How it Works

What does a NOAA weather buoy 3000 miles away in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean have to do with snow in Utah, Colorado & Wyoming? Good question! Since the dawn of time, humans have been trying to plan their powder days, a futile feat… until now. Is it magic? Is it science? Is it dumb luck? The answer may be yes to all of the above, but more than anything, the Powderbuoy is all about a positive vibration and energy that connects soul riders around the world.

““Yeahbuuuuooooyyyyyy””

- William Jonathan Drayton Jr.

It All Starts With the Buoy

Deep in the North Pacific, a lonely NOAA buoy floats, diligently collecting all sorts of weather data. No friends on a powder day? This lonely buoy may think its only friends are the passing birds who may stop by for a few; little does the buoy know how much happiness and joy it brings to people around the world on powder days.

Weather Prediction

Tracking buoys is nothing new; surfers have followed buoys since Gary Busey was dropping in on Big Wednesday to find out when swells are going to hit specific breaks. The Powderbuoy uses these same NOAA buoys in Hawaii and tracks the same energy that surfers ride in waves in Hawaii to forecast snow that we ride in our mountains. When the buoy pops, two weeks later you’re going to want to clear your calendar.

Plan Your Powder Flu

Don’t let those sick days go to waste, plan your flu and go get you some! That TPS report can wait for another day, you’ve got powder to ski. Yeahbuoy!

Go to the Buoy Dashboard

From the Blog

Powderbuoy Pilsner

Proceeds from Powderbuoy Pilsner sales go to the Utah Avalanche Center (Provided by Park City [...]

10
Nov
What is a Buoypop 101

In 2004 a friend of mine who lived part of the year in Hawaii and [...]

25
Oct
How do I interpret the plume data (Blue line graph)?

The Atmospheric Sciences Department at the University of Utah is one of the best, if [...]

25
Oct
View All Posts

From Instagram

Something to be thankful for on the horizon. #yeahbuoy

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Nov 19

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Something to be thankful for on the horizon. #yeahbuoy

Something to be thankful for on the horizon. #yeahbuoy ...

1690 10

Hey now! Beginning of a multi-day buoypop and thanksgiving snow and birthday snow for me! A few storms lined up in the near-term on the 16th and 19th. Another multi-day buoypop looks to be on the horizon for the 20th+. Colorado has been having all the fun, tell your friends. #yeahbuoy #funwithstickers

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Nov 13

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Hey now! Beginning of a multi-day buoypop and thanksgiving snow and birthday snow for me! A few storms lined up in the near-term on the 16th and 19th. Another multi-day buoypop looks to be on the horizon for the 20th+. Colorado has been having all the fun, tell your friends. #yeahbuoy #funwithstickers

Hey now! Beginning of a multi-day buoypop and thanksgiving snow and birthday snow for me! A few storms lined up in the near-term on the 16th and 19th. Another multi-day buoypop looks to be on the horizon for the 20th+. Colorado has been having all the fun, tell your friends. #yeahbuoy #funwithstickers ...

1914 38

Lots of storms keep tracking across the pacific, it does look like they’ve started dropping lower than a few weeks ago. Some buoypops lined up through the 20th, which puts snow through the end of the month and into December. #yeahbuoy

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Nov 12

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Lots of storms keep tracking across the pacific, it does look like they’ve started dropping lower than a few weeks ago. Some buoypops lined up through the 20th, which puts snow through the end of the month and into December. #yeahbuoy

Lots of storms keep tracking across the pacific, it does look like they’ve started dropping lower than a few weeks ago. Some buoypops lined up through the 20th, which puts snow through the end of the month and into December. #yeahbuoy ...

1128 2

Not the desired outcome but a damn exciting game.

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Nov 10

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Not the desired outcome but a damn exciting game.

Not the desired outcome but a damn exciting game. ...

