A powder day in Australia: mostly mythical, occasionally magical, and best done with low expectations and a backup plan. But, rare as they are, when they come – they’re amazing – and a stark reminder of why you actually like this snowboarding stuff in the first place.
When it comes to dissecting the myriad of storm total claims predicted when the illusive south-eastern Australian cold front starts brewing in the southern ocean every winter, everyone’s got a theory. They open up their secret playbook of tactics and decode their own combination of apps, inflated resort website forecasts and intel from your mate at the pub – fire off a couple of bold predictions in a group chat – hit go on a trip, often to be disheartened by a moist reality.
So how do you make sense of all the information out there? With more forecasting tools than ever, knowing where to look, and when to go, can be the difference between scoring it and blowing it.
Here’s our breakdown of what we reckon are the best snow forecasts out there – from government agencies to celebrity weather presenters, garage meteorologists and a literal stick in the ground.
Chuck these in your bookmarks, hang the goggles from the rear view, and we’ll see you when the storm hits!
The BOM
The vibe: The classic, government-issued and scientifically accurate – not sexy by any means, and not particularly snow specific, but pretty reliable.
Use it for: Cross-checking reality before you call in sick to work.
Jane’s Weather
The vibe: Smart, sleek, AI generated and science-forward. Built by meteorologist and TV presenter Jane Bunn, who your Dad definitely has a crush on.
Use it for: Comparing global models, snow-specific alerts, and obsessing over freezing levels, one stop shop for comparing models.
Tyson Millar – The Snowstack (Substack)
The vibe: Grassroots meets graduate degree. Deep analysis from a guy who lives for storms, honest accuracy and has over 20 years of experience monitoring alpine weather.
Use it for: Honest, long-form breakdowns of model runs and storm setups, tailored insights for snowboarders.
Weatherzone
The vibe: No-frills but powerful. Serious forecasting tech under the hood.
Use it for: 14-day outlooks, snow cams, and hourly model updates.
Windy
The vibe: Used by surfers and weather nerds alike. Not particularly snow-specific, but insanely detailed and very colorful.
Use it for: Comparing model data, wind and cloud overlays, freezing levels and checking the surf as a backup option.
Snow-Forecast.com
The vibe: Kinda retro, a lot of data, but the original snow forecasting site used often by guides around the world. Changes frequently, but often the most accurate.
Use it for: Resort-based snowfall predictions at top/mid/base levels.
Mountainwatch
The vibe: Aussie-made, we used to share an office, rider-friendly, and content-rich. The Grasshopper knows his shit.
Use it for: Resort cams, daily forecasts, Grasshopper’s long-term predictions and Reggae’s weekly reports on Instagram.
Snowatch
The vibe: Passion project turned forecasting staple. Pete “The Frog” brings the goods. Hand-written forecasts. No AI here.
Use it for: Detailed storm predictions and snowfall outlooks.
Star_Hawk (ski.com.au forums)
The vibe: This one’s a hot tip from a couple of Jindabyne locals, a certified DIY legend. Forecast comparisons, tables, charts – he does the math so you don’t have to.
Use it for: Side-by-side forecast accuracy, BOM ADFD snowfall tables.
ski.com.au Forecast Thread
Perisher Snow Stake
The vibe: Raw, real, and brutally honest. No models, no projections – just snow on a stick. Screenshot it, argue about it, manifest more.
Use it for: Seeing exactly how much snow is on the ground at mid-mountain – unfiltered and updated daily.
The Final Breakdown
