Independence Camp SNOTEL

6,970 ftSierra County, CaliforniaNRCS site 539Updated Thu Oct 22, 6:00 PM PDT

SWE0.2″no median
Depth0″0″ 48 h
Temp38°34°–53° 48 h
Wed 21Thu 22Past 48 hSnow water equivalent0.2″ now-0.500.50.2″Snow depth0″ now-0.500.50″Air temperature38°F now40°32°38°FNow · Thu 6 PM
WedThuPast 48 hSnow water equivalent0.2″ now-0.500.50.2″Snow depth0″ now-0.500.50″Air temperature38°F now40°32°38°FNow · Thu 6 PM
Fri 16Sat 17Sun 18Mon 19Tue 20Wed 21Past 7 daysSnow water equivalent0.2″ now-0.500.50.2″Snow depth0″ now-0.500.50″Air temperature38°F now50°32°38°FNow · Thu 6 PM
FriSatSunMonTueWedPast 7 daysSnow water equivalent0.2″ now-0.500.50.2″Snow depth0″ now-0.500.50″Air temperature38°F now50°32°38°FNow · Thu 6 PM
0″5″10″15″OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulMedian peak 17.4″ · Mar 240.2″ today
0″10″ONDJFMAMJJMedian peak 17.4″ · Mar 240.2″ 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 California
StationElevationDepth, 7 daysSWE% medianDepth48 h
Independence LakeCA · 2 mi8,340 ft0.1″—0″0″
Independence CreekCA · 3 mi6,440 ft0.2″—0″0″
CSS LabCA · 10 mi6,890 ft0.0″—1″0″
Truckee #2CA · 12 mi6,500 ft0.5″—0″0″
Palisades TahoeCA · 18 mi8,010 ft0.6″—0″0″
Big MeadowNV · 19 mi8,240 ft0.2″—0″0″
Tahoe City CrossCA · 21 mi6,760 ft0.0″—0″0″
Ward Creek #3CA · 22 mi6,750 ft0.2″—0″0″

Station details

Elevation
6,970 ft
Location
39.4527°N, 120.2937°W
County
Sierra County, California
Basin
Truckee · HUC 16050102
Network
NRCS SNOTEL · site 539
Station ID
539:CA:SNTL · SHEF ICPC1
Reporting since
October 1978
NWS forecast office
Reno (REV) 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 Independence Camp 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 Independence Camp SNOTEL?

At 6,970 ft in Sierra County, California (39.4527°N, 120.2937°W), in the Truckee 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.