Snow Water Equivalent: Mean Monthly

The snow water equivalent is the ratio of liquid precipitation to snowfall. Higher ratios indicate wet snow events (high liquid water content) while lower ratios represent dry snow events (low liquid water content). This varies geographically and throughout the winter season in Minnesota. The November–March statewide average is 0.10 (10 inches of snow is equivalent to 1 inch of water).

Snow Water Equivalent, November–March

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Snow Water Equivalent, November–March

November Snow Water Equivalent

Map of Minnesota showing daily average snow water equivalents for the month of November. Snowfalls across the entire state have higher (wetter) snowfalls, with the south and east the wettest.

Average November snow water equivalent for each station (based on their respective period of record).

December Snow Water Equivalent

Map of Minnesota showing daily average snow water equivalents for the month of December. Most of the state has low (dry) snow water equivalants, with the driest in the northern third of the state.

Average December snow water equivalent for each station (based on their respective period of record).

January Snow Water Equivalent

Map of Minnesota showing daily average snow water equivalents for the month of January. Most of the state has low (dry) snow water equivalents, with the driest in the northern third of the state.

Average January snow water equivalent for each station (based on their respective period of record).

February Snow Water Equivalent

Map of Minnesota showing daily average snow water equivalents for the month of February. Most of the state has low (dry) snow water equivalents, with the driest in the northern third of the state.

Average February snow water equivalent for each station (based on their respective period of record).

March Snow Water Equivalent

Map of Minnesota showing daily average snow water equivalents for the month of March. Snowfalls across the entire state have higher (wetter) snowfalls, with the south and east the wettest.

Average March snow water equivalent for each station (based on their respective period of record).

How These Maps Were Made

How These Maps Were Made: Snow Water Equivalent

Daily non-zero values of snowfall and liquid water equivalent within a given month were ratioed based on the entire length of record for each station (which is variable between stations). An average was then computed from the individual daily values to obtain a snow water equivalent for each station. The ratios were then gridded using a kriging technique. Higher ratios indicate wetter snow events (high liquid water content) while lower ratios represent drier snow events (low liquid water content). Quality control was performed to eliminate sources of error, such as days with a mixed precipitation type (yielding anomalously high ratio), or stations with very few daily observations.