Bee collecting pollen on a dandelion; photo by Nadine Eggenberger

After winter, flowering plants are a welcome sign of the new season for many of us, but for allergy sufferers, they also mark the start of symptoms. Pollen grains can trigger hay fever, asthma, or conjunctivitis. It is estimated that about one in four Europeans suffers from pollen allergy, making it one of the most common chronic conditions.

Scanning electron micrograph showing pollen grains of paper birch (Betula papyrifera) on the left and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) on the right; Cellimagelibrary.org

The timing of flowering and the amount of pollen in the air are closely linked to the weather. Meteorological conditions determine when plants start to bloom, how much pollen they release, how far the wind carries it, and when it gradually settles back to the ground. If we can describe when and how much pollen is released, numerical atmospheric models can be used to forecast pollen concentrations.

Pollen forecasts help allergy sufferers plan everyday activities and also allow them to start or adjust treatment in time, following medical advice, thereby reducing the risk of symptoms worsening during the season.

On Windy.com, you can view pollen concentration forecasts for selected pollen types at any location in Europe. These forecasts are provided by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS).

In this article, we will take a simplified look at how this pollen forecast is produced.

What is CAMS, and what does it provide?

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) is part of the Copernicus programme and focuses on atmospheric composition monitoring. It is operated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Its goal is to provide high-quality, well-documented, and openly accessible information on air pollution and other atmospheric components at global and European scales.

Example of a CAMS product: aerosol forecast; Windy.com

CAMS produces near-real-time analyses and forecasts of atmospheric composition, as well as long-term reanalyses that enable assessment of past developments and trends. Key products include forecasts of major air-quality pollutants such as particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and ozone (O₃), as well as aerosol forecasts (including Saharan dust and wildfire smoke), estimates of fire emissions (GFAS), and information on the ozone layer and UV radiation. On the European scale, CAMS also provides pollen forecasts.

Why are CAMS pollen forecasts available only for Europe?

CAMS pollen forecasts are part of the CAMS Regional Production System. This system is designed specifically for the European domain, with a horizontal resolution of 0.1° × 0.1° (about 10 km). It uses detailed European vegetation datasets and a dense observation network, and is therefore not part of the global CAMS system.

European hourly air quality forecast of alder pollen concentrations; CAMS

The CAMS Regional Production System is based on 11 European chemical transport models for air quality: CHIMERE (INERIS, France), EMEP (MET Norway, Norway), EURAD-IM (Jülich IEK, Germany), LOTOS-EUROS (KNMI and TNO, the Netherlands), MATCH (SMHI, Sweden), MOCAGE (Météo-France, France), SILAM (FMI, Finland), DEHM (Aarhus University, Denmark), GEM-AQ (IEP-NRI, Poland), MONARCH (BSC, Spain), and MINNI (ENEA, Italy).

Ground-level alder pollen concentrations; CAMS

Coordination is provided by the Central Regional Production Unit (CRPU), led by Météo-France. Each model produces its own pollen forecast. Forecasts are run at 00 UTC and are available hourly up to four days ahead (T+96). The CRPU then combines the individual outputs into an ensemble product, typically as the median at each grid point.

On the Copernicus website, both the individual model outputs and the combined ensemble product are available.

Which pollen types are included in the forecast?

Six pollen types are included in the forecast: alder, birch, olive, grasses, mugwort, and ragweed.

These are among the most important pollen allergens in Europe, both because of their wide geographic distribution and because they can trigger allergic reactions in a substantial part of the European population.

Distribution of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) in Europe and the frequency of records in national forest inventories. Native range: EUFORGEN; European Commission Tree Atlas

In early spring, alder and birch are among the most significant pollen sources, especially across northern and central Europe. In many regions, alder can start the pollen season in the winter months, while birch dominates spring and is among the most allergenic tree pollens. Pollen from these trees most commonly causes allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, and in more sensitive individuals, it can also worsen asthma symptoms. Birch pollen is also well known for cross-reactivity with certain foods, which can trigger symptoms after eating some types of fruit or nuts. In Europe, around 8–16% of the population is sensitised to birch pollen.

Distribution of silver birch (Betula pendula) in Europe and the frequency of records in national forest inventories. Native range: EUFORGEN; European Commission Tree Atlas

From late spring into early summer, grasses dominate and are widespread across almost all of Europe. They are the most widespread source of airborne pollen and one of the most common triggers of pollen allergy. Typical symptoms include hay fever, allergic conjunctivitis, and, often, asthma-like symptoms. Grass pollen is recognised as one of the principal causes of pollen allergy in Europe, with national sensitisation rates of up to ~26% reported in some countries, although values vary by region and study population. In the Mediterranean region, olive tree pollen is another important spring and early-summer allergen, and in some areas it can be the main driver of symptoms, with high sensitisation rates.

Distribution of olive tree (Olea europaea) in Europe and the frequency of records in national forest inventories. Native range: EUFORGEN; European Commission Tree Atlas

Late summer and autumn are typically associated with mugwort and ragweed pollen. Mugwort is native to Europe and widely distributed, while ragweed is an invasive species that is spreading, especially in central and south-eastern Europe. Ragweed pollen is among the most potent aeroallergens and is often linked to severe allergic symptoms and asthma exacerbations. Sensitisation rates to ragweed pollen in Europe vary markedly by region, with some national estimates in the ~10–20% range (e.g., ~16% in Germany). These late-season allergens can extend the pollen season well into autumn.

Birch and alder pollen exposure in Europe. Maps were created using data from the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, and represent medium to very high pollen levels; T. Biedermann, 2018

How is a pollen forecast produced?

In simplified terms, producing a pollen forecast can be broken down into a few key steps that together determine the resulting pollen concentrations in the air. First, emissions are estimated, that is, the spatio-temporal pattern of pollen release. Next comes atmospheric transport, dispersion, and deposition to the surface. Finally, the forecast is evaluated by comparing it with observations.

The individual operational models in the CAMS system may differ in how they numerically solve transport (also known as advection) and deposition, but the emission schemes are, to some extent, harmonised and coordinated across the system.

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in the early flowering stage, a highly allergenic invasive species in Europe; ECMWF

How does the model estimate pollen emissions?

In the model, the pollen season is not determined by real-world plant development, but by the accumulation of temperature above a threshold, expressed as temperature sums (degree days). The CAMS system uses two degree-day thresholds. Once the accumulated temperature sum exceeds the first threshold, the season starts. After the second threshold is reached, the season is considered to have ended.

The threshold values are derived from real-world measurements. However, these measurements are not ingested into the model operationally every day; instead, they are used retrospectively for validation and, if needed, for tuning parameters (such as the degree-day thresholds) during calibration. The operational forecast, therefore, relies on the meteorological forecast and predefined, calibrated parameters.

Map showing the temperature-sum thresholds for the onset and termination of the birch pollen emission season; M. Sofiev, 2013

Because in reality the season does not start abruptly, the model applies a gradual, probabilistic ramp-up and ramp-down of emissions. As the temperature sum increases, an increasingly larger fraction of the seasonal pollen reservoir is released.

Next, an emission flux is calculated for each grid cell, that is, the amount of pollen released into the air at a given moment (the number of pollen grains released per unit area per unit time). This requires input data on the distribution of individual pollen types (alder, birch, grasses, etc.) in the landscape and on their production potential.

How much pollen is actually released on a given day depends on the current weather. Emissions are therefore adjusted based on meteorological conditions. Rain and high humidity suppress release (pollen becomes moist and remains on the plant), whereas wind and turbulence enhance it by mechanically liberating pollen into the air. The wind effect is capped so that under very strong winds, emissions do not increase without limit but instead gradually level off.

At the same time, information on production potential is used to determine how much pollen is available for a given pollen type and season in a given area (the seasonal reservoir). Once this reservoir is depleted, pollen is no longer released, even if, according to the temperature thresholds, the season has not yet formally ended.

The output of the emission module is the pollen emission flux at each grid point and time step.

