The surveys will aid the Corps' water management team in determining what the snow water equivalent, or how much water, is located within the snowpack. This information is also shared with other agencies, such as the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey.
The survey team will begin near Minneapolis March 4 and make a counterclockwise trip around the state. They will survey areas near Duluth, Minn.; Brainerd, Minn.; and Moorhead, Minn.
The process involves going to a predetermined location and gathering snow through a snow tube. The snow is then measured for its weight, and the totals are converted using a mathematical formula to determine the water content.
The Corps will monitor the region for future snow storms, and they will conduct additional surveys if needed.
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