SNOTEL Telemetry StationCOID: 629:CO:SNTL
Confidence:High

Monarch Pass Summit, CO: Snow Depth & Forecast

Physical Sensor: Automated SNOTEL Station •Elevation: 10,760 ft (3,280 m) •Coordinates: 38.497°N, 106.326°W •Region: Colorado Central Rockies

Activity Profile:
Verified Telemetry
0.0/10
PoorCondition Rating

Poor: Thin 0" base, softening at 36°F, calm winds.

Condition score evaluates settled base depth (0"), fresh powder, temperature preservation, and wind crust hazards.

Data Freshness & Provenance

🟢 Live Telemetry Synced
Settled Base DepthUSDA SNOTEL Sensor
Just nowRecent
Recent Snowfall AccumulationAutomated Telemetry
Just nowFresh
7-Day Atmospheric ForecastOpen-Meteo Numerical Stream
< 1 min agoLive
Historical Baseline (% of Normal)NRCS / NOAA 1991–2020 Normals
30-Yr BenchmarkBenchmark
Settled Base DepthMonarch Pass Summit
Measured (SNOTEL)
0in
SWE (Water Eq.)N/A
24h New Snow+0"
72h Storm Total+0"
Historical Season Baseline3% of Normal

Why Conditions Currently Look Limited

Monarch Pass Summit
Positive Condition Drivers
  • Calm 0 mph winds with low windchill
Limitations & Caution Factors
  • Thin 0" base with exposed rocks, snags & culverts
  • Mild 36°F air causes snow surface softening
Mathematical Point Contributions:
Base Depth: 0 ptsTemp Thaw: -1.6 pts

7-Day Snow & Weather Forecast

High-resolution Open-Meteo atmospheric forecast

7-Day Total: +17.0" Snow
TodayOct 2
❄️
+4.5"
28°16°
💨 12 mph
SatOct 3
🌨️
+6"
24°12°
💨 18 mph
SunOct 4
❄️
+2"
26°14°
💨 10 mph
MonOct 5
⛅
32°18°
💨 8 mph
TueOct 6
☀️
34°20°
💨 14 mph
WedOct 7
🌨️
+3.5"
27°15°
💨 20 mph
ThuOct 8
❄️
+1"
29°17°
💨 11 mph

2026–27 Snow Season & Historical Baselines

1991–2020 Normals
Current vs Typical for Date
3%-97% below typical
Historical Average Peak Depth
64"Typically late Feb – early Apr
Typical Recreation Season
November - MayCore winter snowpack window
Methodology: Baselines represent 30-year median snow water and depth records calculated by USDA NRCS / NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

About Monarch Pass Summit Telemetry & Climatology

Crossing the Sawatch Range along Highway 50, Monarch Pass offers high-elevation snowshoeing, backcountry ski touring along the Continental Divide trail, and snowmobiling access toward Old Monarch Pass.

Season Normals & Recreation Windows

The typical winter season for this zone runs from November - May. Historically, peak snow depth averages approximately 64 inches, generally reached between late February and early April depending on elevation.

Measurement MechanismAutomated Ultrasonic Acoustic Depth + Snow Pillow SWE
Elevation ZoneHigh Alpine Continental

Official Avalanche Advisory Required (Sawatch Range)

SnowBase condition ratings score snow depth and meteorological quality, NOT avalanche danger. Before backcountry skiing or mountain riding, you must check the official regional avalanche forecast and carry rescue gear (beacon, shovel, probe).

View Official Avalanche Center Forecast →

Station Quality & Sensor Reliability

Verified Telemetry
Telemetry NetworkSNOTEL Automated Telemetry
Polling FrequencyHourly automated acoustic & pillow polling
Continuous Historical Record24 Years of Verified Data
Missing Sensor Observations< 1.2% (High Reliability)

Station Geography

Base Depth
48"+
24 - 48"
12 - 24"
< 12"

Nearby Telemetry Stations

Sorted by Distance
Vail Pass / Shrine Pass71.5 mi away • 10,580 ft (180 ft lower)
0"SNOTEL
Wolf Creek Summit74.9 mi away • 11,000 ft (+240 ft higher)
0"SNOTEL
Berthoud Pass Summit94.6 mi away • 11,300 ft (+540 ft higher)
1"SNOTEL
Rabbit Ears Pass131 mi away • 9,400 ft (1,360 ft lower)
0"SNOTEL

Nearby Winter Recreation Areas

Surrounding Zones
Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area55,000 acres of managed mountain snowmobile corridors and backcountry ski bowls.
71.6 mi→
Berthoud Pass Backcountry BasinHistoric 11,300-ft Continental Divide touring mecca for ski mountaineers and splitboarders.
94.7 mi→
Steamboat & Rabbit Ears PassEndless rolling high-country meadows and world-famous Steamboat champagne powder.
131 mi→
Recommended Guide

What is Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) and Why Does It Matter?

Snow depth tells you how high the snow reaches; Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) tells you how much water and mass is actually packed into that snow.

Read 6-min Guide →