Dear Tom,
In blizzard conditions such as we had on Feb. 1, how do you get accurate snow depth readings when the snow drifts badly and the snow depth varies significantly by location?
— Jim Solum, Waukegan, and Mart Jalakas
Dear Jim and Mart,
Automation of weather observations began in the 1970s and works well for weather elements like wind, temperature and pressure but fails completely for snowfall. Snow depth is determined today the same way it was 100 years ago: a human with a measuring stick.
Snow expert Nolan Doesken says, “Measuring snow is not easy. It never has been and never will be.” The task becomes more difficult when high winds cause drifting. In those situations, the observer must use good judgment to select spots least affected by drifting, take several measurements in those locations (but don’t include deep drifts) and average them.
