Snow to Water Ratio Calculator

Not all snow is equal: ten inches of dry powder might melt down to just half an inch of water, while heavy wet snow can pack far more water into the same depth. The snow to water ratio captures this, and it matters for flood forecasting, roof load, water supply and simply understanding how a storm will play out. This calculator converts between snowfall depth and its liquid water equivalent using a ratio you choose, from light powder near twenty to one down to dense wet snow near eight to one, with the common average of ten to one as the default. Enter either the snow depth or the water equivalent, pick the ratio that matches the snow type, and the other value is computed instantly along with the density. It works in both inches and centimeters. All math runs locally in your browser, so it is fast and completely private.