Avalanche Forecasts vs Going Blue
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.
Going Blue
This weather app provides detailed forecasts via satellite messengers, ideal for remote expeditions. It compresses extensive weather data into single messages, accessible through SMS, Garmin inReach, or iPhone satellite messaging.
- Satellite messenger compatibility
- Custom data compression codec
- SMS, Garmin inReach, iPhone messaging support
- Hourly and 13-day forecasts
- Multiple weather variables
- Over 30 forecast models
- Forecast comparison
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Going Blue is an expedition weather app designed specifically for low-bandwidth satellite connections. It is built for skiers, alpinists, backpackers, kayakers, sailors, hunters, and anyone else who needs detailed weather forecasts in remote places. Going Blue works with direct-to-cell satellite internet, SMS, Garmin inReach, iPhone satellite messaging, and ZOLEO. How it works 1. Build a forecast request in the app. Choose the location, model, and variables that you care about. 2. Send the forecast request to Going Blue via the internet, SMS, Garmin inReach, ZOLEO, or iPhone satellite messaging. 3. Receive an encoded message from Going Blue. Paste it into the app to see a detailed forecast. Features - Satellite ready: Get forecasts anywhere in the world, without cell reception. Works with direct-to-cell satellite internet (Starlink Direct to Cell, T-Satellite), Garmin inReach, ZOLEO, and iPhone satellite messaging. - Hundreds of data points per message: Uses custom compression optimized for weather data to fit a detailed weather forecast into a single message. - 30+ weather models: Forecasts from high-resolution models like HRRR (3km), HRDPS (2.5km), ICON-D2 (2km), and MET Norway (1km). Automatically chooses the best model for your location. - Detailed cloud cover: See up to 10 levels in the atmosphere to differentiate between high clouds, valley fog, and whiteout conditions. - Mountain forecasts: Pressure-level winds and freezing level for high-altitude mountaineering. - Air quality: Plan around wildfire smoke and other pollution with AQI forecasts. - Model agreement: See how well the forecast agrees with models from NOAA, ECMWF, ECCC, and DWD. - Avalanche forecasts: Full avalanche forecasts from Avalanche Canada. - Works offline: All forecasts are saved on your device for comparing multiple models and past forecasts while offline. - Private: Going Blue requires no account and does not store your name, email, or phone number. Terms of Use: https://going.blue/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Avalanche Forecasts at none against Going Blue's 2. Avalanche Forecasts also leads on ratings volume (403 vs 4) and device support (3 vs 1). Going Blue's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 8 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, monetization model and iOS requirement 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. Going Blue sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Avalanche Forecasts asks for nothing beyond the download.
Going Blue 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 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Avalanche Forecasts ships an update every 8 months, Going Blue every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Avalanche Forecasts | Going Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (403 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 403 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 111 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sierra Avalanche Center | Lane Aasen |
Customer experience
Avalanche Forecasts
Going Blue
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
Going Blue
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Avalanche Forecasts
No in-app purchases
Going Blue
- Going Blue Expedition (1 month)$9.991 Month
- Going Blue Expedition (annual)$19.991 Year