Photo by Alex Jones

What controls pollen transport in the atmosphere?

After emission, transport determines how pollen is distributed in the atmosphere. In the model, pollen is treated as a chemically inert particle, meaning it does not undergo chemical changes. It is carried horizontally by the wind (advection) and mixed within the atmospheric boundary layer by turbulence, which drives both vertical and horizontal dispersion. Turbulent mixing is often enhanced by convection, especially during daytime surface heating, when updrafts and downdrafts distribute pollen more efficiently across different heights. Transport is therefore mainly governed by meteorological conditions, such as the wind field, atmospheric stability, and the depth of the boundary layer.

In parallel, pollen is removed from the air by deposition. Dry deposition includes gravitational settling as well as turbulent impaction and interception on surfaces. For example, birch pollen typically has a settling velocity of a few centimetres per second.

Wet deposition is also very important, namely, precipitation scavenging within and below clouds. Precipitation has a major impact on pollen concentrations, and even relatively small rainfall amounts can substantially reduce airborne pollen levels.

Generation of the individual forecasts

By combining emissions, transport, and deposition, each of the 11 European chemical transport models produces its own forecast of pollen concentrations across the grid and over time, expressed in pollen grains per cubic metre.

These individual outputs are then combined into a single representative ensemble product, usually computed as the median value at each grid point.

Daily mean concentrations of birch pollen grains from the CAMS regional ensemble forecast; Copernicus

This ensemble approach improves forecast stability and reliability by reducing the influence of extreme errors from individual models and by blending their different representations of emissions, transport, and deposition into a more robust result.

Are pollen concentration forecasts compared with real-world conditions?

The final and crucial step in producing a pollen forecast is validation. Modelled pollen concentrations are retrospectively compared with real measurements from aerobiological monitoring stations of the European Aeroallergen Network (EAN). The evaluation considers, for example, overall forecast error, systematic bias, and whether the model correctly captures the onset of the season, its development, and peak concentrations.

Comparison of observed birch pollen concentration (MeteoSwiss/EUMETNET/Autopollen) with the CAMS forecast for the same period in Zurich; ECMWF

The EAN is a pan-European database of pollen and fungal spore measurements. Operating since 1988, it now includes data from more than 600 stations in 38 countries. It serves as a central platform for collecting, standardising, and sharing both long-term and near-real-time pollen data from national networks and laboratories.

CAMS Evaluation Report 2024: RMSE of birch, alder, and mugwort pollen forecasts at individual EAN stations (model error, pollen grains m⁻³); Copernicus

These data allow continuous assessment of model performance and the identification of weaknesses. Validation results support further model development and are used to adjust parameters and schemes in subsequent versions, including phenological thresholds, temperature sensitivity, the influence of humidity and precipitation, and source maps. In this way, forecasts can be progressively refined in future seasons, both at the level of individual models and of the overall ensemble product.

Pollen forecast on Windy.com

On Windy.com, you can view CAMS pollen forecasts in the detailed forecast for a specific location by switching to Pollen & Air Quality. If higher pollen levels are expected over the next four days, the chart will show the forecast concentrations for the relevant pollen types. The displayed value represents the CAMS ensemble median.

Pollen is shown alongside air quality to better assess the overall allergy load. Air pollution can worsen symptoms and, in some cases, interact with pollen grains to increase their allergenic potential. Pollutants such as particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) can lead to more intense reactions than pollen alone. As a result, days with high pollen combined with poor air quality can feel more challenging than high-pollen days with cleaner air.

Daily surface air temperature in the Northern Hemisphere; Climate Reanalyzer

Snow is an inseparable part of winter weather. In the following sections, we take a closer look at how a snowflake forms and its “journey” through the atmosphere. To do so, we briefly explore the basics of cloud and precipitation microphysics.

Modelled snow depth, 16 January 2026, 08 UTC (ECMWF); WIndy.com

Cloud Particle Formation

Our story begins in a cloud. For a cloud to form, that is, for tiny cloud droplets or ice crystals to begin forming, the air must first cool, most commonly through ascent.

Schematic diagram of a rising and sinking air parcel; Climate Water Project

For simplicity, let us imagine an air parcel, a small volume of air that we follow as it rises. As it ascends into lower-pressure levels, it expands and therefore cools. The amount of water vapor changes little initially, so the water vapor mixing ratio remains nearly constant, whereas relative humidity increases. This is because the saturation vapor pressure decreases rapidly with temperature (as given by the Clausius–Clapeyron relation), so colder air reaches saturation with less water vapor. At a certain altitude, the air cools sufficiently to reach saturation (100%), and water vapor can begin to condense or deposit to form cloud particles. In the real atmosphere, this process is strongly facilitated by tiny aerosol particles.

Warmer air reaches saturation with more water vapor, so it can hold more water vapor than colder air.

Homogeneous nucleation, the formation of cloud droplets and ice particles directly from water vapor without aerosol particles, is extremely rare in the real atmosphere. It is an energetically demanding and statistically unlikely process that would require very high supersaturation (on the order of hundreds of percent).

The relative size of water molecules to condensation nuclei; NOAA

In practice, therefore, condensation and, in colder clouds, ice formation occur mainly on aerosol particles, which are abundant in the atmosphere and provide surfaces where cloud particles can readily form. For droplet formation, we refer to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN); for ice crystal formation, we use the term ice-nucleating particles (INP). These processes are known as heterogeneous nucleation.

A single aerosol particle can act as both a condensation nucleus and an ice nucleus. The most effective ice nuclei are typically mineral dust particles (e.g., clays and desert dust), soil particles, volcanic ash, and certain biological particles (e.g., pollen, spores, and specific bacteria). By contrast, other aerosols, such as sea salt and many organic particles, often serve as effective condensation nuclei for droplets but are less effective at initiating ice formation.

Schematic illustration of ice-nucleating particle formation from mineral dust aerosols; EGU

Formation of Ice Crystals in Clouds

Because low temperatures alone do not automatically induce the freezing of water droplets, and suitable ice nuclei are often absent, cloud droplets at temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) are frequently supercooled and remain liquid. As long as ice nuclei or other freezing triggers are not present, such as direct contact with ice, they can persist in the liquid phase well below the freezing point. Particularly small and very clean droplets can remain liquid even at temperatures tens of degrees below freezing. Only at very low temperatures, typically below about −38 °C (−36 °F), do supercooled droplets freeze spontaneously even without ice nuclei (homogeneous ice nucleation).

Occurrence of supercooled liquid water droplets and ice crystals in clouds as a function of air temperature; COMET via NOAA

Current meteorological understanding suggests that, in real clouds, ice particles form primarily by freezing supercooled droplets. The most common pathways are immersion freezing and condensation freezing. In immersion freezing, an ice-nucleating particle is immersed inside a supercooled droplet; once the temperature is low enough, ice forms on the particle and the droplet freezes. In condensation freezing, an aerosol particle first acts as a cloud condensation nucleus on which a droplet forms, and then serves as an ice nucleus that triggers freezing.

Schematic illustration of how MPs (microplastics) can promote atmospheric ice nucleation (a).Experimental images of a gradually cooled MP particle, showing the immersion-freezing process (b). The scale bar in (b) is 20 µm; Philip Brahana 2024

An ice crystal can sometimes grow directly from water vapour without an intermediate liquid-water stage; this is known as deposition nucleation. However, it is relatively uncommon because it typically requires supersaturation with respect to ice and highly effective ice-nucleating particles.

Another possibility is contact freezing, in which a supercooled droplet freezes upon contact with a suitable particle; its importance depends on the frequency of such contacts within the cloud.

Finally, there is homogeneous freezing, which we described above. This process typically occurs in very cold clouds.

