NWS Tucson looking for volunteer snowfall observers on Mt. Lemmon

The National Weather Service in Tucson is looking for volunteer observers to record and report snowfall on Mount Lemmon this winter.

Email nws.tucson@noaa.gov if you are interested in the position.

“The last couple of years, we haven’t had anyone up there,” said Gary Zell, a meteorologist for the weather service in Tucson.

Fires over the last few decades, including the Aspen Fire that burned through the town of Summerhaven, caused people to move away, disrupting measurements.

The weather service relied on cameras on the mountain for approximate measurements in lieu of people, Zell said. But now, “We want something more official.”

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The weather service wants people living in Ski Valley, Summerhaven and the Palisades who can have daily access to snowfall measurements, even if the mountain is closed to Tucson visitors.

Snowfall can vary across the mountain, so “the more (volunteers), the better,” Zell said. “Especially in different locations.”

The weather service wants more accurate snowpack records to create more accurate forecasts, Zell said. Snowpack is also important for hydrological issues, including snowmelt in the spring.

“But mainly,” Zell said, “the public wants to know.”