U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to Survey Snowpack Around St. Cloud Friday

(KNSI) — The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers St. Paul District is surveying snowpack around the St. Cloud area starting Friday.

Hydrologic Technician Cheyanne Carlin will be part of the data gathering team and explained to KNSI News, “The snow survey process involves us going out to a predetermined location, and we collect snow through a tube and then we weigh that melted snow on a scale to determine how much water is actually contained within the snowpack.”

The data is then shared with cities, counties, the National Weather Service and other government agencies so they can predict the risk of flooding when the snow melts.

The crew will take 100s of samples around the state, starting today. The next flood forecast will be available in the spring.

Meteorological spring begins March 1st. Astronomical spring, or the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, is March 20th. The two differ in that meteorological spring is based on temp cycles and the Gregorian calendar.

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