Ice nucleation occurs through four mechanisms responsible for forming primary ice crystals in the atmosphere; Wikipedia

From Cloud Particles to Precipitation

For cloud particles to become precipitation particles, i.e., droplets or ice crystals that fall out of a cloud, they must first grow sufficiently. Only when their fall speed, determined by the balance between gravity and air resistance, exceeds the speed of the updrafts do they begin to precipitate. Precipitation particles are typically considered to have radii greater than about 0.1 mm.

However, the available supply of water vapor is not sufficient for all cloud particles to grow to precipitation size, because a liter of cloudy air can contain hundreds of thousands to millions of droplets and ice crystals. Only a fraction of them grow large enough to become precipitating particles, often at the expense of the others.

The primary mechanism by which small cloud particles grow is the diffusion of water vapor. In supersaturated air, water vapor deposits on their surfaces, causing the particles to grow. By contrast, in an unsaturated environment, water evaporates from their surfaces (or sublimates from ice), and the particles shrink and may even disappear entirely.

An illustrative example of the Bergeron–Findeisen process is a fallstreak hole (cavum). It forms when ice crystals develop locally within a thin cloud layer composed of supercooled water droplets, for example, after an aircraft passes through the cloud; NOAA

In clouds where ice crystals and supercooled droplets coexist, the Bergeron–Findeisen process takes place (a diffusion-driven growth process). Because the saturation vapor pressure over ice is lower than over liquid water at the same temperature, the air can be supersaturated with respect to ice while remaining unsaturated with respect to liquid water. As a result, ice crystals grow, while the supercooled droplets gradually evaporate.

Once ice crystals grow large enough for their fall speed to exceed the speed of the updrafts, they begin to fall out of the cloud. During their descent, they can clump together (aggregation) and collide with supercooled droplets, which freeze onto them almost instantly. The crystals then become coated with a layer of frozen droplets, a process known as riming, which can obscure their original shape. Some ice particles can also fragment, increasing their number within the cloud.

Sounding examples: rain, a sufficiently deep warm layer near the surface (left), and snowfall, with temperatures below freezing throughout the profile (right); Windy.com

If the air remains below the freezing point throughout its fall, the precipitation reaches the ground as snow; if it passes through a warmer layer above 0 °C (32 °F), it begins to melt and may fall as rain.

The Remarkable Variety of Snowflakes

A snowflake can consist of a single ice crystal or, more often, an aggregate of ice crystals that forms within a cloud and falls to the ground, where it accumulates as snow. Although snowflakes form through broadly similar processes, which we have largely described above, each one is unique—no two snowflakes are exactly alike.

Because the crystal lattice of ice is hexagonal, ice crystals naturally grow with sixfold symmetry, typically as plates or columns. In plates, growth tends to be strongest at the six corners, while in columns it is strongest along the six edges.

The morphology diagram shows how snow-crystal growth depends on temperature and water-vapour supersaturation; the water saturation line indicates liquid-water supersaturation relative to ice (a). Classic thin, flat stellar-dendrite snowflakes are typically photographed within a narrow range around −15 °C, while slender columns and needles form mainly near −5 °C (b); Kenneth G. Libbrecht 2017

What an ice crystal looks like depends mainly on the temperature and humidity in the cloud: sometimes delicate, highly branched dendrites dominate, while at other times plates, columns, needles, or grains are more common.

As a crystal grows, water vapor deposits onto it, and the crystal retains its hexagonal structure. During its fall, other ice crystals often attach to it, or supercooled droplets freeze onto it. Once a crystal or aggregate becomes visible to the naked eye, it is called a snowflake and can continue to grow. The average diameter of snowflakes is around 5 mm (≈0.2 in), and the largest documented size is reported to be 38 cm (≈15 in).

Close-up of a real snowflake; Photo: Jaroslav Fous

Cloud Types That Most Often Produce Snow

In temperate and subpolar latitudes (and, more rarely, even in the subtropics), snowfall most often comes from mixed-phase clouds containing both supercooled droplets and ice crystals, where snow formation is highly efficient due to the Bergeron–Findeisen process and subsequent aggregation. This is particularly true in the dendritic growth zone, roughly between −12 and −18 °C (about 10 to 0 °F), where crystals grow rapidly and readily aggregate into large flakes.

Cloud type: Significant snowfall can be produced by Ns, Cu con, Cb, and occasionally Sc; Valentin de Bruyn via Wikimedia Commons

Snow most often falls from the following cloud types:

• Nimbostratus (Ns) most commonly produces long-lasting, widespread snowfall. It occurs mainly along warm and occluded fronts and within the broad precipitation area of mid-latitude lows, including the wrap-around region (the “comma head”).

• Stratus (St) and stratocumulus (Sc) usually bring only light snow or brief snow showers, often referred to as low-cloud snowfall.

• Altostratus (As) is often a sign of an approaching warm front. Altostratus itself may produce light snow, but it often gradually transitions into nimbostratus, with precipitation intensifying and typically lasting longer.

• Cumulus congestus produces snow showers. It occurs mainly along cold fronts or in the cold air behind them. During lake-effect snow, it can form long bands (“cloud streets”), often together with stratocumulus (Sc).

• Cumulonimbus (Cb) is associated with very intense snow showers and, in rare cases, thundersnow, which can occur along strong cold fronts.

A striking lunar halo formed by diamond-dust ice crystals; Photo: Jaroslav Fous

Snow can also fall from ice clouds, but less often and usually less intensely than from mixed-phase clouds. These are mainly high-level clouds composed of ice crystals, especially cirrus (Ci), cirrostratus (Cs), and cirrocumulus (Cc). From these clouds, precipitation is typically limited to very light snow or isolated ice crystals, often as virga or diamond dust during dry, very cold weather. Heavy snowfall is rare because ice clouds typically have low ice-water content, the air beneath them is often dry, and they lack the efficient growth and aggregation processes typical of mixed-phase clouds.

Note: In one of our upcoming articles, we will focus on snowfall-favourable situations, covering both synoptic setups and locally driven mechanisms (e.g., orographic snowfall, lake-effect snow, and industrial/anthropogenic snow).

Snowfall and Snow Cover on Windy.com

On Windy.com, you can get a quick overview of current conditions and the expected evolution of snowfall in just a few clicks, or explore a more detailed analysis.

A meteorological radar is available, clearly showing not only precipitation coverage and intensity, but also, more recently, an estimated precipitation type.

Lake-effect snow over the Great Lakes as seen on Windy.com radar (10 November 2025); Windy.com

In addition, you can browse forecasts from numerical weather models. For selected models, you can display layers such as Snow depth and New snow, which represent accumulation over a time period of your choice.

From the meteogram for a specific location, you can track how forecast snowfall accumulation evolves over time, either at an hourly resolution for premium users or in three-hour intervals.

If you want to dive deeper into snowfall forecasting, Windy also offers tools for assessing the atmospheric temperature profile. You can use both measured soundings and model-based (forecast) soundings.

Freezing altitude layer; WIndy.com

A practical feature is the display of the freezing level (0 °C isotherm), either as a standalone layer or as isolines. Because the freezing level often determines whether precipitation falls as snow or rain, it provides a quick way to estimate the snowline. If multiple freezing levels appear in the profile, Windy displays the topmost one.

A snow-covered Kamchatka Peninsula after mid-January winter storms, 17 January 2026; Windy.com

In Canada’s largest city, Toronto, Toronto Pearson International Airport recorded a daily total of 46 cm (≈ 18.1 in) of fresh snow on Sunday, 25 January, setting a new one-day snowfall record. Observations at the airport date back to 1938.

Observations from Toronto Pearson International Airport, 26 January 2026 (rule of thumb: 1 mm liquid precipitation ≈ 1 cm snow); Windy.com

Even parts of northwestern and western Japan have experienced record-breaking snowfall this winter. Above-average snow depths are the result of frequent January snowfall, which affected Hokkaido in particular and the western part of Honshu.

In Sapporo, Hokkaido, snow depth reached 110 cm (≈ 43.3 in) on 26 January. The last time it exceeded the one-metre mark was in January 2005, 21 years ago.

