Use forecast snowfall to plan ahead and the resort’s current snow and operating reports to check what has happened on the mountain. stormstoke’s recent snowfall is a model estimate; it is not the resort’s measured snow report or its base depth.
Four snow numbers answer four different questions
It is easy to see a number in centimeters or inches and assume it describes the snow you will ski. First identify what was counted, where it applies and which dates it covers. The same unit does not make two values interchangeable.
- Forecast snowfall: the model’s estimate of new snow over future or current forecast days.
- Modeled recent snowfall: the weather provider’s estimate for recent days. On stormstoke, the recent snow window covers the past five days.
- Resort-reported new snow: the resort’s own published amount for a stated reporting period and location; check how that resort describes it.
- Base depth: the reported depth of snow on the ground at a particular place and time. It is a different quantity from new snowfall.
Match the reporting period before comparing
A resort’s morning report may cover a period such as the previous 24 hours or since a stated afternoon reading. stormstoke groups its model values by resort-local calendar dates. Read the labels on both sources before deciding that they disagree.
Suppose a resort reports 12 cm since yesterday morning and a model shows 9 cm for yesterday’s calendar day. Those are not automatically competing estimates of the same event. Part of the resort’s interval may fall into today’s model total. This example illustrates a timing mismatch, not the accuracy of either source.
Match the place and type of evidence
The model forecast uses a reference elevation. A resort may describe a snow stake, base area or another reporting location. Write down those locations if you are comparing the numbers; an upper-mountain model value and a lower reporting site answer different questions.
For forecast checking, save the forecast issued before the day happened, then compare it with an observation for a matching place and interval. Reading a newer model estimate after the event does not show what the earlier forecast predicted.
Use both sources for a ski-day decision
Start with the forecast when shortlisting resorts and dates. As your visit approaches, add the resort’s latest report, open terrain and lift status. On the morning of your visit, check the report time again and read any operational notes.
When stormstoke marks forecast data unavailable, that means the forecast is missing. It does not mean that no snow fell, that no snow is expected, or that the resort is closed.
- Use like-for-like dates and units.
- Keep model estimates separate from reported measurements.
- Check whether the number describes new snow or existing depth.
- Treat operating status as its own check.
Sources & further reading
Product details checked against stormstoke’s forecast and alert behavior on . This guide is general planning information; follow the linked resort pages for current forecasts.