NOAA's Source for Snow Information

The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center provides comprehensive snow observations, analyses, data sets and map products for the Nation.

• National Snow Observation Database
• Airborne Snow Surveys
• Satellite Snow Cover Mapping
• Snow Modeling and Data Assimilation
• Analyses, Maps, and Interactive Visualization Tools
• Integrated Snow Datasets for Geospatial Applications
• Applied Snow Research

NOHRSC products and services support a wide variety of government and private-sector applications in water resource management, disaster emergency preparedness, weather and flood forecasting, agriculture, transportation and commerce.

NATIONAL SNOW ANALYSES

Get the latest in-depth analyses of national and regional snow conditions.

• Maps and movies
• Commentary and analysis
• Observations and statistics

INTERACTIVE SNOW MAPS

Explore our online GIS for comprehensive snow information.

• Build custom maps for your region of interest
• Choose from over 40 snow themes
• Overlay roads, cities, rivers, etc.
• Query detailed conditions at over 20,000 locations

Get detailed snowpack conditions at over 4000 stations nationwide using the query tool.

NATIONAL SNOW ANALYSES IN 3D

3D visualization - it's a key to understanding the National Snow Analyses.

• Fly over terrain
• Explore snow reporting stations
• Get the latest snow observations

AIRBORNE SNOW SURVEY PROGRAM

The NOHRSC measures snow water equivalent and soil moisture using gamma radiation remote sensing. This unique observing system includes two low-flying aircraft to conduct surveys in 31 states, including Alaska, as well as in 8 Canadian provinces. Four NOAA Corps officers pilot the aircraft and operate the remote sensing systems. The data are incorporated into the National Snow Analyses.

You'll find survey data, schedules, flight line locations, aerial photos, and information about the program here.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE SNOW COVER

The areal extent of snow cover is mapped daily using polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite imagery. Maps are provided for the U.S. and the northern hemisphere.

FORECASTS, WATCHES AND WARNINGS

• Snowmelt flooding
• Blizzard Warnings
• Winter Weather Advisories
• Frost Advisories
• Weather Forecasts
• Precipitation Forecasts

NATIONAL SNOW ANALYSES DATA ARCHIVE

Download gridded National Snow Analyses data sets for geospatial applications.

• National, or subset regions of interest
• 8 snow themes
• Georegistered raster data
• 30 arc-second (1 km²) resolution
• Portable data format

Liquid Precipitation

Solid Precipitation

Snow Water Equivalent

Snow Depth

Snowpack Temperature

Snowmelt

Snowpack Sublimation

Blowing Snow Sublimation

ALPHANUMERIC DATA PRODUCTS

Information from the National Snow Analyses is summarized by basins and by basin elevation zones, and is provided here in Standard Hydrologic Exchange Format (SHEF).

SRUS43 KMSR 041050
SCVPTR

.BR MSP 051104 DM110406/DC11041050 /SDIPZ
:
:-------------------------------------------------------
:National Weather Service
:Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services
:National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center
:Chanhassen, Minnesota                 (952) 361-6610
:-------------------------------------------------------
:
:Modeled Snow Depth Over Land by Elevation Zones
:Modeled 05110406
:
:LITTLE PRICKLY PEAR CR. AT WOLF CR MT
2801        1.5 : Avg (inches) Entire Basin
:           1.5 ; Avg (inches) Base  to 6998' 
:           2.2 ; Avg (inches) 6998' to Top   
:
:GIBSON RES. MT
2806        1.9 : Avg (inches) Entire Basin
:           1.7 ; Avg (inches) Base  to 6998' 
:           2.3 ; Avg (inches) 6998' to Top   
:
:TETON RIVER NR DUTTON MT
2820        0.0 : Avg (inches) Entire Basin
:           0.0 ; Avg (inches) Base  to 6998' 
:           0.3 ; Avg (inches) 6998' to Top   
:

NOHRSC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Learn about the science and technology at the NOHRSC. From our airborne observing systems to the physics in our models, from our IT architecture to snow economics, learn how we do things and why. Download papers, technical reports, and presentations.

GIS DATA SETS

The NOHRSC provides and maintains the NWS Integrated Hydrologic Automated Basin Boundary System (IHABBS) GIS database to support river and flood forecasting throughout the nation. Basin boundary data sets and RFC boundaries are provided here in shapefiles that have been tarred and gzipped. Data sets used in our Interactive Snow Information system are also available here, including larger scale basins, rivers and streams, geopolitical boundaries, cities, roads and flight lines for the NOHRSC Airborne Snow Survey program.

SPECIAL PURPOSE IMAGERY

View Landsat and MODIS satellite imagery generated for special projects.

• Snow covered regions
• Flooding extents
• GIS-ready images

Snow Analysis Highlights

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Snow Model Status: The model analysis is out to Wednesday, 2024-11-06 1800 UTC. The daily model forecast is out to Saturday, 2024-11-09 0600 UTC.

more ...

Website News

The National Snowfall Analysis, an observation-based, gridded estimate of recent snowfall, is now an operational product. Stand-alone imagery, seasonal totals, and data downloads in several formats are available in the National Snowfall Analysis section of the website. Products are also available in the the NOHRSC Interactive Snow Information section of the website. For more information, see the NWS Public Information Statement PNS22-05. For product questions, contact . For technical questions, contact .