Top Four Weather Sites I Use

Steamboat Springs weather is a common search term for our local area.  It beats out schools, hotels, hot springs and restaurants as terms searched.  Locals have several favorites.  We are always looking for when to plan time off, related to the sports we want to enjoy.  Out of town visitors use a few also, trying to figure out how to pack, or if in Denver and the Front Range, what driving will be like.

I’ve run into a few super-smart locals that have helped me along the way to find out the best information related to weather trends.  Here are four that I commonly use to find out what the weather will be in Steamboat Springs, or just about anywhere in the United States:

1. NOAA:  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has an involved website, but the main page for a zip code, whether it be Steamboat Springs or Denver, has a great overview.  There are links to hourly weather, air quality, forecast discussions, road conditions and more.  Searching the site more in-depth can reveal jet stream and moisture patterns that will impact the western United States.
2. Unisys:  This link is one of my favorites.  In just a glimpse, I can find how weather is going to affect my region.  Unisys overall has a large site as well and can give me enough information to make me dizzy.  I enjoy the data and use it mostly for finding powder days and sunny days for day trips hiking and camping.
3. San Francisco State University: This link is the only page I use on this site.  It is an animation of jet stream movements for specific time periods.  This is very valuable to compare this information with other websites.  Knowing where weather is coming from, like Tibet or Alaska, helps me determine how conditions can possibly change in relation to what forecasters are saying.
4. Intellicast: Intellicast is a large company.  I have their app on my phone.  This link is the main page I use for daily outdoor planning.  More specifically, I want to know when it is going to be blustery.  This is very helpful when planning alpine adventures, and when I don’t want to be in the garden.

There are several more sites out there.  And there is a bunch of data that can be used to find what you are looking for.  Some of my studying of weather includes understanding more of El Nino and La Nina patterns/seasons.  I also research some on tropical storms, their directions, and the changes that occur from moisture and temperature changes.

Weather is important to outdoor enthusiasts.  Steamboat Springs weather is driven much by the mountains and being located at the Continental Divide.  Mountains can create their own weather, and they can stop a front from moving east.  Knowing when the best time to escape to nature is a essential in balancing work and lifestyle.