SNOTEL Telemetry StationWAID: 909:WA:SNTL
Confidence:High

Mount Baker (Heather Meadows), WA: Snow Depth & Forecast

Physical Sensor: Automated SNOTEL Station •Elevation: 4,210 ft (1,283 m) •Coordinates: 48.863°N, 121.677°W •Region: Pacific Northwest Cascades

Activity Profile:
Verified Telemetry
0.0/10
PoorCondition Rating

Poor: Thin 0" base, softening at 51°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 DepthMount Baker (Heather Meadows)
Measured (SNOTEL)
0in
SWE (Water Eq.)N/A
24h New Snow+0"
72h Storm Total+0"
Historical Season Baseline1% of Normal

Why Conditions Currently Look Limited

Mount Baker (Heather Meadows)
Positive Condition Drivers
  • Calm 0 mph winds with low windchill
Limitations & Caution Factors
  • Thin 0" base with exposed rocks, snags & culverts
  • High 51°F temp causes rapid snowpack degradation
Mathematical Point Contributions:
Base Depth: 0 ptsTemp Thaw: -6.4 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
1%-99% below typical
Historical Average Peak Depth
145"Typically late Feb – early Apr
Typical Recreation Season
November - JuneCore 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 Mount Baker (Heather Meadows) Telemetry & Climatology

Holder of the world record for the greatest snowfall in a single season (1,140 inches in 1998-99). Heather Meadows builds giant maritime snowpack depths and features world-class backcountry terrain on Shuksan Arm.

Season Normals & Recreation Windows

The typical winter season for this zone runs from November - June. Historically, peak snow depth averages approximately 145 inches, generally reached between late February and early April depending on elevation.

Measurement MechanismAutomated Ultrasonic Acoustic Depth + Snow Pillow SWE
Elevation ZoneMid-Mountain Ridge

Official Avalanche Advisory Required (Northwest Cascades)

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
Stevens Pass Summit81.8 mi away • 4,070 ft (140 ft lower)
0"SNOTEL
Teton Pass (Phillips Bench)632.7 mi away • 8,200 ft (+3,990 ft higher)
0"SNOTEL
Togwotee Pass656.3 mi away • 9,580 ft (+5,370 ft higher)
0"SNOTEL
Alta Collins (Little Cottonwood)754.2 mi away • 9,662 ft (+5,452 ft higher)
0"SNOTEL

Nearby Winter Recreation Areas

Surrounding Zones
Mount Baker & Shuksan BackcountryWorld-record maritime snowpack depths and grand alpine backcountry touring.
0.2 mi→
Togwotee Pass & Continental Divide BasinThe global capital of Rocky Mountain mountain snowmobiling and high-country bowls.
656.4 mi→
Little & Big Cottonwood CanyonsThe epicenter of the Wasatch Range and Utah's 'Greatest Snow on Earth'.
753.9 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 →