Rain on Snow Modeling

Rain on snow (ROS) events are due to a meteorological phenomenon that occur when warm rain falls onto an existing snowpack. This interaction between rain and snow has gained increased attention in recent years due to climate change and its potential to cause various environmental and societal impacts, including flooding, avalanches, altered hydrology, and ecological disruptions.
Modeling these interactions is important for understanding and predicting the outcomes of ROS events, especially in regions where snowmelt-driven runoff plays a vital role in water availability and in flood peak and volume estimation. This article will introduce ROS modeling and explore its significance, approaches, and challenges. This article is not intended to be a comprehensive instruction manual but rather an introduction to the concepts and tools available for ROS modeling.