751 18

Looking mini buoypop like. Nov 21/22 on the radar, just in time for some opening day. Colorado has been having all the fun @silvertonmtn looking sick today. Hopefully the 21sr storm gets things pushing in our direction. #yeahbuoy

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Nov 8

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Looking mini buoypop like. Nov 21/22 on the radar, just in time for some opening day. Colorado has been having all the fun @silvertonmtn looking sick today. Hopefully the 21sr storm gets things pushing in our direction. #yeahbuoy

Looking mini buoypop like. Nov 21/22 on the radar, just in time for some opening day. Colorado has been having all the fun @silvertonmtn looking sick today. Hopefully the 21sr storm gets things pushing in our direction. #yeahbuoy ...

992 4

First off, get out and vote! Looking for something positive today, to ease the nerves? Next storm on the horizon, this was the very slight bump on the 1st, you can see that this storm is a bit all over the place, we may have another behind this on the 20th or so. All of these storms and the jet stream have been beaming north, and look to continue to do so, one after another for the next 10 days at least. It does seem like things may start to drop down soon. Looks like the buoy will sort of pop tomorrow into the 7th and then on the 12/13th, so add 12-14 days after those. Time to fire up the season. #yeahbuoy

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Nov 5

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First off, get out and vote! Looking for something positive today, to ease the nerves? Next storm on the horizon, this was the very slight bump on the 1st, you can see that this storm is a bit all over the place, we may have another behind this on the 20th or so. All of these storms and the jet stream have been beaming north, and look to continue to do so, one after another for the next 10 days at least. It does seem like things may start to drop down soon. Looks like the buoy will sort of pop tomorrow into the 7th and then on the 12/13th, so add 12-14 days after those. Time to fire up the season. #yeahbuoy

First off, get out and vote! Looking for something positive today, to ease the nerves? Next storm on the horizon, this was the very slight bump on the 1st, you can see that this storm is a bit all over the place, we may have another behind this on the 20th or so. All of these storms and the jet stream have been beaming north, and look to continue to do so, one after another for the next 10 days at least. It does seem like things may start to drop down soon. Looks like the buoy will sort of pop tomorrow into the 7th and then on the 12/13th, so add 12-14 days after those. Time to fire up the season. #yeahbuoy ...

1482 16

This is for Nov 7, I think we may see the buoy pop then. Lots of storms keep flying by to the north, if only these were just a bit more south, I’m guessing this will be good for BC who’s been on the short end of the stick for the last few seasons. I’m assuming Alaska has been getting hammered too. Two more mini storms into next week, but not much action on the buoy to speak of so far. #yeahbuoy

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Nov 1

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This is for Nov 7, I think we may see the buoy pop then. Lots of storms keep flying by to the north, if only these were just a bit more south, I’m guessing this will be good for BC who’s been on the short end of the stick for the last few seasons. I’m assuming Alaska has been getting hammered too. Two more mini storms into next week, but not much action on the buoy to speak of so far. #yeahbuoy

This is for Nov 7, I think we may see the buoy pop then. Lots of storms keep flying by to the north, if only these were just a bit more south, I’m guessing this will be good for BC who’s been on the short end of the stick for the last few seasons. I’m assuming Alaska has been getting hammered too. Two more mini storms into next week, but not much action on the buoy to speak of so far. #yeahbuoy ...

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The buoy has been quiet may get a little jump up in a few days. Looks like most of the action has been stacking up further north BC, PNW, looks like AK as well. This is a forecast for swells on Nov 2nd, you can see the big boys starting in Japan and working across towards AK and BC.

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Oct 26

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The buoy has been quiet may get a little jump up in a few days. Looks like most of the action has been stacking up further north BC, PNW, looks like AK as well. This is a forecast for swells on Nov 2nd, you can see the big boys starting in Japan and working across towards AK and BC.

The buoy has been quiet may get a little jump up in a few days. Looks like most of the action has been stacking up further north BC, PNW, looks like AK as well. This is a forecast for swells on Nov 2nd, you can see the big boys starting in Japan and working across towards AK and BC. ...

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Just heard the news of Phil’s passing. 📷 : Phil @ Park West 1983. May the four winds blow you safely home. 🌹 💀 ⚡️

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Oct 25

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Just heard the news of Phil’s passing. 📷 : Phil @ Park West 1983. May the four winds blow you safely home. 🌹 💀 ⚡️

Just heard the news of Phil’s passing. 📷 : Phil @ Park West 1983. May the four winds blow you safely home. 🌹 💀 ⚡️ ...

