The Weather Project · Product guide
Australian alpine snow forecast maps explained
Put the mainland alpine outlook in context with four complementary maps: settling level, terrain suitability, cold-outbreak ingredients and modelled accumulation at 1500 m.
Understand the guidance
Snow settling level
Read the elevation threshold in metres alongside the valid time. This identifies thermally favourable elevations; precipitation must also occur for snowfall. A low settling level alone does not establish an accumulation.
Terrain snow-cover guidance
The terrain panel compares land elevation with the settling level. It highlights terrain favourable for settling snow, rather than measuring existing snow cover or guaranteeing a continuous blanket on the ground.
Cold outbreak overlap
This panel shows overlap of selected 850 hPa temperature, 500 hPa temperature and 1000–500 hPa thickness conditions. It is a diagnostic of the cold air mass, not an independent snow-depth forecast.
Modelled snow depth at 1500 m
The accumulation panel uses a reference elevation of 1500 m. Read its legend and forecast period; it is not an observation of snow lying at every location. Compare it with the settling level and precipitation context.
Compare models at the same valid time
The viewer provides GFS at 3-hour steps and ECMWF AIFS at 6-hour steps, currently displaying the first 72 hours. Read the run and valid time printed on the images. Model differences show uncertainty; do not compare frame numbers without checking time.
For a destination and its four elevation charts, use town snow forecasts. For Tasmania, use the separate regional maps. Check official warnings, road access and resort reports before travelling.
Explore weather product guides
Check the source, model run, observation timestamp and valid period shown in the live product. Forecast guidance carries uncertainty and is not an official warning.