This measurement is usually very accurate, but it does not provide the exact data skiers are looking for. Skiers can estimate new snowfall by multiplying the change in SWE by the assumed snow ratio which on average runs between 10-15:1. depending on the air temperature.

For example, if SWE increased by 0.5 inches during a storm, this could mean about 7.5 inches of new snow (15 x 0.5 = 7.5). This will only work if the storm was all snow and didn't switch to rain at any point during the storm.