diff --git a/ush/python/pygfs/task/snow_analysis.py b/ush/python/pygfs/task/snow_analysis.py
index 4e04799f3f..9dbda9406f 100644
--- a/ush/python/pygfs/task/snow_analysis.py
+++ b/ush/python/pygfs/task/snow_analysis.py
@@ -176,6 +176,11 @@ def prepare_IMS(self) -> None:
         prep_ims_config = parse_j2yaml(self.task_config.IMS_OBS_LIST, localconf)
         logger.debug(f"{self.task_config.IMS_OBS_LIST}:\n{pformat(prep_ims_config)}")
 
+        asc_file = os.path.join(localconf.COMIN_OBS, f"{localconf.OPREFIX}imssnow96.asc")
+        if not os.path.isfile(asc_file):
+            logger.warning(f"WARNING: Obs files are missing. Will not execute CALCFIMSEXE")
+            return
+
         # copy the IMS obs files from COMIN_OBS to DATA/obs
         logger.info("Copying IMS obs for CALCFIMSEXE")
         FileHandler(prep_ims_config.calcfims).sync()
diff --git a/ush/python/pygfs/task/snowens_analysis.py b/ush/python/pygfs/task/snowens_analysis.py
index 18073af6b9..8f4c9890ca 100644
--- a/ush/python/pygfs/task/snowens_analysis.py
+++ b/ush/python/pygfs/task/snowens_analysis.py
@@ -197,6 +197,11 @@ def prepare_IMS(self) -> None:
         prep_ims_config = parse_j2yaml(self.task_config.IMS_OBS_LIST, localconf)
         logger.debug(f"{self.task_config.IMS_OBS_LIST}:\n{pformat(prep_ims_config)}")
 
+        asc_file = os.path.join(localconf.COMIN_OBS, f"{localconf.OPREFIX}imssnow96.asc")
+        if not os.path.isfile(asc_file):
+            logger.warning(f"WARNING: Obs files are missing. Will not execute CALCFIMSEXE")
+            return
+
         # copy the IMS obs files from COMIN_OBS to DATA/obs
         logger.info("Copying IMS obs for CALCFIMSEXE")
         FileHandler(prep_ims_config.calcfims).sync()