 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey, I'm new to this forum, so if this is in the wrong place, please let me know! This offseason, I created a website that forecasts snowmaking conditions everywhere as well as snowmaking news. It would be great if you guys could give me some feedback. Thanks
The link is snowmakingforecast.com
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@swdub10., Welcome to SHs 
Now, we do get all sorts of novelties proposed, and not always terribly well received. But for once, I rather like your idea.
I mean, at one level I can look out my window to see if there's snow being made, but it's quite cute to have some sort of forecasting.
I'd suggest, given that this is quite a European site, UK/CET time zones (didn't notice that option) and Celsius not Fahrenheit? Who uses °F? Seriously? That's how spacecraft crash.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Interesting.
The hourly temp graph seems to autoscale in the y-axis, so making a small change look as big as a big change in other locales. Maybe set the scale as far as is possible so they are comparable and include a line marker for the temp when snow making is feasible?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| I'd suggest, given that this is quite a European site, UK/CET time zones (didn't notice that option) and Celsius not Fahrenheit? Who uses °F? Seriously? That's how spacecraft crash. |
Indeed. These temps mean nothing to me. Wind in kph too please, and any other measurements in metric.
I admit I don't know enough about snowmaking to understand the significance of it being “too wet”, but I was slightly surprised, as looking outside on this beautiful 20C+ day, I would more likely expect a forecast of “too hot”!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Interesting
however you could add an option to change to Celsius maybe the option such as village and mid - top of the resorts? or at least also an option for 2.000 elevation (i know to much work)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Good idea but metric system option please.
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It’s actually quite cool, but in reality, for making snow, most people are gonna have a bunch of clever weather data and in depth forecasting at their disposal.
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I'm working on adding a metric system option right now, and I mostly made it for people who have their own backyard snowgun, and then I realized people can use it to check forecasts, so I made it more friendly to that!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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People have backyard snow cannons? Who knew?
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Are winters in Europe becoming that bad we need a snowmaking forecast?! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| swdub10. wrote: |
| I mostly made it for people who have their own backyard snowgun! |
This seemed like a bizarre thing to have forecast but NOW I want to know more! People have 'backyard' snowguns?!!!
A quick Google shows that this is A Thing, and all you need is a pressure washer and an air compressor (so I'm already well on the way) plus a few bits. Listed here: https://www.snsnowmaking.com/step1-snowmaker-parts.php Turns out that all I need is four nozzles, total cost £20.
1. "Wait until the temperature drops below 27F (-3C)."
2. "Next, using whatever stand system you'd like, setup your snowmaker in the place you like to make snow. Your snow will fall in a pile about 20' (6.0m) long and 8' (2.5m) wide."
I'm in!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I got mine from backyard snowstorms, its was $400 and does 1 inch an hour in a 5ft by 12 ft area. Snow at Home also makes them. I know it's possible to make them out of fittings that go on a hose, and their are a lot of guides, but the best ones use nozzles that are bought (snow state) has nozzles that are high quality. I'm pretty new to this, but there are a bunch of people who build their own more powerful guns to.
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In addition to some of the points already raised, it's worth noting that in most European resorts snow-making is limited more by allowable and available water usage than just by temperature, such that just knowing that it would be possible to make snow is by no means a guarantee thet they will be doing so.
There are also local technical variations, such as the starting temperature of the reservoir and how high it's needed to be pumped - those with high-altitude reservoirs (there's one at 1800m in Champery, for example) can run at much lower ambient temperatures compared with lower ones because of the temperature gain the the water if it needs to be pumped all the way up from the valley floor.
I mean I think it's a very cool meta- weather site with all of those additional factors calculated from wind and humidity, easy and fast to use.
I think one easy feature to add would be, rather than just a measure of whether it's possible but an altitude from which it would be, like a virtual snow-line, so the question of base, mid or top becomes irrelevant. This should be a relatively easy value to calculate based on standard air temperature gradient models.
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You know it makes sense.
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| swdub10. wrote: |
| I got mine from backyard snowstorms, its was $400 and does 1 inch an hour in a 5ft by 12 ft area. |
Cool!
May I ask why? "Because it's there" is a perfectly acceptable answer!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I got the gun because I wanted to build a backyard terrain park in my yard. I got that specific one because it didn't need a pressure washer, which would make it quieter to run, so that I could run it overnight.
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FAQ
