Lower Elk snow report
Lower Elk at a glance
How the snowpack at Lower Elk looks right now, where the station sits on the map, and its key details.
Lower Elk reports 0.0″ of new snowfall today, raising snowpack levels to 9 inches. Snowpack depth is 152% of normal, which is well above normal for this time of year. The mountain is perched in Colorado at an elevation of 7,236ft, where the air temperature is about 94°F right now.
Seasonal average snowpack on this calendar day is 6 inches across the station's full record. Above-normal snowpack like this builds the seasonal water bank for downstream rivers and reservoirs through spring runoff -- a good sign for the watershed.
For real-time and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other stations in the Colorado snow report.
How does this compare to past years?
Year-over-year percentile bands, every recorded powder day, and the deepest snowpack on record each water year at this station.
Weather Forecast
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & snow
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Lower Elk
Lower Elk is an NRCS SNOTEL snowpack monitoring station in Colorado, tracked by Snoflo. This page pairs the station's latest snowpack + SWE + air-temperature observations with year-over-year context and a 15-day weather forecast.
Use the snowpack hero card above for the live reading; scroll down for the year-over-year comparison and the per-metric trend charts.
Nearby snowpack depths
Cross-check whether Lower Elk's snowpack is a one-off accumulation or a regional storm cycle.
| Station | Snowpack |
|---|---|
| Lower Elk | 9 in |
| Steamboat Springs 5.3 Wnw | 0 in |
| Steamboat Springs | 0 in |
| Nohrsc Dry Lake | 0 in |
| Steamboat Springs 0.6 Nnw | 0 in |
| Dry Lake | 0 in |
Recreation near Lower Elk
Ski areas, reservoirs, paddle runs, campgrounds, and fishing access within driving distance.
Mountain & avalanche safety
- Know before you go
- Check today's avalanche bulletin from the regional avalanche center before any backcountry / side-country travel. Conditions can shift dramatically between morning and afternoon on storm days.
- Carry the gear, know how to use it
- Beacon, shovel, probe. Practice companion rescue on a calm day, not during a real burial.
- Mind the weather window
- Heavy snow + wind builds wind slabs at ridgelines. The day after a storm is often the riskiest in the backcountry.
- Read the snowpack
- A weak, faceted, or wind-loaded snowpack — like the depth and trend shown above — is exactly what feeds slab avalanches. Dig a pit or check the bulletin before committing to steep terrain.
Track Lower Elk in the Snoflo app
Save this station as a favorite, set push alerts when snowfall crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Lower Elk reports 6″ new"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment the SNOTEL station crosses.
About Lower Elk
Where does the snow data for Lower Elk come from?
Snowpack depth, SWE, snowfall, and air temperature come from the NRCS SNOTEL station C3ELK_MADIS. Forecast comes from the NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NRCS SNOTEL stations report continuously (typically hourly). Snoflo refreshes throughout the day; check the "as of" timestamp on the snowpack hero card.
What's the difference between snowpack depth and SWE?
Snowpack depth measures how tall the snow is. SWE (snow water equivalent) measures how much WATER is in that snow. SWE matters more for hydrology and ski-season prediction since dry powder packs less water than wet/spring snow at the same depth.
How is "% of normal" calculated?
Today's snowpack is compared to the historical average snowpack on this calendar day across the station's full record. 100% = right on average; 130% = a big year; 60% = a thin year.
Can I get alerts when fresh snow hits?
Yes -- snow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this station, set a snowfall threshold (e.g. "alert me when 6+ inches"), and you'll get a push the moment NRCS reports the crossing.
Access the free Lower Elk report
Create your free account to track this — and everything else you love outdoors.
- Custom alerts — get pinged the moment conditions change
- Save favorites — every river, lake, snowpack & resort in one place
- Full history & forecasts — plus the free iPhone app