Articles | Volume 18, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4657-2014
© Author(s) 2014. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4657-2014
© Author(s) 2014. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
26 Nov 2014
Research article |
| 26 Nov 2014
Model simulations of the modulating effect of the snow cover in a rain-on-snow event
N. Wever
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
CRYOS, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
T. Jonas
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
M. Lehning
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
CRYOS, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
Viewed
Total article views: 4,174 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 15 May 2014)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,995 | 2,036 | 143 | 4,174 | 131 | 163 |
- HTML: 1,995
- PDF: 2,036
- XML: 143
- Total: 4,174
- BibTeX: 131
- EndNote: 163
Total article views: 2,717 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 26 Nov 2014)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,584 | 1,001 | 132 | 2,717 | 126 | 156 |
- HTML: 1,584
- PDF: 1,001
- XML: 132
- Total: 2,717
- BibTeX: 126
- EndNote: 156
Total article views: 1,457 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 15 May 2014)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 411 | 1,035 | 11 | 1,457 | 5 | 7 |
- HTML: 411
- PDF: 1,035
- XML: 11
- Total: 1,457
- BibTeX: 5
- EndNote: 7
Cited
32 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Simulating the influence of snow surface processes on soil moisture dynamics and streamflow generation in an alpine catchment N. Wever et al. 10.5194/hess-21-4053-2017
- Quantifying the Impact of Rain-on-Snow Induced Flooding in the Western United States B. Bean & E. Watts 10.3390/w16192826
- Monitoring snowpack outflow volumes and their isotopic composition to better understand streamflow generation during rain-on-snow events A. Rücker et al. 10.5194/hess-23-2983-2019
- Rain-on-snow climatology and its impact on flood risk in snow-dominated regions of Türkiye S. Yeşilköy & Ö. Baydaroğlu 10.1007/s00704-025-05463-6
- Rain-on-snow events in Switzerland: recent observations and projections for the 21st century E. Morán-Tejeda et al. 10.3354/cr01435
- Spatio‐temporal controls of snowmelt and runoff generation during rain‐on‐snow events in a mid‐latitude mountain catchment J. Garvelmann et al. 10.1002/hyp.10460
- Modelling liquid water transport in snow under rain-on-snow conditions – considering preferential flow S. Würzer et al. 10.5194/hess-21-1741-2017
- Snow simulation for the rangeland hydrology and erosion model P. Broxton et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131934
- Modeling the influence of hypsometry, vegetation, and storm energy on snowmelt contributions to basins during rain‐on‐snow floods N. Wayand et al. 10.1002/2014WR016576
- Influence of Initial Snowpack Properties on Runoff Formation during Rain-on-Snow Events S. Würzer et al. 10.1175/JHM-D-15-0181.1
- Flood triggering in Switzerland: the role of daily to monthly preceding precipitation P. Froidevaux et al. 10.5194/hess-19-3903-2015
- Statistical Downscaling of Gridded Wind Speed Data Using Local Topography A. Winstral et al. 10.1175/JHM-D-16-0054.1
- Toward snowpack runoff decision support A. Heggli et al. 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104240
- Runoff response to the uncertainty from key water-budget variables in a seasonally snow-covered mountain basin G. Cui et al. 10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101601
- Using Near-Surface Ground Temperature Data to Derive Snow Insulation and Melt Indices for Mountain Permafrost Applications B. Staub & R. Delaloye 10.1002/ppp.1890
- Changes in Climatology, Snow Cover, and Ground Temperatures at High Alpine Locations E. Bender et al. 10.3389/feart.2020.00100
- Global patterns of rain-on-snow and its impacts on runoff from past to future projections F. Maina & S. Kumar 10.1038/s41467-025-59855-3
- Geomorphic Process Chains in High‐Mountain Regions—A Review and Classification Approach for Natural Hazards Assessment P. Mani et al. 10.1029/2022RG000791
- Rain-on-snow roof surcharge load: A review of recent collapses, design standards, current research, and challenges D. Bajracharya & Q. Zhang 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104432
- Monitoring Wet Snow Over an Alpine Region Using Sentinel-1 Observations F. Karbou et al. 10.3390/rs13030381
- Rainwater propagation through snowpack during rain-on-snow sprinkling experiments under different snow conditions R. Juras et al. 10.5194/hess-21-4973-2017
- Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks N. Wever et al. 10.5194/tc-10-2731-2016
- High-Resolution Discharge Forecasting for Snowmelt and Rainfall Mixed Events T. Berezowski & A. Chybicki 10.3390/w10010056
- Trends in soil frost formation in a warming maritime climate and the impacts on urban flood risk T. Zaqout et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128978
- Projected changes in rain-on-snow events and their impacts on summer low streamflow in the Great lakes basin Y. Aryal et al. 10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106612
- Estimating Non-Conductive Heat Flow Leading to Intra-Permafrost Talik Formation at the Ritigraben Rock Glacier (Western Swiss Alps) R. Luethi et al. 10.1002/ppp.1911
- Investigating the development of shallow snowpacks on arable land, using comprehensive field observations and spatially distributed snow modelling T. Starkloff et al. 10.2166/nh.2017.269
- Projections of rain‐on‐snow events in a sub‐arctic river basin under 1.5°C–4°C global warming J. Warden et al. 10.1002/hyp.15250
- Rain on snow induced urban floods in cold maritime climate: Risk, indicators and trends H. Andradóttir et al. 10.1002/hyp.14298
- Hydrological behaviour of an ice‐layered snowpack in a non‐mountainous environment A. Paquotte & M. Baraer 10.1002/hyp.14433
