The present water contents are beginning to approach values observed in 1969, a record snow year for the state. Water content throughout the state was in the above normal range except for the a small area around Moosehead Lake. Over a foot of water is present in the snowpack in the upper and lower Androscoggin River basins. Because of the high water contents, even normal amounts of rainfall, coupled with snowmelt from warming temperatures could produce river flooding. The Maine Cooperative Snow Survey conducts surveys at sites across Maine from mid-February until the snowpack is gone from the headwaters of our major rivers.
Cooperators measure snow depth and water content weekly at specific sites.
Contributors to the Maine Cooperative Snow Survey include Federal and State agencies, hydroelectric power and paper companies and Canadian and New Hampshire environmental agencies. The next snow survey will be conducted Tuesday, April 10. Surveys will be conducted every Tuesday until headwaters are substantially free of snow. Surveys will be conducted every Tuesday until headwaters are substantially free of snow. No major precipitation events are expected in the next 3 to 5 days.