical values: These maps (called quartile maps) show areas where measured values of water content are in the lowest 25-percent of measured values (significantly below normal values), the middle 50-percent of measured values (roughly normal for this time of year), or upper 25-percent of measured values (significantly above (normal).
Mean water content in a drainage basin: Mean water content in a drainage basin. It is calculated by finding the mean value of water content in a basin from the equivalent water content map above. This average water content in the basin is used in some National Weather Service river flow models.
ASCII text file of snowpack data: An ASCII text file of the data used in preparing the maps for the current survey.  Includes the site id, site name, site latitude and longitude (in decimal degrees), site elevation (feet above mean sea level), the survey date, and the depth, equivalent water content, and density of the snowpack.