These stations were selected because they had high-quality data for this entire time period. EPA continues to work on identifying an appropriate method of analysis for updating this indicator.įigure 2 shows trends in the proportion of total precipitation that falls in the form of snow during each winter season. Figure 1 shows how snowfall accumulation totals changed between 19 at more than 400 weather stations. These measured values commonly appear in weather reports (for example, a storm that deposits 10 inches of snow). Total snowfall is determined by the height of snow that accumulates each day. These data were collected from hundreds of weather stations across the contiguous 48 states. This indicator tracks total snowfall as well as the percentage of precipitation that falls in the form of snow versus rain. Changes in snowfall could also affect winter recreation activities, like skiing, and the communities that rely on these activities. In contrast, other areas might experience less snowfall as a result of wintertime droughts.Ĭhanges in the amount and timing of snowfall could affect the spawning of fish in the spring and the amount of water available for people to use in the spring and summer. Areas near large lakes might also experience more snowfall as lakes remain unfrozen for longer periods, allowing more water to evaporate. Some places, however, could see more snowfall if temperatures rise but still remain below the freezing point, or if storm tracks change. In general, a warmer climate causes more of this precipitation to fall in the form of rain instead of snow. Warmer temperatures cause more water to evaporate from the land and oceans, which leads to more precipitation, larger storms, and more variation in precipitation in some areas. The amount of snow that falls in a particular area directly influences both snow cover and snowpack, which refer to snow that accumulates on the ground (see the Snow Cover indicator and the Snowpack indicator). Some plants and animals also depend on snow and snowmelt for survival. 1 Many communities also rely on snow for winter recreation. Many people depend on snow to provide water when it melts in the spring, including millions of people in the western United States, where snowmelt provides 75 percent of the water supply. Snowfall is an important aspect of winter in much of the United States. A few regions have seen modest increases, including some areas near the Great Lakes that now receive more snow than in the past (see Figures 1 and 2). Parts of the Midwest have also experienced a decrease, particularly in terms of the snow-to-precipitation ratio. The Pacific Northwest has seen a decline in both total snowfall and the proportion of precipitation falling as snow. Nearly 80 percent of the stations across the contiguous 48 states have experienced a decrease in the proportion of precipitation falling as snow (see Figure 2). One reason for the decline in total snowfall is because more winter precipitation is falling in the form of rain instead of snow. In addition to changing the overall rate of precipitation, climate change can lead to changes in the type of precipitation.Among all of the stations shown, the average change is a decrease of 0.19 percent per year. Total snowfall has decreased in many parts of the country since widespread observations became available in 1930, with 57 percent of stations showing a decline (see Figure 1).You can use your current location to quickly get a sense of the current snowfall in your area or you can search for any address or city to see the snowfall in that area. You can also view the snowfall forecast for the next two days, and see a map of the recent snowfall in your area. You can view the snow accumulation, snow depth, and snowfall for your recent winter storms as well as nearby snow reports from weather stations across the country. The data is updated throughout the day as station readings are reported, usually no more than once an hour. This site pulls data from multiple different sources of data from the National Weather Service and the National Weather Service NOHRSC to create the easiest way to find the most accurate snowfall data in your area. This site attempts to correct that by combining and simplifying data from the National Weather Service and the NOAA. Weather websites are very good at reporting how much snow is forecast for the next day or week, but often make it difficult to see what the actual snowfall was at the end of the storm.
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