SNOTEL Telemetry StationCOID: 335:CO:SNTL
Confidence:High

Berthoud Pass Summit, CO: Snow Depth & Forecast

Physical Sensor: Automated SNOTEL Station •Elevation: 11,300 ft (3,444 m) •Coordinates: 39.798°N, 105.777°W •Region: Colorado Central Rockies

Activity Profile:
Verified Telemetry
0.0/10
PoorCondition Rating

Poor: Thin 1" base, softening at 41°F, calm winds.

Condition score evaluates settled base depth (1"), 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 DepthBerthoud Pass Summit
Measured (SNOTEL)
1in
SWE (Water Eq.)N/A
24h New Snow+0"
72h Storm Total+0"
Historical Season Baseline2% of Normal

Why Conditions Currently Look Limited

Berthoud Pass Summit
Positive Condition Drivers
  • Calm 0 mph winds with low windchill
Limitations & Caution Factors
  • Thin 1" base with exposed rocks, snags & culverts
  • Warm 41°F temperature induces wet slush & thaw
Mathematical Point Contributions:
Base Depth: 0.5 ptsTemp Thaw: -4.1 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
2%-98% below typical
Historical Average Peak Depth
78"Typically late Feb – early Apr
Typical Recreation Season
October - 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 Berthoud Pass Summit Telemetry & Climatology

Located directly on the Continental Divide along Highway 40, Berthoud Pass is one of Colorado's most famous backcountry ski and splitboard destinations, featuring iconic zones like Floral Park, Current Creek, and Nitro Chute.

Season Normals & Recreation Windows

The typical winter season for this zone runs from October - June. Historically, peak snow depth averages approximately 78 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 (Front 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 Pass29.8 mi away • 10,580 ft (720 ft lower)
0"SNOTEL
Rabbit Ears Pass59.6 mi away • 9,400 ft (1,900 ft lower)
0"SNOTEL
Monarch Pass Summit94.6 mi away • 10,760 ft (540 ft lower)
0"SNOTEL
Snowy Range Pass (Medicine Bow)110.3 mi away • 9,600 ft (1,700 ft lower)
0"SNOTEL

Nearby Winter Recreation Areas

Surrounding Zones
Berthoud Pass Backcountry BasinHistoric 11,300-ft Continental Divide touring mecca for ski mountaineers and splitboarders.
0.2 mi→
Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area55,000 acres of managed mountain snowmobile corridors and backcountry ski bowls.
30 mi→
Steamboat & Rabbit Ears PassEndless rolling high-country meadows and world-famous Steamboat champagne powder.
59.6 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 →