Snowiest FAQ

Welcome to the Snowiest.app FAQ! Here, you'll find answers to common questions about our skiing weather comparison tools, free snowfall predictions, and features that make Snowiest.app the ultimate ski trip planning resource. Whether you're a seasoned skier, a snowboarder, or just curious about winter sports weather forecasts, this guide has you covered. Dive in to learn how Snowiest.app helps you track snowfall, compare forecasts, and plan your perfect ski adventure—all for free!

1. What’s so special about Snowiest.app?

Snowiest.app is the first platform tailored for the ski and snowboarding community, combining skiing weather comparison tools and free snowfall predictions in one intuitive web application. By aggregating data from leading national weather agencies, Snowiest.app empowers winter sports enthusiasts with accurate and accessible forecasts to plan their ski trips effectively. Unlike other platforms, Snowiest.app presents uncurated data from multiple weather models without paywalls, ads, or subscriptions, making it a reliable ski trip planning resource for everyone.

A short summary of Snowiest’s unique features includes:

  • Up to 14-day snow forecasts from weather models like the ECMWF (European model) and GFS (American model).
  • 10-day snow forecast histories, enabling comparison and hindsight transparency.
  • Regional leaderboards of predicted snowfall across multiple weather models.

2. What do the colors mean in the table?

  • Orange: Signifies an expected snowfall of 6 or more inches.
  • Blue: Signifies an expected snowfall between 0 and 6 inches.

3. Who created Snowiest.app?

Snowiest.app is an independently developed project created by a passionate powder chaser and data enthusiast who wanted to simplify access to snow forecasts for the ski and snowboarding community. The project’s focus is on providing open, transparent data.


4. How is Snowiest.app better than OpenSnow?

By nearly all measures, Snowiest.app is not better than OpenSnow, and we’ll be the first to confidently declare that. We don’t employ a team of professional forecasters to interpret weather models, advise on powder fluffiness, send weekly emails, or host a podcast.

However, Snowiest.app has its own unique angle: it’s totally free to use, and always will be. This wonderful data is already funded by taxpayers and does not need to sit behind a paywall.


5. Do you offer hourly snowfall forecasts?

Yes. When you visit a ski resort's page, you can navigate using the bottom navigation bar to the "Weather" tab. In it, you will find an hourly forecast graph, which you can use to see hourly data for various weather metrics by day, for up to 10 days. Remember to toggle between different weather models to get a sense for different predictions.


6. You’re missing a ski resort. Can you add it for me?

Yes! We’d love to add it for you and appreciate your input. Please drop us the names of the resort(s) you want added, and we’ll do our best to include them in a timely manner.


7. Where do you get your data from?

Our data comes from globally recognized weather models such as:

  • ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts): Renowned for its precision and medium-range forecasts, especially when it comes to snow. The ECMWF predicts weather out to about 15 days and is generally regarded as the most accurate global weather model.
  • GFS (Global Forecast System): Created by the United States National Weather Service (NWS), the GFS model is the cornerstone of American weather prediction, offering consistent and valuable insights for global and regional forecasts. It provides daily forecasts for up to 16 days.
  • JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency): This Japanese model is recognized for its regional and global precision, providing valuable forecasts that cater to diverse weather needs. The JMA model offers forecasts that extend up to 10 days.
  • ICON (Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic): Developed by the Deutscher Wetterdienst (German Weather Service), the ICON model offers detailed and reliable forecasts extending up to 7 days.
  • GEM (Global Environmental Multiscale): Developed by Environment Canada, the GEM model provides detailed and reliable forecasts extending up to 10 days.
  • MeteoFrance: Developed by Météo-France, the French National Meteorological Service, this model is a trusted source for European weather forecasts. It provides forecasts extending up to 4 days.

Snowiest.app also leverages the Open-Meteo API, a fantastic tool that helps aggregate this wealth of weather data into an accessible platform for our users. We’re incredibly grateful for these organizations and the free, high-quality data they provide.


8. How can I see actual snowfall numbers?

Actual snowfall numbers are currently not available on Snowiest.app as the focus is on future snowfall predictions. However, we’re exploring ways to incorporate historical and actual snowfall data in the future. Stay tuned!


9. How do I know which weather model to trust?

Each weather model has its strengths and weaknesses depending on the region and timeframe. But typically, the ECMWF is regarded as the most accurate one. For each ski resort, we present historical forecast data so you can see just how accurate each model was when predicting previous precipitation events. Since we don't store actual historical snowfall (like those measured by snow stakes), you would have to go to the resort's website or OpenSnow to verify that kind of information.


10. Are Snowiest.app’s forecasts more accurate than OpenSnow’s or the forecasts of other apps?

Predicting how many inches of snow will fall at a specific location is nearly impossible. Knowing that, Snowiest believes that it is best to just present multiple weather model forecasts and let our users decipher the meaning accordingly. If one model predicts twelve inches of snow while another predicts five, Snowiest.app allows you to compare these models side by side.

Apps like OpenSnow, Snow-forecast.com, OnTheSnow, and similar sites create estimates of snowfall based on the same models used at Snowiest.app but take the extra step of predicting which model will be most accurate, presenting a single estimate.


11. How often is the data updated?

The data on Snowiest.app's leaderboards is updated every 8 hours at around 4pm, Midnight, and 8am Pacific Time every day. Snow and weather data for each ski resort page is usually based on current forecast model outputs or are one hour behind if cached in our system between requests.


12. Do you have a mobile app I can download?

Not yet. Snowiest.app is a non-commercial, non-revenue-generating project. We believe the most efficient way to share this information with the most people is via a mobile-friendly website. That said, if Snowiest.app gains enough traction and demand, we’d love to eventually create a native app.


13. Where can I leave you feedback?

You can leave us feedback via the feedback form on our website. We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!


14. Is there a dark mode?

There is not a dark mode yet, but we hope to have that feature built in the future.


15. Is this actually a free app?

Yes, Snowiest.app is 100% free to use. There are no subscriptions, ads, or paywalls. We’re committed to keeping it this way to ensure everyone in the ski and snowboard community can access this valuable information.


16. How can I support the future development of Snowiest.app?

While Snowiest.app is a non-commercial project, we’re always looking for ways to improve. You can support the app by:

  • Sharing it with friends, family, and fellow skiers/snowboarders.
  • Providing feedback or suggestions for improvement.
  • Using the app! The more traction it receives, the more incentive we have to keep developing it.

17. Can I compare snowfall predictions across different regions?

Yes, Snowiest.app allows you to compare snowfall predictions across continents, subregions, and individual ski resorts to assist with ski trip planning. Our leaderboards showcase the snowiest areas, providing an easy way to plan your trips.


18. Are these forecasts suitable for backcountry skiing?

While Snowiest.app provides snowfall predictions, it’s essential to consider additional safety and avalanche data for backcountry skiing. Always consult your local avalanche forecast center before heading out. In the future, we plan to provide forecasts for any location in the world.


19. Does Snowiest.app work internationally?

Yes, Snowiest.app covers ski resorts across continents, though the main focus is on North America this season. If you would like to see a resort or region that is not currently featured, please send us a message on our feedback page and we'll add it to our database for you!


20. Snowiest is broken. How can I tell you it’s broken?

If you encounter any issues, we’d love to hear about them! Please reach out to us via the feedback form on our website. Your feedback helps us improve, and we really appreciate it!