Alpine Intelligence

Snow as a Science (SaaS)

SnowSignals AI is the world's first terrain-aware, physics-driven snow conditions model that turns raw mountain weather into precise, slope-by-slope surface forecasts.

At a glance

Model: Physics-driven snow metamorphosis engine with terrain-aware 3D weather fusion
Resolution: Sub-10-meter spatial grid; 15 minute timestep
Coverage: Lake Tahoe, CA; 7-day rolling forecast

Technical Specifications

Physical World Model

Digital Terrain ModelHigh-resolution elevation data with full slope, aspect, curvature, and terrain-feature geometry (ridges, bowls, gullies).

Land + Tree CoverForest, glades, and open terrain used to resolve shading, sheltering, wind exposure, and snow preservation.

Terrain FeaturesDerived morphometry for cliffs, convexities, concavities, benches, and other terrain structures that influence wind and snow distribution.

Terrain-Tuned Weather

Solar ExposureSlope-aware sun, cloud, and shadow fields computed for true surface heating.

3D Wind FieldTerrain-modified wind from ridgelines, funnels, and tree cover, using flow modeling to capture local speed-up and shelter.

Micro-Scale PrecipitationOrographic, elevation, and aspect-specific snowfall interpolation for localized storm totals and snow line.

Thermodynamic Modeling

Shortwave Radiation
Direct and diffuse solar input mapped to slope angle, aspect, and shading.

Longwave Radiation
Surface-sky infrared exchange using cloud cover, humidity, and air temperature to quantify radiational cooling.

Convective Exchange
Wind-driven heat transfer that differentiates exposed from sheltered terrain.

Latent Heat Flux
Energy transfers from melting, refreezing, sublimation, and moisture exchange at the snow surface.

Snowpack Conduction
Heat transfer through surface and subsurface snow layers, controlling how warmth or cold penetrates and persists.

Mechanical Modeling

Sintering
Grain bonding and densification driven by pressure and temperature, strengthening near-surface layers over time.

Wind Transport
Wind-driven movement of snow, including lifting, drifting, and deposition, controlled by slope, aspect, and ridge shape.

Mechanical Compaction
Weight and repeated surface loads that rearrange grains and increase density in the upper snowpack.

Scouring & Abrasion
Removal of surface snow by strong wind and exposure, which thins the layer and reshapes grains.

Snow Science & Surface Conditions

Snowpack Evolution
Multi-day tracking of surface and near-surface layers, including temperature gradients, density changes, crust formation, and storm-to-storm history.

Phase & State Changes
Hourly resolution of melting, refreezing, faceting, rounding, crust behavior, and wind-affected transformations.

Surface Conditions
Classified outputs for each terrain zone: powder, wind buff, chalk, packed powder, firm, crusted, refrozen, corn, and mixed transitional states, updated throughout the day.

Validation & Accuracy

Validated across 5+ Tahoe seasons, spanning storm cycles, drought years, mid-winter cold spells, and spring melt-freeze periods.
Benchmarked against thousands of real-world condition reports: resort operations updates, public observations, and structured on-mountain field logs.
Continuously tuned through daily skier feedback and repeated spot-checks across key zones and aspects.

Engineered with precision. Made for skiers.

Put Alpine Intelligence to work and ski the best snow on the mountain.

Open SnowSignals →