October 4, 2019 9:30 a.m.
On Monday representatives from the National Weather Service will be at Crater Lake National Park to celebrate 100 years of weather observations.
Ryan Sandler from the Weather Service said long-term weather observations are extremely important to monitor climate trends and predict weather conditions. He said meteorologists use weather data collected by the park to study snowfall amounts and track changes in weather patterns. Marsha McCabe from Crater Lake said the park is the only long-term high elevation snow data collection site in southern Oregon.
A release from the park and the Weather Service said weather plays a significant role in the resources and management of the park. Crater Lake is filled entirely by rainfall and snowmelt, resulting in some of the purest, clearest water on the planet according to the release. With an annual snowfall of 512 inches, Crater Lake National Park is one of the snowiest inhabited places in the country. The park’s snowplow operators work hard to clear snow from the roads so visitors can safely experience the winter vistas and recreational opportunities the park has to offer, according to the release.
The park works closely with the National Weather Service not only during the winter, but during summer storms as well. The release said the partnership is a critical component of safe boat tour operations on the lake. The NWS alerts the park if thunderstorms are moving towards the lake and provides information to park and concession staff to help determine if tours need to be postponed or cancelled to avoid hazardous lightning.
Monday there will be a brief ceremony on the back porch of Crater Lake Lodge at 1:00 p.m. to mark the 100 years of observations.