Convert snowfall depth into rain equivalent, also called liquid water equivalent. Enter snow depth, snow ratio, area, and optional collection efficiency to estimate melted water depth, gallons, liters, cubic feet, and cubic meters.
Snow depth:
Enter the measured or forecast snowfall amount.
Snow ratio:
Select the snow-to-liquid ratio. A 10:1 ratio means 10 inches of snow melts into about 1 inch of liquid water.
Area:
Enter an area if you want the calculator to estimate total meltwater volume.
Collection efficiency:
Use this to estimate how much of the melted snow becomes usable, collected, or runoff water.
A snow to rain equivalent calculator is useful for weather reports, snowpack estimates, meltwater planning, runoff checks, roof and surface water planning, storm comparison, and understanding how much water is contained in snow.
This calculator estimates liquid equivalent only. Actual snow water content can vary because snow density changes during and after a storm.
Your result shows the estimated liquid water equivalent of the snowfall. A lower snow ratio means wetter, heavier snow with more water per inch. A higher snow ratio means lighter, fluffier snow with less water per inch.
Divide the snow depth by the snow ratio. For example, 10 inches of snow at a 10:1 ratio equals about 1 inch of liquid water.
A 10:1 snow ratio means 10 inches of snow melts down to about 1 inch of rain equivalent.
Wet snow has more water content per inch. Fluffy snow has less water content per inch.
Yes. Enter the snow depth, snow ratio, and area to estimate total meltwater volume in gallons, liters, cubic feet, and cubic meters.