Aomori captured by a webcam (3 February 2026). In early February, snow depth here reached 183 cm (≈ 72 in), the highest value in the past 40 years. Windy.com; webcam source: rab.co.jp

In Aomori City, in northern Honshu, snow depth reached 183 cm on Sunday, 1 February 2026. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, this is the highest value in the past 40 years and the first time since 1986 that snow depth has exceeded 180 cm (≈ 70.9 in). The all-time record in Aomori is 209 cm, observed on 21 February 1945; records at this site date back to 1893.

Key facts about snow; WMO

Extreme snowfall in these regions was linked to winter storms during frigid Arctic air outbreaks. In addition to synoptic-scale mechanisms such as low-pressure systems, local and regional processes also played an important role in further enhancing snowfall totals.

In this article, we examine the processes that determine how much snow from a cloud actually reaches the ground and highlight selected historical episodes of extreme snow accumulation. Loosely building on the article Winter Weather: From Water Vapour to Unique Snowflake, we shift from snowflake formation to the conditions that allow snow to accumulate at the surface.

Typical Synoptic Setups for Snowfall

Snowfall most often occurs during synoptic setups that typically produce precipitation. If the atmosphere is sufficiently cold and temperatures remain below 0 °C (32 °F) throughout the entire vertical profile from the cloud layer down to the surface, precipitation will fall predominantly as snow. This includes various parts of low-pressure systems, from frontal boundaries (warm fronts, cold fronts, and occlusions) to the broad precipitation shields of cyclones, such as wrap-around/deformation zones (e.g., the comma head).

Schematic of a developing low-pressure system with the precipitation area highlighted; NOAA

In addition, some situations can trigger snowfall or enhance it locally, such as industrial snowfall, orographic snowfall, and lake-/sea-effect snow.

Schematic vertical cross-section of a cold front and a warm front with typical cloud types and precipitation; Met Office via Future Learn

Industrial Snowfall (Anthropogenic Snow)

Industrial snowfall most often occurs at low temperatures (often around −5 °C, 23 °F), under calm or light winds, with low clouds or fog, and with a high concentration of both condensation nuclei and ice nuclei.

Schematic of industrial snow formation; Velle Toll 2024

The low cloud layer typically has a base near the ground (below ~150 m, ≈ 500 ft) and a thickness of about 200–300 m (≈ 650–1,000 ft); higher-level clouds are often absent above it. Nocturnal radiative cooling of the upper part of the cloud/fog layer promotes mixing and the formation of supercooled droplets. Additional aerosols, moisture, and waste heat from industrial sources can further enhance mixing, accelerate ice particle growth, and trigger light snowfall, most often just before sunrise.

Usually, only a thin layer of snow falls, often less than 2 cm (≈ 0.8 in), but documented cases exist, for example, in West Virginia, USA (near the John E. Amos power plant, December 1975) or in the Texas Panhandle, USA (February 2014), where around 10 cm (≈ 4 in) of snow accumulated overnight.

Localized industrial snow over the Netherlands, observed by Landsat 8 (19 January 2017); NASA Earth Observatory via Edward Graham 2024

Orographic Snowfall

Orographic snowfall occurs in mountainous terrain when moist air is forced to rise along the windward side of a mountain range. As the air ascends, it cools, condenses, and forms clouds, from which snow can fall when the atmospheric column is sufficiently cold. The key factor here is not atmospheric instability, but the mechanical forcing of upward motion as airflow passes over the terrain.

Schematic of upslope snowfall and snow depth over a mountain range (areas B and C not included); Rebecca Mott 2018

A pronounced spatial variability is typical: tens of centimeters of snow (several inches to over a foot) can fall in a short time on windward slopes, while on the leeward side, where air descends and dries out, a so-called snow shadow forms with much lower totals, sometimes with no precipitation at all.

Another characteristic is persistence: under steady airflow and with sufficient moisture, snowfall can continue for hours or even days, often leading to very high accumulations in mountainous areas.

Mean daily precipitation: statistically, the highest totals are found in the tropics and mountainous regions; Copernicus Interactive Climate Atlas

Orographic snowfall is therefore responsible for the highest long-term snowfall totals in many mountainous regions worldwide, including the Alps, the Rocky Mountains, the Cascade Range, the Canadian Coast Mountains, the Japanese Alps, and New Zealand’s mountain ranges. Rapid snowpack buildup during persistent orographic snowfall also directly affects avalanche danger and hydrological conditions in mountain watersheds.

Orographic snowfall can also enhance precipitation that is already present. It can significantly intensify snowfall along fronts or amplify lake-effect snow in areas where snow bands encounter mountainous terrain.

Schematic of Lake-Effect Snow; NOAA

Lake-Effect Snow in the Great Lakes Region

In the North American Great Lakes region, lake-effect snowfall can develop as heat and moisture from the lake surface are transferred into the atmosphere. It occurs when very cold Arctic air flows over the relatively warm water, warming and moistening as it passes over the lakes.

Great Lakes surface-water temperatures and air temperature isotherms. A strong air–water temperature contrast supported the season’s first significant lake-effect snow event (10 November 2025); Windy.com

A commonly used rule of thumb is that for lake-effect snow to develop, the temperature difference between the lake surface and the air at about 1.5 km altitude (≈ 1 mi, ≈ 850 hPa) should reach at least 13 °C (23 °F). This promotes instability and the formation of cumulus (Cu) and stratocumulus (Sc) clouds, and in more extreme cases, even cumulus congestus (Cu con) and locally cumulonimbus (Cb).

Wind direction is also important because it determines the length of the airflow path over open water (fetch). The longer the fetch, the more heat and moisture the air can pick up from the lake. To produce long snow bands and “cloud streets,” a fetch of at least about 100 km (≈ 60 mi) is usually needed, although the exact value depends on the temperature contrast between the water and the air, atmospheric instability, and wind shear.

Lake-effect snow on radar: precipitation bands over Lake Michigan affecting the Chicago–South Bend area (10 Nov 2025).; Windy.com

A typical feature of these bands is pronounced spatial variability. They are often very narrow (only a few kilometers wide), so while more than 75 cm (≈ 30 inches) of snow may fall in one area, only a few centimeters may accumulate just a few kilometers away.

One of the most remarkable multi-day episodes occurred from 3 to 12 February 2007 across the Tug Hill Plateau near Redfield, New York, when up to 141 inches (≈ 358 cm) of snow fell over 10 days.

The largest reported 24-hour lake-effect total is often cited as 77 inches (≈ 196 cm) in Montague, New York, during 11–12 January 1997; however, because standard measurement procedures were not followed, this value was not accepted by an NWS review committee as an official 24-hour record.

Lake-effect storm (Feb 3–12, 2007): Max snowfall – Lake Ontario 141 in (≈358 cm; Redfield); Lake Erie 42 in (≈107 cm; East Aurora); NOAA

Lake/Sea/Ocean-Effect Snowfall

Lake-effect snow is not limited to the Great Lakes region, but can occur wherever very cold air flows over a sufficiently large, relatively warm body of water and then moves onshore. When the water body is a sea or an ocean, the same mechanism is referred to as sea-effect or ocean-effect snow. A classic example is Japan’s Sea of Japan coast, where the winter northwesterly monsoon produces heavy snowfall, often further enhanced by orographic lifting. Similar conditions occur, for instance, around the Black Sea (especially in northern Turkey, including Istanbul) and around the Caspian Sea, particularly along the southwestern coast of northern Iran.

Sea-effect snowfall over Japan (25 January 2026); Windy.com

Blizzards Are Formed by a Combination of Strong Winds and Snow

Snow plays a major role in a blizzard, but it does not necessarily have to be snowing during the event. The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) defines a blizzard as a situation in which sustained winds or frequent gusts reach at least ~35 mph (≈ 56 km/h), and significant falling and/or blowing snow occurs, often reducing visibility to 1/4 mile (≈ 400 m) or less for at least 3 hours.

