Use of spatially distributed stream stage recorders to augment rain gages by identifying locations of thunderstorm precipitation and distinguishing rain from snow

Precipitation measurements in complex terrain are difficult to obtain, particularly during convective thunderstorm precipitation or mixed rain and snow. In such cases, stream stage recorders distributed across many small, headwater streams can bridge the gap between point measurements of precipitation and larger-scale total basin discharge. We use case studies from two steep basins with shallow soils in the Sierra Nevada, California to illustrate how distributed stream sensors can help identify the location, timing, and intensity of spatially variable precipitation.