Avalanche Forecasts vs SnowBase
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Avalanche Forecasts
Access real-time avalanche danger levels across North America with this app. View color-coded danger levels on a map for your chosen timeframe and explore detailed forecasts from over 20 forecasting centers. Stay informed about conditions wherever your adventures take you.
- Real-time avalanche danger levels
- Map view with color-coded danger levels
- Selectable timeframes (Today, Tomorrow, 2 Days Out)
- Detailed forecasts from over 20 centers
- Support for NWAC, CAIC, UAC, and more
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Get real-time updates on avalanche danger levels with Avalanche Forecasts. Our app makes it easy to see current danger levels at-a-glance for every forecast center in North America. Simply select your desired timeframe (Today/Tomorrow/2 Days Out) and view color-coded danger levels on the map. Click on any region to view the detailed avalanche forecast from the source forecasting center. With support for forecasts from over 20 centers, including NWAC (Northwest US), CAIC (Colorado), UAC (Utah), SAC (Central Sierras), ESAC (Eastern Sierras), MSAC (Mount Shasta), BAC (Bridgeport, CA), BTAC (Jackson Hole), GNFAC (Bozeman), WCMAC (Missoula), FAC (Kalispell/Whitefish), SNFAC (Sun Valley), IPAC (Idaho Panhandle), PAC (McCall), MWAC (Mount Washington), KPAC (Flagstaff), TAC (Taos), WAC (NE Oregon), CNFAIC (Chugach), JAC (Juneau), AAC (Anchorage), HAIC (Haines), VAC (Valdez), Cordova, HPAC (Hatcher Pass), Avalanche Canada, Parks Canada, WhistlerBlackcomb, VIAC (Vancouver Island), and Avalanche Quebec (Chic Chocs) forecasting centers, you can stay informed no matter where you are. For feature suggestions, bug reports, or other feedback, please contact us at project-development@sierraavalanchecenter.org.
SnowBase
This app helps backyard snowmakers plan and track their snowmaking sessions. It provides weather data, allows users to log equipment and session details, and connects them with a community of other snowmakers.
- Real-time weather monitoring
- Hourly forecasts and snowmaking windows
- Live snowmaking session tracking
- Equipment management
- Interactive snowmaking map
- Community sharing and interaction
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**Snowbase is the community and weather app built for backyard snowmakers.** Know when conditions are right, track your snowmaking sessions, organize your equipment, and connect with other snowmakers—all in one place. **PLAN AROUND THE WEATHER** Monitor current temperature, humidity, wind, and wet-bulb temperature. View hourly forecasts and upcoming snowmaking windows to help decide when to start your system. **TRACK LIVE SNOWMAKING SESSIONS** Start a live session, select your snow gun and equipment, and follow changing conditions throughout the run. Record session duration, wet-bulb readings, water usage, photos, and results. **EXPLORE THE SNOWMAKING MAP** See snowmaking activity, weather conditions, radar, and community posts on an interactive map. Search locations and save your home snowmaking location for quick access. **MANAGE YOUR SETUP** Keep your snow guns, pressure washers, and air compressor organized. Save equipment specifications so your setup is ready whenever conditions improve. **JOIN THE COMMUNITY** Share snowmaking posts, photos, session results, and progress updates. Follow other snowmakers, like and comment on posts, and discover what people are making nearby. Whether you are preparing for your first backyard snowstorm or tracking every detail of an advanced setup, Snowbase helps you make the most of every cold night. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://snowbase.app/privacy Snowbase Terms of Use: https://snowbase.app/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Avalanche Forecasts at free against SnowBase's free with in-app purchases. Avalanche Forecasts also leads on ratings volume (403 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). SnowBase's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and chart position (#199 vs unranked). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SnowBase holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Avalanche Forecasts has 403 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | Avalanche Forecasts | SnowBase |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (403 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 403 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #199 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 104 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sierra Avalanche Center | Backyard Snowstorm |
Customer experience
Avalanche Forecasts
SnowBase
Bugs and requests
Avalanche Forecasts
Reported bugs
12 issues- App crashes at startup
- Color coding displays as gray for entire regions
- Offline cache not functioning for NWAC zones
- Mt Hood zone not populating data
- Clicking on regions shows all state forecasts instead of specific region
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- 404 errors when clicking on certain zones
- Event map photos not displaying or appearing extremely small
- Requires phone to be turned sideways to view properly
- Clicking zone options produces no response
- Detailed info screens cannot be scrolled
- App formatting suddenly messes up and jumps around
- App hangs and becomes unresponsive
Requested features
10 requests- iPad Pro screen size optimization
- Trip planning tools
- Slope evaluation features
- Checklists for backcountry planning
- Inclinometer tool
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- Restore weather stations and report pins from old version
- Smaller scale region selection
- Support for additional avalanche centers (e.g., CBAC for Crested Butte)
- Event map photo viewing improvements
- Landscape mode support
SnowBase
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Avalanche Forecasts
No in-app purchases
SnowBase
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Avalanche Forecasts free?
Is SnowBase free?
Which has better reviews, Avalanche Forecasts or SnowBase?
Do Avalanche Forecasts or SnowBase have ads?
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