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Aaaaand it’s gone. Sometimes this happens, you get what looks to be a fizzler, but on the bright side, wasn’t wrong on date, just not a producer. In cases like this I’ll look to see if Jackson or other resorts more north picked it up. Jackson looks to be getting a little more. The is all preseason stuff, just getting warmed up. #yeahbuoy

View

Oct 19

Open
Aaaaand it’s gone. Sometimes this happens, you get what looks to be a fizzler, but on the bright side, wasn’t wrong on date, just not a producer. In cases like this I’ll look to see if Jackson or other resorts more north picked it up. Jackson looks to be getting a little more. The is all preseason stuff, just getting warmed up. #yeahbuoy

Aaaaand it’s gone. Sometimes this happens, you get what looks to be a fizzler, but on the bright side, wasn’t wrong on date, just not a producer. In cases like this I’ll look to see if Jackson or other resorts more north picked it up. Jackson looks to be getting a little more. The is all preseason stuff, just getting warmed up. #yeahbuoy ...

919 13

First off, happy birthday to my sidekick in life, mother of our children, and my favorite sister wife @erinruzek, I love you. Now, onto regularly scheduled programming. There’s an Incoming storm on Friday, not related to the buoypop from yesterday. I saw this about 7 or 8 days ago but the swells only bumped from 5 to 8 ft or so and it was gradual so I kind of dismissed it, early season like this isn’t as pronounced as it is during the season. Explanation of charts and graphs round 2. These charts are from actual scientists and meteorologists at the Atmospheric Science Department at the University of Utah, my Alma Mater. Despite our football losses this year, I am still a proud Ute and graduated pre med, with a major in Biology and Chem and French Minor, which have nothing to do with anything that I do in my life today, other than the ability to use Excel. The Atmos department is one of the best in the country, in my opinion, and I appreciate all of their hard work. These charts are plumes and I generally show them for Alta because first letter of the alphabet, Colorado is better 😉. They represent a conglomerate of 2 forecasting standards (used to be more) and show various probablistic outcomes in the thinner lines and the heavier line is the mean of those iterations. To simplify, there are models that can have a wide variety of outcomes, the wider the spread of the thin lines, the less certain the forecast, the tighter they get, the more certain. This is a new model that the team at the U put together with the caveat that it is very experimental, it is an update from previous charts they’ve had. The long of the long, is that when the buoy pops, I put it on my radar, and then about a week out I start looking at the U of U data to see where and how much snow we could be looking at. So a tip of the hat and kudos to the students and professors at the University of Utah. If you have ever used these graphs, you should go to their page and donate some money to them to help them continue the great work they do, link is in my profile. #yeahbuoy

View

Oct 15

Open
First off, happy birthday to my sidekick in life, mother of our children, and my favorite sister wife @erinruzek, I love you. Now, onto regularly scheduled programming. There’s an Incoming storm on Friday, not related to the buoypop from yesterday. I saw this about 7 or 8 days ago but the swells only bumped from 5 to 8 ft or so and it was gradual so I kind of dismissed it, early season like this isn’t as pronounced as it is during the season. Explanation of charts and graphs round 2. These charts are from actual scientists and meteorologists at the Atmospheric Science Department at the University of Utah, my Alma Mater. Despite our football losses this year, I am still a proud Ute and graduated pre med, with a major in Biology and Chem and French Minor, which have nothing to do with anything that I do in my life today, other than the ability to use Excel. The Atmos department is one of the best in the country, in my opinion, and I appreciate all of their hard work. These charts are plumes and I generally show them for Alta because first letter of the alphabet, Colorado is better 😉. They represent a conglomerate of 2 forecasting standards (used to be more) and show various probablistic outcomes in the thinner lines and the heavier line is the mean of those iterations. To simplify, there are models that can have a wide variety of outcomes, the wider the spread of the thin lines, the less certain the forecast, the tighter they get, the more certain. This is a new model that the team at the U put together with the caveat that it is very experimental, it is an update from previous charts they’ve had. The long of the long, is that when the buoy pops, I put it on my radar, and then about a week out I start looking at the U of U data to see where and how much snow we could be looking at. So a tip of the hat and kudos to the students and professors at the University of Utah. If you have ever used these graphs, you should go to their page and donate some money to them to help them continue the great work they do, link is in my profile. #yeahbuoy

