The table above summarizes the snow survey data for this winter season. The snowpack was below-average, with a peak of 28cm of snow water equivalent (SWE) in the larch stand, or 21cm of SWE in the cedar stand. The ratio of SWE for larch/cedar is 1.33 which is quite typical. There was 33% more snow accumulation in the larch stand due to lower interception loss of snow in the deciduous canopy.
Record warm temperatures during March meant that the snow accumulation peaked very early. Between 3 March and 19 March the snow melted at twice the rate in the larch stand compared to the cedar stand due to differences in the energy balance. On 19 March we managed to make the final snow survey and the first discharge measurement of the 2021 season.
Photos from 3 March:
Larch stand |
Cedar stand |
Photos from 19 March:
Snowmelt season now in full swing |
Cedar stand |