Weather warning layer: Blizzard Warning for parts of Minnesota and North Dakota (17 January 2026); Windy.com

A blizzard is typically associated with a deep low-pressure system (an intense winter storm), with the worst conditions often occurring in its rear sector and in the wrap-around/deformation zone (the comma head), where strong winds combine with snowfall. Another common scenario occurs behind a strong cold front, with gusty winds and snow showers. Hazardous conditions can also develop during a ground blizzard, when dry, powdery snow is lofted and blown around between a departing low and a strengthening high-pressure system.

During a blizzard, the main hazard is a rapid drop in visibility, sometimes to whiteout conditions, when falling and blowing snow makes it difficult to maintain orientation even over short distances. Strong winds quickly redistribute snow and create drifts, so even with relatively small new snowfall totals, roads can become impassable, vehicles can get stranded, and some areas may become isolated. The wind also greatly increases heat loss from the body (wind chill), raising the risk of hypothermia and frostbite.

Iran was hit by the world’s worst snowstorm in 1972: rescue operations (left); life in Tehran on 11 February 1972 (right). Ettela'at newspaper via Wikipedia

The early February 1972 blizzard in Iran (3–9 February) is often cited as one of the worst and, in some accounts, among the deadliest in modern history. Over the course of about a week, the country was hit by a series of exceptionally intense snowstorms accompanied by severe cold. In some areas, snowfall totals reached several metres, and snowdrifts in the south were estimated at up to 7.9 m (≈26 ft). The town of Ardakan and nearby villages were among the hardest hit, with no survivors reported in Kakkan and Kumar. During the cold spell, temperatures in some areas dropped to −25 °C (−13 °F). Estimates suggest the disaster claimed around 4,000 lives.

The Great Blizzard of 1978: Snow removal in Indiana (photo by Argil Shock / The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel), a car stranded in large snowdrifts in the Ohio Valley, and the synoptic setup over the eastern United States on 26 January 1978. NOAA; NOAA

In the United States, one of the most destructive blizzards was the Great Blizzard of January 1978, which occurred from 24 to 28 January. An exceptionally deep cyclone hit mainly the Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes region: its central pressure dropped to 955.5 hPa, and wind gusts in Cleveland reached 82 mph (132 km/h). The storm brought intense snowfall, massive snowdrifts, and widespread whiteout conditions. It claimed around 90 lives and caused an estimated $100 million in damage (in 1978 dollars).

A North Dakota DOT employee next to the top of a utility pole during a blizzard (March 9, 1966). Collection of Dr. Herbert Kroehl, NGDC via NOAA

One last interesting fact: Yuki-no-Otani

Yuki-no-Otani is a snow corridor along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, a mountain route across the Northern Japanese Alps that is world-famous for its giant snow walls. In the Tateyama massif, especially near the highest point of the route at Murodo (about 2,450 m (≈ 8,000 ft)), an exceptional amount of snow accumulates during winter. This is due to a combination of the winter northwesterly (monsoonal) flow, which brings moist air from the Sea of Japan, and strong orographic enhancement on the windward side of the Japanese Alps.

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route runs through the Japanese Alps. Kyodonews/ZUMA Press via CNN

In winter, the route is closed due to the heavy snowfall and reopens in early spring, when heavy machinery must literally cut through the snow to create the corridor. In April 2025, the snow walls reached roughly 16 m (≈ 52 ft), while the historical maximum of around 20 m (≈ 66 ft) was recorded in 2000.

Snow walls on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route; JNTO

Snowfall and Snow Cover on Windy.com

Windy.com offers a wide range of features to help you monitor snowfall, estimate how precipitation will evolve over the next few hours, and assess how much snow may accumulate on the ground.

View from a webcam in Livigno: Belvedere (1 February 2026); Windy.com; webcam source: livigno.panomax.com

For an up-to-date picture of current conditions, use radar and satellite observations, weather-station measurements, radiosonde observations, and webcams, which give a direct view of what is happening on the ground.

Sounding examples: rain, a sufficiently deep warm layer near the surface (left), and snowfall, with temperatures below freezing throughout the profile (right).

For the forecast, Windy.com includes multiple model layers. The key layers for snow conditions are New snow (forecast snowfall accumulation over the selected time period) and Snow depth (forecast snow cover on the ground). In general, the most useful level of detail is obtained by using the highest-resolution model available for a given area.

A vertical cross-section of the atmosphere along a selected route, using the Distance & Planning feature (VFR mode), showing flight levels, precipitation (blue for rain, cyan for snow), visibility, and freezing altitude (blue line); Windy.com

To estimate at what altitude snow may turn into rain, you can use the Freezing altitude information. It shows the approximate altitude of the highest freezing level (0 °C/32 °F) and can be viewed as a map layer, as isolines, or as a vertical cross-section along a selected route in VFR mode.

Robin Kaleta has spent more than 15 years moving through big mountain terrain, guiding groups and teaching freeriders how to read the snow. Over time, he has seen how quickly conditions can shift, how a slope that looked perfect a moment ago can suddenly behave differently than expected. Experiences like these shaped his habit of always looking deeper, into the structure of the snow, the small weather changes, and the details that most skiers overlook. 🎿

Avalanches can release suddenly, often triggered by a weak layer hidden deep in the snowpack or by something as small as a skier stepping onto a loaded slope. Understanding how avalanches form, how weather influences them, and how to use tools like Windy to evaluate conditions is essential for anyone heading into the backcountry.

How Avalanches Form (The Essentials)

Snowpack Balance ⚖️
A snowpack fails when shear stress exceeds shear strength, often due to additional loading such as fresh snow or the weight of a skier, or weakening of the structure due to warming. This imbalance causes sudden release and rapid downslope movement.

Weak Layers 🧊
Weak layers are zones of poorly bonded snow crystals.
They form:

• between layers of different hardness
• from faceted crystals
• from surface hoar that becomes buried by new snow
• above melt freeze crusts
  These layers transmit weight poorly and are common failure planes for slab avalanches.

Types of Avalanches ⚠️

One of the most dangerous for skiers is the slab avalanche, where an entire plate of snow breaks off and slides as a block. In the Alps, roughly 115 people die in avalanches each year, most in slab avalanches.

Source: Ortovox Safety Academy

Other types include

• Dry powder avalanches, extremely fast 145 to 300 km h or 90 to 190 mph.
• Wet snow avalanches, slower but very heavy, occurring during rain or thaw.
• Full depth glide avalanches, the entire snowpack sliding on smooth ground during prolonged warming. 🌡️

Source: Laviny v Cesku

What influences Avalanche danger?

1. Terrain

Terrain is one of the strongest factors influencing avalanche formation, and slope angle is the most critical element. Most avalanches occur on slopes between 30 and 45 degrees, with accidents most frequent around 39 degrees, where even small changes in load can tip the balance.

Surface characteristics also play a major role. Smooth ground, such as grass or rock slabs, allows the entire snowpack to slide easily, which is why full depth avalanches often occur there. In contrast, north facing slopes stay colder and preserve weak layers for much longer, making them especially prone to slab avalanches. South facing slopes become hazardous during warm or sunny periods, when the snow rapidly loses strength and wet snow avalanches become more likely.

Wind exposure completes the picture. Leeward slopes often accumulate drifted snow that forms slabs and cornices, both of which may fail under very little additional load. These wind loaded areas are among the most common triggers for skier induced avalanches, even when surrounding terrain appears stable.

Sources:
Avalanche Encyclopedia, Harvey 2002, SLF report, ISSW13 paper, Ortovox Safety Academy

2. Snowpack Structure 🧱

The snowpack evolves constantly as weather and temperature reshape its layers. Rounding, the process where crystals lose their sharp edges and settle, generally increases stability. Faceting does the opposite, creating large, angular grains with weak bonding that form some of the most persistent and dangerous weak layers.

Melt freeze cycles further complicate stability. When the snow warms, liquid water reduces strength, and once it refreezes it forms crusts. These crusts may briefly stabilize the surface, but new snow that falls on top often bonds poorly, increasing the likelihood of slab avalanches.