- Analysis and Predictability of the Hydrological Response of Mountain Catchments to Heavy Rain on Snow Events: A Case Study in the Spanish Pyrenees J. Corripio & J. López-Moreno 10.3390/hydrology4020020
- Impacts of climate change on winter flood mechanisms: Spatial variability, trends, and bivariate frequency of rain-on-snow and soil frost T. Zaqout & H. Andradóttir 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131439
32 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Simulating the influence of snow surface processes on soil moisture dynamics and streamflow generation in an alpine catchment N. Wever et al. 10.5194/hess-21-4053-2017
- Quantifying the Impact of Rain-on-Snow Induced Flooding in the Western United States B. Bean & E. Watts 10.3390/w16192826
- Monitoring snowpack outflow volumes and their isotopic composition to better understand streamflow generation during rain-on-snow events A. Rücker et al. 10.5194/hess-23-2983-2019
- Rain-on-snow climatology and its impact on flood risk in snow-dominated regions of Türkiye S. Yeşilköy & Ö. Baydaroğlu 10.1007/s00704-025-05463-6
- Rain-on-snow events in Switzerland: recent observations and projections for the 21st century E. Morán-Tejeda et al. 10.3354/cr01435
- Spatio‐temporal controls of snowmelt and runoff generation during rain‐on‐snow events in a mid‐latitude mountain catchment J. Garvelmann et al. 10.1002/hyp.10460
- Modelling liquid water transport in snow under rain-on-snow conditions – considering preferential flow S. Würzer et al. 10.5194/hess-21-1741-2017
- Snow simulation for the rangeland hydrology and erosion model P. Broxton et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131934
- Modeling the influence of hypsometry, vegetation, and storm energy on snowmelt contributions to basins during rain‐on‐snow floods N. Wayand et al. 10.1002/2014WR016576
- Influence of Initial Snowpack Properties on Runoff Formation during Rain-on-Snow Events S. Würzer et al. 10.1175/JHM-D-15-0181.1
- Flood triggering in Switzerland: the role of daily to monthly preceding precipitation P. Froidevaux et al. 10.5194/hess-19-3903-2015
- Statistical Downscaling of Gridded Wind Speed Data Using Local Topography A. Winstral et al. 10.1175/JHM-D-16-0054.1
- Toward snowpack runoff decision support A. Heggli et al. 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104240
- Runoff response to the uncertainty from key water-budget variables in a seasonally snow-covered mountain basin G. Cui et al. 10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101601
- Using Near-Surface Ground Temperature Data to Derive Snow Insulation and Melt Indices for Mountain Permafrost Applications B. Staub & R. Delaloye 10.1002/ppp.1890
- Changes in Climatology, Snow Cover, and Ground Temperatures at High Alpine Locations E. Bender et al. 10.3389/feart.2020.00100
- Global patterns of rain-on-snow and its impacts on runoff from past to future projections F. Maina & S. Kumar 10.1038/s41467-025-59855-3
- Geomorphic Process Chains in High‐Mountain Regions—A Review and Classification Approach for Natural Hazards Assessment P. Mani et al. 10.1029/2022RG000791
- Rain-on-snow roof surcharge load: A review of recent collapses, design standards, current research, and challenges D. Bajracharya & Q. Zhang 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104432
- Monitoring Wet Snow Over an Alpine Region Using Sentinel-1 Observations F. Karbou et al. 10.3390/rs13030381
- Rainwater propagation through snowpack during rain-on-snow sprinkling experiments under different snow conditions R. Juras et al. 10.5194/hess-21-4973-2017
- Simulating ice layer formation under the presence of preferential flow in layered snowpacks N. Wever et al. 10.5194/tc-10-2731-2016
- High-Resolution Discharge Forecasting for Snowmelt and Rainfall Mixed Events T. Berezowski & A. Chybicki 10.3390/w10010056
- Trends in soil frost formation in a warming maritime climate and the impacts on urban flood risk T. Zaqout et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128978
- Projected changes in rain-on-snow events and their impacts on summer low streamflow in the Great lakes basin Y. Aryal et al. 10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106612
- Estimating Non-Conductive Heat Flow Leading to Intra-Permafrost Talik Formation at the Ritigraben Rock Glacier (Western Swiss Alps) R. Luethi et al. 10.1002/ppp.1911
- Investigating the development of shallow snowpacks on arable land, using comprehensive field observations and spatially distributed snow modelling T. Starkloff et al. 10.2166/nh.2017.269
- Projections of rain‐on‐snow events in a sub‐arctic river basin under 1.5°C–4°C global warming J. Warden et al. 10.1002/hyp.15250
- Rain on snow induced urban floods in cold maritime climate: Risk, indicators and trends H. Andradóttir et al. 10.1002/hyp.14298
- Hydrological behaviour of an ice‐layered snowpack in a non‐mountainous environment A. Paquotte & M. Baraer 10.1002/hyp.14433
- Analysis and Predictability of the Hydrological Response of Mountain Catchments to Heavy Rain on Snow Events: A Case Study in the Spanish Pyrenees J. Corripio & J. López-Moreno 10.3390/hydrology4020020
- Impacts of climate change on winter flood mechanisms: Spatial variability, trends, and bivariate frequency of rain-on-snow and soil frost T. Zaqout & H. Andradóttir 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131439
Saved (final revised paper)
Saved (final revised paper)
Saved (preprint)
Latest update: 30 Jul 2025
Short summary
We simulated a severe rain-on-snow event in the Swiss Alps in October 2011 with a detailed multi-layer snow cover model. We found a strong modulating effect of the incoming rainfall signal by the snow cover. Initially, water from both rainfall and snow melt was absorbed by the snowpack. But once the snowpack released the stored water, simulated outflow rates exceeded rainfall and snow melt rates. The simulations suggest that structural snowpack changes enhanced the outflow during this event.
We simulated a severe rain-on-snow event in the Swiss Alps in October 2011 with a detailed...