First off, happy birthday to my sidekick in life, mother of our children, and my favorite sister wife @erinruzek, I love you. Now, onto regularly scheduled programming. There’s an Incoming storm on Friday, not related to the buoypop from yesterday. I saw this about 7 or 8 days ago but the swells only bumped from 5 to 8 ft or so and it was gradual so I kind of dismissed it, early season like this isn’t as pronounced as it is during the season. Explanation of charts and graphs round 2. These charts are from actual scientists and meteorologists at the Atmospheric Science Department at the University of Utah, my Alma Mater. Despite our football losses this year, I am still a proud Ute and graduated pre med, with a major in Biology and Chem and French Minor, which have nothing to do with anything that I do in my life today, other than the ability to use Excel. The Atmos department is one of the best in the country, in my opinion, and I appreciate all of their hard work. These charts are plumes and I generally show them for Alta because first letter of the alphabet, Colorado is better 😉. They represent a conglomerate of 2 forecasting standards (used to be more) and show various probablistic outcomes in the thinner lines and the heavier line is the mean of those iterations. To simplify, there are models that can have a wide variety of outcomes, the wider the spread of the thin lines, the less certain the forecast, the tighter they get, the more certain. This is a new model that the team at the U put together with the caveat that it is very experimental, it is an update from previous charts they’ve had. The long of the long, is that when the buoy pops, I put it on my radar, and then about a week out I start looking at the U of U data to see where and how much snow we could be looking at. So a tip of the hat and kudos to the students and professors at the University of Utah. If you have ever used these graphs, you should go to their page and donate some money to them to help them continue the great work they do, link is in my profile. #yeahbuoy ...

1930 36

First buoypop of the year! Oct 26. Some mixed emotions as this has been a great Fall, and I hope we can still ride out some nice weather. Some of you might be wondering, what the hell are we looking at here? This is a chart of significant wave height of a NOAA weather buoy about 180 miles north west of Kauai. A buoypop is a term I made up to describe when the buoy goes from bobbing around at lower levels and then pops up because of increased swell and wave heights. I think these are caused by a low pressure weather system cruising by the buoy which ultimately, about 12-14 days later, hopefully hits us with some snow. I’ve been using this for over 20 years to put potential storm days on my calendar 2 weeks out. So there you have it; Use it if you want, don’t use it, I don’t really care. This is just me, and a few trusty Labradors, no team, no corporate, just a dude who loves to ski. Skiing is my North Star and this is something that I use to help me with my addiction to skiing pow. Enjoy! LFG 24/25 ski season!!! #yeahbuoy

View

Oct 14

Open
First buoypop of the year! Oct 26. Some mixed emotions as this has been a great Fall, and I hope we can still ride out some nice weather. Some of you might be wondering, what the hell are we looking at here? This is a chart of significant wave height of a NOAA weather buoy about 180 miles north west of Kauai. A buoypop is a term I made up to describe when the buoy goes from bobbing around at lower levels and then pops up because of increased swell and wave heights. I think these are caused by a low pressure weather system cruising by the buoy which ultimately, about 12-14 days later, hopefully hits us with some snow. I’ve been using this for over 20 years to put potential storm days on my calendar 2 weeks out. So there you have it; Use it if you want, don’t use it, I don’t really care. This is just me, and a few trusty Labradors, no team, no corporate, just a dude who loves to ski. Skiing is my North Star and this is something that I use to help me with my addiction to skiing pow. Enjoy! LFG 24/25 ski season!!! #yeahbuoy

First buoypop of the year! Oct 26. Some mixed emotions as this has been a great Fall, and I hope we can still ride out some nice weather. Some of you might be wondering, what the hell are we looking at here? This is a chart of significant wave height of a NOAA weather buoy about 180 miles north west of Kauai. A buoypop is a term I made up to describe when the buoy goes from bobbing around at lower levels and then pops up because of increased swell and wave heights. I think these are caused by a low pressure weather system cruising by the buoy which ultimately, about 12-14 days later, hopefully hits us with some snow. I’ve been using this for over 20 years to put potential storm days on my calendar 2 weeks out. So there you have it; Use it if you want, don’t use it, I don’t really care. This is just me, and a few trusty Labradors, no team, no corporate, just a dude who loves to ski. Skiing is my North Star and this is something that I use to help me with my addiction to skiing pow. Enjoy! LFG 24/25 ski season!!! #yeahbuoy ...

