The Snow Maps Journal
How forecasts work, where the snow is headed, and how to get more out of your season.
Pacific Northwest Snow Outlook: Mt Hood Opens the Season
Oregon’s Mt Hood catches the first real cycle of the season while coastal BC waits for week two. Here’s what’s coming and why.
26 October 2026 · 5 min read
OutlookWhere the Snow Is Headed: Both Hemispheres, Oct 22 – Nov 5
A data-driven two-week outlook: France and Japan lead the north, while Chile’s Andes hold on through a late-season storm cycle.
22 October 2026 · 4 min read
Forecast scienceWhy Snow Forecasts Overpredict — and What We Do About It
The same storm can read 35 cm on one site and 130 cm on another. Here’s why mountain snowfall numbers disagree, and how Snow Maps handles it.
22 October 2026 · 5 min read
GuidesHow to Read a Snow Forecast Without the Hype
Base vs summit, 24 h vs 7 days, snow ratio and the model spread — a practical guide to judging any snow forecast.
22 October 2026 · 6 min read
GearSki Gear in 2026: What’s Actually Changed
From airbag packs to waxless bases and smarter avalanche beacons — the gear advances that matter this season, without the hype.
22 October 2026 · 6 min read