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By Bryan Allegretto, Forecaster Posted 4 years ago February 10, 2020

Elevation & Temperature - Explained

How does elevation affect temperature?

Atmospheric pressure is simply the weight of the air pushing down on you from above. As you increase in elevation, there is less air above you thus the pressure decreases. As the pressure decreases, air molecules spread out further (i.e. air expands) and the temperature decreases. If the humidity is at 100 percent (because it’s snowing), the temperature decreases more slowly with height.

Figuring out temperature without sensors:

There is a simple way to estimate the temperatures at various elevations around you if you know the temperature at the elevation you are standing at. Before we get into the numbers, it’s important to remember that temperature can vary for a number of different reasons: shade, sun, nearby buildings (or lack of them) and inversions (colder air sinking into valleys because it’s heavier than warm air) can all influence the temperature.

Those caveats aside here’s the quick and easy way to estimate temperatures at each elevation. If there's no snow/rain falling from the sky, then the temperature decreases by about 5.4°F for every 1,000 feet up you go in elevation & decrease the same for every 1,000 feet you go down. However, if it is snowing/raining, the temperature decreases/increases by about 3.3°F for every 1,000 feet up/down you go in elevation. This can also be referred to by forecasters as the "lapse rate".

Here’s a chart to visualize the temperature decrease with elevation:

Using this method in practice:

Let’s put this theory to the work. Say you are standing in the parking lot at your favorite ski resort and it’s snowing. If the temperature at the base is 30°F and the summit is around 3,000 feet higher, then you could estimate the temperature at the top would be around 20°F (3,000 ft. elevation change at 3.3°F per 1,000 feet equals about a 10°F temperature decrease).

Now, you’re at the top of the mountain on a sunny day with temperatures around 30°F at the top. It’s afternoon and while it was cold when you started the day at the base, you’re thinking it would be fun to head to the bottom to enjoy a beer on the deck/patio. The temperature at the base/village should be around 46°F (3,000 ft. elevation change at 5.4°F per 1,000 feet equals about a 16°F temperature increase). This has also been scientifically proven to be the perfect temperature to enjoy a beer on the apres deck.


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BA

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About The Author

Bryan Allegretto

Forecaster

Bryan Allegretto has been writing insightful posts about snow storms for over the last 15 years and is known as Tahoe's go-to snow forecaster. BA grew up in south Jersey, surfing, snowboarding, and chasing down the storms creating the epic conditions for both.

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