best weather site

[gonefishing05]

Wondering what site people have a good track record with for predicting weather on climbing/backpacking trips into the CO mountains. I havent used the Wunder link provided on this site much. I typically use mountain-forecast.com, but dont get out enough (being from MN) to get a good sense of how accurate it is. It is nice to be able to check highs/lows at various altitudes, though. Coming out late next week. Looks like lots of rain coming up.

Advice appreciated.

[habaceeba]

I'm probably not the one to reply to this, but aren't there only a couple of agencies that predict weather? And even if there are more, don't they all use the same few databases to run their calculations?

[Shaolin]

I use NOAA, but there are some apps from TV stations websites that can tell you within minutes what is going to happen.

[rpdawes]

There's no best weather forecasting site. As for myself, I usually obtain and analyze the information from three different sites.Then make a decision based upon the best available data. I am very weather-sensitive because I am a very slow hiker requiring a 2-day window of almost-perfect weather. Most hikers, especially young ones, don't worry too much about the weather because they start a hike early in the morning like 4 or 5 and return by noon.

[Scott P]

NOAA is usually best.

From my experience, Mountain Forecast is pretty useless in Colorado and very inaccurate. Surprisingly, I found it to be pretty accurate in places like Mexico.

[RockCaCO3]

There's no best weather forecasting site. As for myself, I usually obtain and analyze the information from three different sites.

Same here. I use (in no particular order):

https://spotwx.com/
https://www.mountain-forecast.com/
http://www.weather.gov/

[SkaredShtles]

I'm pretty sure EVERY site gets their raw information from NOAA.

So I just go straight to the source: http://weather.gov

[AlexeyD]

I'm pretty sure EVERY site gets their raw information from NOAA

Not necessarily. NOAA only runs some (GFS, NAM) of the models that forecasters- including NOAA itself - use to generate forecasts. Others are based outside the US (Europe, Canada, Japan). Generally speaking, the Euro model has the reputation of being the most powerful and accurate, and as a result they make a ton of $$$ selling their data to both private (e.g. Wunderground) and government (NOAA) forecasting agencies.

[Dave B]

I'm pretty sure EVERY site gets their raw information from NOAA.

Weather Underground is an exception in that they use additional community data in their forecasting models. Every other forecasting outfit just runs NWS data through proprietary forecasting algorithms.

As someone who has worked with, and is even friends with, weather forecasters I feel the need to give the boiler-plate statement that weather forecasts work in probabilities and not certainties and that a thunderstorm on a day with only a 20% chance of storms is actually an accurate forecast. As is a perfectly clear day on one that was forecast to have an 80% chance of t-storms.

I always feel it's best to look at multiple data sources and different forecasts and try to develop a feel for where forecasts agree and disagree. For example, I've found that NOAA seems to underestimate high temps by 3-4 degrees whereas the Weather Channel seems to nail it, but they suck at hourly wind and precip forecast.

Also, this site is awesome for wind.

https://www.windy.com/?43.181,-110.171,5

[ajkagy]

Anybody tried Joel Gratz new hiking/14ers weather app?

https://www.opensummit.com/

[Fairwind]

Mountain weather is VERY difficult to predict..This time of year, thunderstorms can and frequently do pop up in the afternoons and if you are caught in one you can think it's the end of the world but they usually only last for an hour or so...You just have to be prepared for them...Any forecast that goes out more than 2 days is just guesswork..The summer forecast is for bright, sunny mornings, temperatures in the 60's and 70's depending on your elevation, with increasing clouds in the afternoons with a chance of showers and thunderstorms......That's it, enjoy !

[rpdawes]

Since nobody can go everywhere on any given day to see which weather website provides most accurate weather forecasts for various mountains, you can stay home and observe the live web cams online on a 24/7 basis and see how close any weather site can be to actual weather. Two web cam sites I use on a daily basis are

1) http://www.keno.org/colorado_web_cams/w ... e_cams.htm

2) http://www.cotrip.org/map.htm#/default