Several clear signs point to instability, including fresh avalanches, “whumpfing” sounds from collapsing layers, shooting cracks, or wind formed slabs and cornices. To better understand conditions below the surface, forecasters dig profiles and perform stability tests such as the CT, ECT, or RB, which reveal how easily a weak layer might fail, though they represent only one specific spot in a much larger area.

Sources:
Ortovox Safety Academy

3. Weather

New snowfall is one of the fastest ways to destabilise the snowpack. When around 20 to 30 centimeters of fresh snow accumulate over a short period, the added weight can overload existing weak layers and significantly raise avalanche danger. Under unfavorable conditions, especially when strong winds accompany colder temperatures, even 10 centimeters may be enough to form unstable slabs because the new snow bonds poorly and is quickly redistributed by the wind. 🌨️

Wind is often the main architect of avalanches. As it transports snow from windward to leeward slopes, it scours the exposed side while depositing dense slabs and forming cornices on the sheltered side. These wind built slabs are usually hard, compact, and poorly anchored to the layers beneath, making them highly sensitive to even small triggers. This is why avalanche danger often rises sharply right after windy weather. 💨

Temperature also plays a key role. The snowpack tends to be most stable when temperatures fluctuate gently around freezing, allowing thin melt freeze cycles that help layers bond. Prolonged cold below minus 10 degrees Celsius encourages the growth of faceted grains, creating persistent weak layers, especially on shaded slopes. Warm spells or rain saturate the snow with water, reducing its strength and increasing the likelihood of wet snow avalanches. When the water refreezes, it forms a crust that may stabilize the surface temporarily, yet new snow falling on top often bonds poorly, once again raising the level of risk. 🌡️

Source: Ortovox Safety Academy

Avalanche Forecasts

Avalanche centres such as EAWS in Europe and regional systems in Japan, China, South America, and North America use five level danger scales and standardized terminology.

Forecasts describe

• danger level 1 to 5
• aspects and elevations affected
• avalanche problems such as new snow, persistent weak layers, wind slabs, wet snow, or gliding snow
• recent weather and expected trends
• terrain recommendations

This forecast is your primary source for safety, and Windy complements it with real time and forecasted weather.

Source: National Avalanche Centre

Using Windy to Make Safer Decisions in Winter Terrain

Windy does not replace an avalanche forecast, but it gives you essential situational awareness such as snowfall, wind loading, visibility, freezing level, warming trends, and real time webcam confirmation.

Check Current Conditions

• Radar Rain, Snow, see where precipitation is falling now and how fast it moves.
• Satellite, identify incoming cloud bands, clearing windows, and storm structure.
• Weather stations, compare observed wind, temperature, and snowfall.
• Soundings, identify the freezing level and potential rain snow transitions.
• Webcams, confirm snow depth, visibility, wind effect, and actual slope conditions.

Key Forecast Layers for Avalanche Safety

Key layers: 🌨️ New snow 📏 Snow depth 💨 Wind and Wind Gusts ❄️ Freezing level 🌡️ Temperature ⛈️ Rain, Thunder ☁️ Cloud layers

Point Forecast Meteogram

A single tap gives you

• Temperature curve showing warming or cooling trends
• Wind at multiple levels indicating slab formation risk
• Precipitation evolution showing loading periods
• Freezing line showing dry versus wet snow conditions

Distance and Planning Tool

Useful for skiers planning traverses or approaches

• Track elevation profile
• View wind and precipitation along the route
• Check temperature and humidity gradients

Expert Perspective 🎿

Robin Kaleta highlights that the most important decisions happen before entering the slope.
“People look at fresh powder but not at the weather that built it. The last 48 hours, snowfall, wind, warming, tell you more about the slope stability than what you see at the surface.”

His 3 essential pre tour questions

• What did the weather do recently?
  Windy’s precipitation, wind, and temperature layers provide a quick overview
• What is happening right now?
  Check webcams, radar, satellite
• What terrain am I planning to enter?
  Slope angle, aspect, leeward loading, terrain traps

He adds
“Windy doesn’t decide for you, it shows you the invisible. Safety depends on how you read it.”

Final Notes

Always check the official avalanche bulletin first.
Use Windy to understand the weather processes that create and change avalanche danger.
Adapt your plan to local conditions and your group’s abilities. 🏔️🤝

Přeneste preciznost předpovědí Windy.com přímo na vaše zápěstí a mějte přehled o počasí kdykoliv a kdekoliv.
Ať už chcete rychlý přehled o aktuálním počasí, předpověď na několik dní dopředu nebo radar v reálném čase během sportovní aktivity, Windy je tu pro vás.

Vyberte si podle vašeho životního stylu ze 3 možností: Widgetu, Ciferníku a Datového pole - všechny nyní dostupné v oficiálním obchodě Garmin Connect IQ.

📊 Weather Widget

Rozšířené přehledy o počasí - vždy na dosah

Meteoradar živě
Meteoradar živě – aktuální srážky nejen na území ČR. Sledujte počasí za poslední hodinu i předpověď na tu další ve vašem okruhu 20 km.

Pětidenní předpověď
Kompletní přehled předpovědi počasí z nejlepších globálních modelů: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON nebo GFS.

Tříhodinová denní předpověď
Plánujte své aktivity s přesností.

Přizpůsobení se vašim potřebám
Vyberte si, co je pro vás nejdůležitější — od jednotek srážek po tlak — v nastavení aplikace (v Garmin Connect IQ).

Stáhnout

💡 TIP:Přidejte si widget do zkratek
Pro nejrychlejší přístup si můžete nastavit Windy.com widget jako zkratku na hodinkách. Předpověď počasí tak zobrazíte jediným stisknutím.

Podržte pravé spodní tlačítko na vašich hodinkách -> Nastavení -> Zkratky -> Vyberte si z možností tlačítek -> Nastavte Windy Widget.

🌦️ Weather Watch Face

Aktuální počasí na první pohled

Meteoradar živě
Meteoradar živě – aktuální srážky nejen na území ČR. Sledujte počasí za poslední hodinu i předpověď na tu další ve vašem okruhu 20 km.

Čtyřdenní předpověď
Kompletní přehled předpovědi počasí z nejlepších globálních modelů: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON nebo GFS.

Tříhodinová denní předpověď
Plánujte své aktivity s přesností, s denní teplotu či rychlostí větru.

Přizpůsobení se vašim potřebám
Vyberte si, co je pro vás nejdůležitější a přidejte si čas východu slunce, kroky, kalorie, 24hodinový čas a další údaje vedle údajů o počasí.

👉 Ideální pro sportovce, cestovatele, outdoor nadšence nebo každého, kdo chce mít spolehlivou předpověď po ruce.

Stáhnout

🏃 Weather Data Field

Údaje o počasí během vaší aktivity

Radar během aktivity
Zjednodušený radar přímo na displeji aktivity spolu s ostatními údaji.

Možnosti předpovědi
Vyberte si celodisplejový režim radaru s předpovědí, který ukazuje akutální vítr, jeho nárazy a teplotu.

Modulární integrace
Spojte údaje o počasí s důležitými parametry aktivit jako je tepová frekvence, tempo nebo vzdálenost.

Stáhnout

📡 Jak funguje meteoradar

Radar Windy.com zobrazuje v reálném čase srážková data v okolí a zároveň předpověď, abyste vždy věděli, co se blíží. Ať už se potřebujete vyhnout bouřce během vyjížďky na kole, nebo zjistit, zda doběhnete suchou nohou, radar vám kryje záda.

🚀 Začněte ještě dnes
Všechny tři produkty Windy.com jsou nyní dostupné ke stažení v Garmin Connect IQ Store.
Stáhněte si je zdarma, spárujte je s hodinkami a přeneste si přesné předpovědi počasí Windy.com do vašeho aktivního života.

