Backcountry Analytics

How we used Synoptic's multi-network weather API, elevation-adjusted IDW interpolation, and soil temperature thresholds to build a real-time mushroom foraging forecast layer for the western US.

The 1991–2020 normal peaks late March through late April across the northern Rockies. In 2026, a record-warm winter forced basins to peak weeks early and well short of normal. We mapped where every station stood at its highest point this season.

We compared 26,994 NWS point forecast predictions against actual SNOTEL observations across 754 stations over 13 days. The system over-forecasts on average — but the pattern shifts depending on snow density.

Watch every storm of the 2025–26 winter season move across the western US in this interactive day-by-day animation built from SNOTEL daily snow depth readings using Python and Plotly.

SNOTEL data shows the March 11–14 Pacific storm dropped up to 49 inches at Washington Cascade stations and pushed 35–44 inches into northern Idaho and western Montana. We break down the totals, timing, and snow density by station.

Montana and Wyoming are running above 100% of normal while Oregon averages just 20% with five stations at zero. The western snowpack has never been more split.

SNOTEL stations record snow water equivalent, depth, temperature and precipitation every hour across 800+ sites in the western US. Here's how to interpret that data to make smarter go/no-go decisions before you skin up.

SWE is the single most useful snowpack metric for backcountry skiers. Here's what it means, how it's measured, and why it matters more than depth.

A full walkthrough of snow.outsidedb.com — the map, station table, accumulation slider, NWS point forecasts, home location, and British Columbia stations.