Live snowpack across the country.
Real-time SNOTEL depths, fresh snowfall over the past 24 hours, and 5-day forecasts at every monitored peak. Daily AI briefing summarises the picture in one paragraph — refreshed throughout the day from USDA NRCS and NOAA NOHRSC feeds.
What the snow's doing right now
An AI-generated summary stitched from today's SNOTEL readings, NOHRSC analysis fields, and NWS snow alerts.
Snow enthusiasts looking for the most promising conditions over the next 48 hours should turn their attention to Alaska's remote North Slope, where a potent weather system is bringing the nation's most substantial snowfall. Imnaviat Creek leads the forecast with an impressive 6 inches expected, while Atigun Pass—the highest point along the iconic Dalton Highway—is slated for 4 inches amid challenging conditions including freezing fog and mixed precipitation. Meanwhile, the Lower 48 has seen modest activity, with Washington's Sawmill Ridge and Colorado's Vallecito each recording 2 inches over the past 24 hours, though neither location shows significant accumulation in the immediate forecast.
The Alaska story dominates the current snow narrative, particularly along the Brooks Range corridor where moisture-laden systems are colliding with Arctic air masses. Atigun Pass, sitting at approximately 4,800 feet elevation and serving as a critical supply route to Prudhoe Bay's oil fields, faces treacherous travel conditions with rain-snow mix transitioning to scattered snow showers. The areas of freezing fog will create particularly hazardous visibility for truckers navigating this remote stretch. Even Prudhoe Bay itself, located on the Arctic Ocean coast, expects 2 inches despite its typical resistance to heavy accumulation due to coastal influences. The weather pattern suggests a broad swath of the North Slope will see accumulating snow, with bases ranging from just 1-2 inches currently—indicating early-season conditions that these totals will significantly enhance.
In the Lower 48, yesterday's action was concentrated in mountainous terrain but remains underwhelming for powder seekers. Sawmill Ridge in Washington's Central Cascades added 2 inches to its already substantial 170-inch base, though thunderstorm activity may disrupt any immediate skiing plans. Colorado's Vallecito, in the San Juan Mountains near Durango, also picked up 2 inches but sits on a meager 3-inch base with continued thunderstorm forecasts—hardly ideal conditions for resort operations or backcountry enthusiasts. The contrast between Alaska's building winter conditions and the Lower 48's sporadic, convective-driven snowfall couldn't be starker, making the Far North the undisputed winner for those chasing fresh accumulation this cycle.
About the snow data
What's a SNOTEL station?
SNOpack TELemetry — automated stations operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Each one continuously measures snow depth, snow water equivalent (SWE), precipitation, and air temperature. There are 800+ across the western U.S. and Alaska. They're the gold-standard snowpack measurement.
How fresh is the data?
SNOTEL stations transmit hourly. We re-pull every hour and re-rank the leaders. The AI briefing regenerates daily.
What's snow water equivalent (SWE)?
The depth of water you'd get if you melted the entire snowpack. A 30-inch snowpack with 8 inches of SWE is wetter and denser than one with 5 inches of SWE — useful for water-supply forecasting and avalanche assessment.
Where do the 5-day forecasts come from?
NOAA's National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) snow analysis fields plus standard NWS forecast guidance. We aggregate by SNOTEL location and rank by total expected accumulation.
Can I get an alert when fresh snow falls?
Yes. Save any SNOTEL station as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a fresh-snow threshold (e.g. "alert me on 6+ inches new snow"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses. Free with a Snoflo account.
Is this a substitute for the local avalanche center?
No. For backcountry travel always consult your regional avalanche forecast (avalanche.org). Snoflo is informational data only.
Snowpack by state
Tap any western state for SNOTEL stations, fresh snowfall, and 5-day forecasts focused on that state.