Columbine Pass SNOTEL

9,160 ftMontrose County, ColoradoNRCS site 409Updated Fri Oct 16, 4:00 AM MDT

SWE0.9″no median
Depth0″−1″ 48 h
Temp31°29°–38° 48 h
Thu 15Past 48 hSnow water equivalent0.9″ now0.511.50.9″Snow depth02Air temperature31°F now30°32°31°FNow · Fri 4 AM
ThuPast 48 hSnow water equivalent0.9″ now0.511.50.9″Snow depth02Air temperature31°F now30°32°31°FNow · Fri 4 AM
Sat 10Sun 11Mon 12Tue 13Wed 14Thu 15Past 7 daysSnow water equivalent0.9″ now010.9″Snow depth02Air temperature31°F now25°50°32°31°FNow · Fri 4 AM
SatSunMonTueWedThuPast 7 daysSnow water equivalent0.9″ now010.9″Snow depth02Air temperature31°F now25°50°32°31°FNow · Fri 4 AM
0″5″10″15″OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulMedian peak 18″ · Mar 260.9″ today
0″10″ONDJFMAMJJMedian peak 18″ · Mar 260.9″ today
<50%50–6970–8990–109110–129130–149150%+
0″2″8″16″32″+
0″6″24″48″100″+
Map
Open in the Vertex map

Next 3 days

The forecast for this station is on its way.

16-day outlook, three models

Snowpack vs. median

—%of the 1991–2020 median for today

Nearby SNOTEL stations

All Colorado
StationElevationDepth, 7 daysSWE% medianDepth48 h
Lone ConeCO · 38 mi9,730 ft0.0″—0″0″
Black MesaCO · 45 mi11,580 ft1.9″—10″+4″
Alta LakesCO · 47 mi11,290 ft1.7″—9″+7″
Mesa LakesCO · 48 mi10,160 ft1.3″—6″+4″
Gold BasinUT · 48 mi10,070 ft1.8″—7″+5″
El Diente PeakCO · 48 mi10,210 ft0.2″—1″0″
Lasal MountainUT · 48 mi9,580 ft0.8″—4″+3″
Lasal Mountain-LowerUT · 49 mi8,780 ft0.0″—0″−1″

Station details

Elevation
9,160 ft
Location
38.4182°N, 108.3831°W
County
Montrose County, Colorado
Basin
Lower Gunnison · HUC 14020005
Network
NRCS SNOTEL · site 409
Station ID
409:CO:SNTL · SHEF CPSC2
Reporting since
October 1985
NWS forecast office
Grand Junction (GJT) discussion

Questions

What is snow water equivalent (SWE)?

SWE is the depth of water you would get by melting the whole snowpack. Fresh powder is often 5 to 10% water; old spring snow can be 40% or more.

How often does Columbine Pass SNOTEL update?

The station reports every hour by radio telemetry to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. This page refreshes each hour. Readings are provisional until NRCS quality control.

What does “% of median” mean?

It compares today’s SWE with the 1991–2020 median for the same calendar day at this station. Above 100% means more water in the snowpack than on a typical year’s same date.

Where is Columbine Pass SNOTEL?

At 9,160 ft in Montrose County, Colorado (38.4182°N, 108.3831°W), in the Lower Gunnison basin.

How is the snow forecast made?

Vertex runs the HRRR, RRFS and GFS weather models at the station’s own elevation and carries the measured snowpack forward hour by hour. Treat it as guidance, and check your avalanche center’s forecast before heading out.