Seznam kompatibilních zařízení najdete v Garmin Connect IQ u každého produktu.
Připojte se k naší komunitě, ať už potřebujete technickou podporu nebo se chcete dozvědět více o používání Windy na vašich hodinkách Garmin.

Poznámka: Windy v současnosti funguje pouze s hodinkami Garmin, které jsou spárované s mobilním telefonem, mají přístup k internetu a mají zapnuté lokalizační služby.

Llevamos todo el poder de Windy.com directamente a tu muñeca — para que estés siempre por delante del tiempo, en cualquier momento y lugar.
Ya sea que quieras una visión rápida, previsiones detalladas o radar en directo durante tu entrenamiento, Windy está contigo.

Elige cómo quieres integrar la meteorología en tu estilo de vida con tres opciones de Windy — Widget, Esfera y Campo de Datos — ahora disponibles en la tienda oficial Garmin Connect IQ.

📊 Weather Widget

Informes completos del tiempo — a un solo gesto

Radar meteorológico en directo
Radar a pantalla completa con datos de la última hora y previsiones cada 10 minutos en un radio de 10 millas (20 km).

Previsión a 5 días
Una visión completa con detalles esenciales de los principales modelos globales: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON o GFS.

Previsión cada 3 horas
Planifica tus actividades con precisión.

Datos personalizables
Elige lo que más te importa — desde unidades de precipitación hasta presión — en los ajustes de la app (en Garmin Connect IQ).

Download

💡Consejo: añade el Widget a tus accesos directos de Garmin
Para un acceso más rápido, configura el widget Windy.com como acceso directo en tu reloj. Así obtendrás el pronóstico al instante con solo un toque o un deslizamiento.

Accede a Ajustes (Mantener pulsado el botón inferior derecho) -> Acceso directo -> Elegir Botón central, Mantener pulsado o Deslizar a la derecha -> Seleccionar Windy Widget.

🌦️ Weather Watch Face

Actualizaciones del tiempo de un vistazo

Radar meteorológico en directo
Consulta el radar real de la última hora con previsiones cada 10 minutos en un radio de 10 millas (~20 km).

Previsión a 4 días
Resumen rápido de los próximos días con datos de los mejores modelos globales: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON o GFS.

Previsión cada 3 horas
Planificación detallada con actualizaciones de temperatura y velocidad del viento.

Interfaz personalizable
Añade amanecer, pasos, calorías, hora militar y más junto con la previsión meteorológica.

👉 Perfecto para amantes del aire libre, viajeros, deportistas o cualquiera que desee información meteorológica precisa directamente en la muñeca.

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🏃 Weather Data Field

Información del tiempo en directo durante tu actividad

Radar en movimiento
Radar simplificado directamente en la pantalla de tu entrenamiento junto a otros datos.

Opciones de previsión
Selecciona un radar a pantalla completa con modo previsión, que muestra viento, rachas y temperatura.

Integración modular
Combina los datos meteorológicos con métricas como frecuencia cardíaca, ritmo y distancia.

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📡 Cómo funciona el Radar

El radar de Windy.com muestra en tiempo real los datos de precipitación a tu alrededor, así como previsiones, para que siempre sepas qué se acerca. Ya sea para detectar una tormenta antes de tu ruta en bici o comprobar si la lluvia aguantará durante tu carrera, el radar es tu herramienta más poderosa para planificar.

🚀 Empieza hoy mismo
Los tres productos de Windy.com ya están disponibles en la tienda Garmin Connect IQ.
Descárgalos gratis, empáralos con tu smartwatch y lleva el poder de Windy.com directamente a tu muñeca.

Consulta la lista de Dispositivos Compatibles dentro de Garmin Connect IQ para cada producto.
Únete a nuestra comunidad si necesitas soporte técnico o quieres aprender más sobre cómo usar Windy en tu dispositivo Garmin.

Nota: Windy funciona actualmente solo con smartwatches Garmin vinculados a un teléfono móvil, con acceso a Internet y servicios de localización activados.

Trazemos todo o poder do Windy.com diretamente para o teu pulso — para que estejas sempre um passo à frente do tempo, em qualquer momento e em qualquer lugar.
Se está procurando uma visão geral, previsões detalhadas ou radar ao vivo durante o treino, o Windy está contigo.

Escolha como queres que a meteorologia se adapte ao teu estilo de vida com três opções Windy — Widget, Mostrador e Campo de Dados — agora disponíveis na loja oficial Garmin Connect IQ.

📊 Weather Widget

Relatórios completos de meteorologia — a um deslizar de distância

Radar meteorológico ao vivo
Radar em tela inteira com dados da última hora e previsões de 10 em 10 minutos num raio de 20 km.

Previsão de 5 dias
Visão completa com informações essenciais dos melhores modelos globais: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON ou GFS.

Previsão de 3 em 3 horas
Faça o planejamento das tuas atividades com precisão.

Dados personalizáveis
Escolhe o que é mais importante — das unidades de precipitação à pressão atmosférica — nas definições do app (no Garmin Connect IQ).

Download

💡 Dica: adiciona o Widget aos teus Atalhos Garmin
Para acesso mais rápido, define o widget Windy.com como atalho no teu relógio. Assim, terás a previsão meteorológica instantaneamente com apenas um toque ou deslizar.

Acesse as "Definições" (Manter botão inferior direito pressionado) -> Atalho -> Escolher Botão do Meio, Toque longo ou Deslizar à Direita -> Selecionar Windy Widget.

🌦️ Weather Watch Face

Atualizações do tempo num só olhar

Radar meteorológico em direto
Consulta o radar real da última hora com previsões de 10 em 10 minutos num raio de 10 milhas (~20 km).

Previsão de 4 dias
Visão rápida dos próximos dias com dados dos principais modelos globais: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON ou GFS.

Previsão de 3 em 3 horas
Planeamento detalhado com atualizações de temperatura e velocidade do vento.

Interface personalizável
Adiciona nascer do sol, passos, calorias, hora militar e muito mais ao lado da meteorologia.

👉 Perfeito para entusiastas de atividades ao ar livre, viajantes, atletas ou qualquer pessoa que queira previsões fiáveis diretamente no pulso.

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🏃 Weather Data Field

Informações do tempo em direto durante a atividade

Radar durante o exercício
Radar simplificado diretamente no ecrã do treino, ao lado de outros dados.

Opções de previsão
Seleciona radar em ecrã inteiro com modo de previsão, que mostra vento, rajadas e temperatura.

Integração modular
Combina os dados meteorológicos com métricas como frequência cardíaca, ritmo e distância.

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📡 Compreender o Radar

O radar do Windy.com mostra em tempo real os dados de precipitação à tua volta, assim como previsões, para que saibas sempre o que se aproxima. Seja para detetar uma trovoada antes de um passeio de bicicleta ou confirmar se a chuva vai aguentar durante a corrida, o radar é a tua ferramenta mais poderosa de planeamento.

🚀 Começa já hoje
Os três produtos Windy.com já estão disponíveis na loja Garmin Connect IQ.
Transfere-os gratuitamente, emparelha-os com o teu smartwatch e leva o poder do Windy.com diretamente para o pulso.

Consulta a lista de Dispositivos Compatíveis no Garmin Connect IQ para cada produto.
Junta-te à nossa comunidade se precisares de suporte técnico ou quiseres saber mais sobre como usar o Windy no teu dispositivo Garmin.

Nota: O Windy funciona atualmente apenas com smartwatches Garmin emparelhados com um telemóvel, com acesso à Internet e serviços de localização ativados.

Portiamo tutta la potenza di Windy.com direttamente al tuo polso — per restare sempre un passo avanti al meteo, ovunque tu sia.
Che tu voglia una rapida panoramica, previsioni dettagliate o radar in tempo reale durante l’attività, Windy è sempre con te.

Scegli come integrare il meteo nel tuo stile di vita con tre opzioni Windy — Widget, Quadrante e Campo dati — ora disponibili nello store ufficiale Garmin Connect IQ.