4413 171

The Golden Road to Unlimited devotion. This is why we don’t want it to snow yet, just sayin’ #yeahbuoy

View

Oct 5

Open
The Golden Road to Unlimited devotion. This is why we don’t want it to snow yet, just sayin’ #yeahbuoy

The Golden Road to Unlimited devotion. This is why we don’t want it to snow yet, just sayin’ #yeahbuoy ...

982 7

Hey now! Today is the day, and a beautiful one at that! Come on down to the Park City Brewery to kick off this 24/25 season and hang with some friends, meet new friends, and raise some money for the Utah Avalanche Center. We’ve got some great auction items, weather will be perfect, if you want to get a leaf peepin’ ride in, just ride to the party, problem solved. Music, legit auction items, food, bevvys, good peeps, all in one spot and all for a great cause, see you there. Link for tix is in profile above 👆

View

Sep 26

Open
Hey now! Today is the day, and a beautiful one at that! Come on down to the Park City Brewery to kick off this 24/25 season and hang with some friends, meet new friends, and raise some money for the Utah Avalanche Center. We’ve got some great auction items, weather will be perfect, if you want to get a leaf peepin’ ride in, just ride to the party, problem solved. Music, legit auction items, food, bevvys, good peeps, all in one spot and all for a great cause, see you there. Link for tix is in profile above 👆

Hey now! Today is the day, and a beautiful one at that! Come on down to the Park City Brewery to kick off this 24/25 season and hang with some friends, meet new friends, and raise some money for the Utah Avalanche Center. We’ve got some great auction items, weather will be perfect, if you want to get a leaf peepin’ ride in, just ride to the party, problem solved. Music, legit auction items, food, bevvys, good peeps, all in one spot and all for a great cause, see you there. Link for tix is in profile above 👆 ...

97 6

Fired up for Thursday night, we are going to raise this much money! Join me at the park city brewery for the powder buoy powder party (could probably come up with a better name), regardless, it’s a fun night for a great cause. The Utah avalanche center is the epicenter of snow info for Utah and a vital resource for our community. If you follow the buoy, please consider coming or donating. This event is my agreement with park city brewing for them to use the powderbuoy name for their Pilsner beer. They’ll be releasing new 16oz cans that night, we’ve got live music, and a bunch of great auction items from sponsors and partners/ friends in the ski world and otherwise. See you Thursday, tix are available on the link in my profile. #yeahbuoy #knowbeforeyougo

View

Sep 23

Open
Fired up for Thursday night, we are going to raise this much money! Join me at the park city brewery for the powder buoy powder party (could probably come up with a better name), regardless, it’s a fun night for a great cause. The Utah avalanche center is the epicenter of snow info for Utah and a vital resource for our community. If you follow the buoy, please consider coming or donating. This event is my agreement with park city brewing for them to use the powderbuoy name for their Pilsner beer. They’ll be releasing new 16oz cans that night, we’ve got live music, and a bunch of great auction items from sponsors and partners/ friends in the ski world and otherwise. See you Thursday, tix are available on the link in my profile. #yeahbuoy #knowbeforeyougo

Fired up for Thursday night, we are going to raise this much money! Join me at the park city brewery for the powder buoy powder party (could probably come up with a better name), regardless, it’s a fun night for a great cause. The Utah avalanche center is the epicenter of snow info for Utah and a vital resource for our community. If you follow the buoy, please consider coming or donating. This event is my agreement with park city brewing for them to use the powderbuoy name for their Pilsner beer. They’ll be releasing new 16oz cans that night, we’ve got live music, and a bunch of great auction items from sponsors and partners/ friends in the ski world and otherwise. See you Thursday, tix are available on the link in my profile. #yeahbuoy #knowbeforeyougo ...

318 6