Snow Surveys have been conducted at the Shirley Skinner Conservation Area (Kaibuskong River subwatershed) since winter 2006-2007.



2023-2024
Survey date
Measured depth (cm) Depth status Measure SWE (mm) SWE status

15-Nov

0.0

Normal

0

Normal

01-Dec

6.3

Normal

18

Normal

15-Dec

8.1

Below Normal

22

Normal

02-Jan

0.0

Well Below Normal

0

Well Below Normal

15-Jan

29.6 Normal 40 Below Normal

01-Feb

19.3 Below Historic Minimum 45 Well Below Normal

15-Feb

17.1 Below Historic Minimum 43 Well Below Normal

01-Mar

14.7 Below Historic Minimum 45.0 Below Historic Minimum

08-Mar

1.9   10.0  

15-Mar

0 Below Historic Minimum 0 Below Historic Minimum

22-Mar

9.0   12.0  

02-Apr

0 Below Normal 0 Below Normal

In more recent years, NBMCA has conducted additional surveys on the 8th and 23rd of March and April to prepare for spring freshet.  More data is needed to report normal conditions for these supplemental survey dates.

Status Breakdown
Percentile

Below Historic Minimum

< Minimum

Well Below Normal

< 10 %

Below Normal

10 % to < 25 %

Normal

25 % to < 75 %

Above Normal

75 % to < 90 %

Well Above Normal

90 % to 100 %

Above Historic Maximum

> Maximum

Key Terms

Spring freshet – the annual high water event resulting from rapid melting of snow and spring rains. Locally, this is usually between April and May.

Normal range – historic measurements have been within this range 50 % of the time, with 25% of historic observations recorded as higher and lower than these values. It is used to describe expected conditions, limiting the influence of individual extreme high or low values.

Snow water equivalent (SWE) - the amount of water stored in the snowpack and reported as the depth of water that would cover the ground if it were in a liquid state.

Well Above Normal – this measurement compares to the highest 10% of historic measurements.

Well Below Normal – this measurement compares to the lowest 10% of historic measurements.