📊 Weather Widget

Report meteo dettagliati — a portata di swipe

Radar meteo in tempo reale
Radar a schermo intero con dati dell’ultima ora e previsioni ogni 10 minuti in un raggio di 10 miglia (20 km).

Modalità previsione 5 giorni
Una panoramica completa con i migliori modelli previsionali globali: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON o GFS.

Modalità previsione 3 ore
Pianifica le tue attività con precisione.

Dati personalizzabili
Scegli ciò che conta di più — dalle unità di precipitazione alla pressione — nelle impostazioni dell’app (in Garmin Connect IQ).

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💡 TIP: aggiungi il Widget ai tuoi Garmin Shortcut
Per l’accesso più rapido, imposta il widget Windy.com come shortcut sul tuo orologio. In questo modo potrai consultare le previsioni istantaneamente, con un solo tocco o swipe.

Vai su Impostazioni (tieni premuto il tasto in basso a destra) -> Shortcut -> Scegli tasto centrale, Pressione prolungata o Swipe a destra -> Seleziona il widget Windy.

🌦️ Weather Watch Face

Aggiornamenti meteo sempre sotto controllo

Radar meteo in tempo reale
Visualizza il radar con i dati dell’ultima ora e previsioni ogni 10 minuti in un raggio di 10 miglia (~20 km).

Modalità previsioni 4 giorni
Panoramica rapida dei prossimi giorni con i dati dei migliori modelli globali: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON o GFS.

Modalità previsioni previsioni 3 ore
Pianificazione dettagliata con aggiornamenti su temperatura e velocità del vento.

Interfaccia personalizzabile
Aggiungi alba, passi, calorie, orario militare e altro ancora, insieme alle previsioni meteo.

👉 Perfetto per appassionati di outdoor, viaggiatori, atleti o chiunque desideri aggiornamenti meteo precisi direttamente al polso.

Download

🏃 Weather Data Field

Dati meteo in diretta durante la tua attività

Radar durante l’attività
Radar meteo semplificato direttamente nella schermata dell’attività, accanto ai tuoi altri dati.

Opzioni di previsione
Seleziona un radar a schermo intero con modalità previsioni, che mostra vento, raffiche e temperatura.

Integrazione modulare
Combina i dati meteo con metriche come frequenza cardiaca, passo e distanza.

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📡 Comprendere il Radar

Il radar di Windy.com mostra in tempo reale i dati sulle precipitazioni intorno a te, insieme alle previsioni, così saprai sempre cosa sta arrivando. Che si tratti di individuare un temporale prima di un giro in bici o controllare se la pioggia durerà durante la corsa, il radar è il tuo strumento più potente per pianificare.

🚀 Inizia oggi stesso
Tutti e tre i prodotti Windy.com sono già disponibili nello store Garmin Connect IQ.
Scaricali gratuitamente, abbinali al tuo smartwatch e porta la potenza di Windy.com direttamente al tuo polso.

Consulta l’elenco dei Dispositivi compatibili in Garmin Connect IQ per ogni prodotto.
Unisciti alla nostra community se hai bisogno di supporto tecnico o vuoi scoprire di più su come usare Windy sul tuo dispositivo Garmin.

Nota: Windy funziona solo con smartwatch Garmin collegati a un telefono cellulare, con accesso a Internet e servizi di localizzazione attivi.

Wir bringen die ganze Leistungsfähigkeit von Windy.com direkt an Ihr Handgelenk – damit Sie jederzeit und überall bestens über das Wetter informiert sind.
Ob Sie schnelle Einblicke, detaillierte Vorhersagen oder Live-Radar während Ihres Trainings wünschen – Windy bietet alles, was Sie brauchen.

Wählen Sie, wie Wetter in Ihren Alltag passt – mit drei Windy-Optionen: Widget, Zifferblatt und Datenfeld – jetzt erhältlich im offiziellen Garmin Connect IQ Store.

📊 Weather Widget

Erweiterte Wetterberichte – nur einen Wisch entfernt

Live-Wetterradar
Vollbild-Live-Radar mit Niederschlagsdaten der letzten Stunde und 10-Minuten-Vorhersagen im Umkreis von 10 Meilen (ca. 20 km).

5-Tage-Vorhersagemodus
Ein vollständiger Ausblick mit den wichtigsten Details basierend auf den führenden globalen Vorhersagemodellen: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON oder GFS.

3-Stunden-Vorhersagemodus
Planen Sie Ihre Aktivitäten mit höchster Präzision.

Anpassbare Daten
Wählen Sie, was für Sie am wichtigsten ist – von Niederschlagseinheiten bis hin zu Luftdruck – direkt in den Einstellungen der App (in Garmin Connect IQ).

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💡 TIPP: Fügen Sie das Widget Ihren Garmin-Shortcuts hinzu
Für den schnellsten Zugriff können Sie das Windy.com Widget als Shortcut auf Ihrer Uhr festlegen. So erhalten Sie Ihre Wettervorhersage sofort – mit nur einem Knopfdruck oder Wisch.

Einstellungen öffnen (Rechte untere Taste gedrückt halten) -> Shortcut -> Mittlere Taste Tippen, Halten oder Rechtswischen -> Windy Widget auswählen.

🌦️ Weather Watch Face

Wetterinformationen auf einen Blick

Live-Wetterradar
Echtes Radar mit Daten der letzten Stunde und 10-Minuten-Vorhersagen in einem Umkreis von 10 Meilen (~20 km).

4-Tage-Vorhersagemodus
Schneller Überblick über die kommenden Tage mit Daten aus den führenden globalen Vorhersagemodellen: ECMWF, meteoblue, ICON oder GFS.

3-Stunden-Vorhersagemodus
Detaillierte Planung mit Temperatur- und Windgeschwindigkeitsaktualisierungen.

Anpassbare Benutzeroberfläche
Fügen Sie zusätzliche Informationen wie Sonnenaufgang, Schritte, Kalorien, Militärzeit und mehr neben Ihrer Wetteranzeige hinzu.

👉 Perfekt für Outdoor-Fans, Reisende, Sportler oder alle, die präzise Wetterinformationen direkt am Handgelenk haben möchten.

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🏃 Weather Data Field

Wetterdaten live während Ihrer Aktivität

Radar-Ansicht unterwegs
Vereinfachtes Live-Radar direkt auf Ihrem Aktivitätsbildschirm neben anderen Daten.

Vorhersageoptionen
Wählen Sie ein Vollbild-Radar mit Vorhersagemodus, das Informationen zu Wind, Böen und Temperatur liefert.

Modulare Integration
Kombinieren Sie Wetterdaten mit Messwerten wie Herzfrequenz, Tempo oder Distanz.

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📡 So funktioniert das Radar

Das Windy.com Radar zeigt Ihnen in Echtzeit Niederschlagsdaten in Ihrer Umgebung sowie eine Vorhersage – damit Sie stets wissen, was auf Sie zukommt. Ob Gewitter vor Ihrer Radtour oder Regencheck vor Ihrem Lauf – das Radar ist Ihr leistungsstärkstes Werkzeug für die Planung.

🚀 Starten Sie noch heute
Alle drei Windy.com Produkte sind jetzt im Garmin Connect IQ Store verfügbar.
Laden Sie sie kostenlos herunter, koppeln Sie sie mit Ihrer Smartwatch und bringen Sie die Power von Windy.com direkt an Ihr Handgelenk.

Die Liste der kompatiblen Geräte finden Sie jeweils im Garmin Connect IQ Store.
Treten Sie unserer Community bei, wenn Sie technische Unterstützung benötigen oder mehr über die Nutzung von Windy auf Ihrem Garmin-Gerät erfahren möchten.

Hinweis: Windy funktioniert derzeit nur mit Garmin-Smartwatches, die mit einem Mobiltelefon gekoppelt sind, über Internetzugang verfügen und Ortungsdienste aktiviert haben.