Snow Accumulation & Volume Calculator
Calculate snow accumulation depth, total snow volume, and snow water equivalent (SWE) for a given area based on snowfall rate and duration.
Surface area receiving snowfall
Typical light snow: 0.5–1 cm/hr; heavy snow: 5+ cm/hr
Total snowfall duration
Fresh dry snow ≈ 50–100 kg/m³; wet snow ≈ 200–300 kg/m³; water = 1000 kg/m³
Formulas Used
Accumulation Depth:
D (cm) = Snowfall Rate (cm/hr) × Duration (hr)
Snow Volume:
V (m³) = Area (m²) × D (m)
Snow Mass:
M (kg) = V (m³) × ρsnow (kg/m³)
Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) Depth:
SWE (cm) = D (cm) × (ρsnow / ρwater) where ρwater = 1000 kg/m³
SWE Volume:
VSWE (m³) = Area (m²) × SWE (m)
Snow Load:
Load (Pa) = ρsnow (kg/m³) × g (9.81 m/s²) × D (m)
Assumptions & References
- Snow is assumed to accumulate uniformly over the entire specified area.
- Snowfall rate is treated as constant over the full duration.
- Snow density is user-supplied; typical ranges: fresh dry snow 50–100 kg/m³, settled snow 200–300 kg/m³, wet/compacted snow up to 500 kg/m³ (Judson & Doesken, 2000).
- Water density is fixed at 1000 kg/m³ (4 °C reference).
- Snow load formula follows the hydrostatic pressure model: P = ρgh (used in structural engineering standards such as ASCE 7).
- SWE is a standard hydrological metric used by NOAA, Environment Canada, and the WMO to quantify the liquid water content of a snowpack.
- No compaction, melting, sublimation, or wind redistribution effects are modelled.
- Reference: Judson, A. & Doesken, N. (2000). Density of Freshly Fallen Snow in the Central Rocky Mountains. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 81(7), 1577–1587.