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

When the snow’s away the permit will play. Next storm starting around the 28th. #yeahbuoy #bajiosunglasses

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Mar 22

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When the snow’s away the permit will play. Next storm starting around the 28th. #yeahbuoy #bajiosunglasses

When the snow’s away the permit will play. Next storm starting around the 28th. #yeahbuoy #bajiosunglasses ...

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This last week or so of storms has been pretty pretty good. We even saw some non-weekend storms, go figure. It looks like things mellow out for a bit now but there’s a concept of a plan for the end of the month. The buoy bumped up on the 16th, so that puts a storm around the 29/30th and then things look quiet until a chance for a buoypop on the 24th that puts April 6/7 on the radar. This year has been all about little moments of glory. #yeahbuoy

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Mar 20

Open
This last week or so of storms has been pretty pretty good. We even saw some non-weekend storms, go figure. It looks like things mellow out for a bit now but there’s a concept of a plan for the end of the month. The buoy bumped up on the 16th, so that puts a storm around the 29/30th and then things look quiet until a chance for a buoypop on the 24th that puts April 6/7 on the radar. This year has been all about little moments of glory. #yeahbuoy

This last week or so of storms has been pretty pretty good. We even saw some non-weekend storms, go figure. It looks like things mellow out for a bit now but there’s a concept of a plan for the end of the month. The buoy bumped up on the 16th, so that puts a storm around the 29/30th and then things look quiet until a chance for a buoypop on the 24th that puts April 6/7 on the radar. This year has been all about little moments of glory. #yeahbuoy ...

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When the canyon is closed, it’s time for early doggy laps

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Mar 19

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When the canyon is closed, it’s time for early doggy laps

When the canyon is closed, it’s time for early doggy laps ...

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@snowbasinskiteam is auctioning off a piece of Utah ski history that’s actually part of my family’s story.

This is my wife and me with our son, Becker, at the Becker Chairlift about 18 years ago. The lift was named after Ogden’s Becker family, who founded one of Utah’s first — and longest-operating — breweries, Becker’s Beer.

The Becker Chair honors Becker Hill, a historic Gelandé jumping hill where skiing legends Alf and Sverre Engen (of Alta fame) first made names for themselves after moving from Norway to Utah.

Snowbasin is replacing this chairlift, and the Snowbasin Ski Education Foundation is raising funds to support their kids’ ski programs. You can own a piece of Utah ski history — either by bidding or buying one of the chairs or by participating in their weekly opportunity drawings.

Link in my profile.
#itsforthekids #beckersbeer #beckerlift #beckerhill #utahskihistory

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Mar 18

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@snowbasinskiteam is auctioning off a piece of Utah ski history that’s actually part of my family’s story. This is my wife and me with our son, Becker, at the Becker Chairlift about 18 years ago. The lift was named after Ogden’s Becker family, who founded one of Utah’s first — and longest-operating — breweries, Becker’s Beer. The Becker Chair honors Becker Hill, a historic Gelandé jumping hill where skiing legends Alf and Sverre Engen (of Alta fame) first made names for themselves after moving from Norway to Utah. Snowbasin is replacing this chairlift, and the Snowbasin Ski Education Foundation is raising funds to support their kids’ ski programs. You can own a piece of Utah ski history — either by bidding or buying one of the chairs or by participating in their weekly opportunity drawings. Link in my profile. #itsforthekids #beckersbeer #beckerlift #beckerhill #utahskihistory

@snowbasinskiteam is auctioning off a piece of Utah ski history that’s actually part of my family’s story.

This is my wife and me with our son, Becker, at the Becker Chairlift about 18 years ago. The lift was named after Ogden’s Becker family, who founded one of Utah’s first — and longest-operating — breweries, Becker’s Beer.

The Becker Chair honors Becker Hill, a historic Gelandé jumping hill where skiing legends Alf and Sverre Engen (of Alta fame) first made names for themselves after moving from Norway to Utah.

Snowbasin is replacing this chairlift, and the Snowbasin Ski Education Foundation is raising funds to support their kids’ ski programs. You can own a piece of Utah ski history — either by bidding or buying one of the chairs or by participating in their weekly opportunity drawings.

Link in my profile.
#itsforthekids #beckersbeer #beckerlift #beckerhill #utahskihistory ...

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Snow lab report coming in lab deep I’d say #yeahbuoy

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Mar 14

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Snow lab report coming in lab deep I’d say #yeahbuoy

Snow lab report coming in lab deep I’d say #yeahbuoy ...

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14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, storms lined up, let’s see if temps can come down to let these storms unleash the way we’d like them to. Is that too much to ask? #yeahbuoy

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Mar 12

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14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, storms lined up, let’s see if temps can come down to let these storms unleash the way we’d like them to. Is that too much to ask? #yeahbuoy

14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, storms lined up, let’s see if temps can come down to let these storms unleash the way we’d like them to. Is that too much to ask? #yeahbuoy ...

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Looks like we got rolled back a bit, not sure what happened there. My bad. #itworksallthetime60percentofthetime

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Mar 9

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Looks like we got rolled back a bit, not sure what happened there. My bad. #itworksallthetime60percentofthetime

Looks like we got rolled back a bit, not sure what happened there. My bad. #itworksallthetime60percentofthetime ...

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And in this great nation we will not measure storms by cm or meters, but by Labradors and buoypops, and snow will come a fortnight after a buoy pops. Speaking of snow, more coming into week’s end and then 10th-15th. #yeahbuoy

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Mar 4

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And in this great nation we will not measure storms by cm or meters, but by Labradors and buoypops, and snow will come a fortnight after a buoy pops. Speaking of snow, more coming into week’s end and then 10th-15th. #yeahbuoy

And in this great nation we will not measure storms by cm or meters, but by Labradors and buoypops, and snow will come a fortnight after a buoy pops. Speaking of snow, more coming into week’s end and then 10th-15th. #yeahbuoy ...

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Lots of noise but some good potential for next week. I was on vacation last week, hence the storm cycle, so was not paying much attention and this fella snuck up on me. Fingers crossed for another push, we’ll take all we can get. #yeahbuoy

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Mar 1

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Lots of noise but some good potential for next week. I was on vacation last week, hence the storm cycle, so was not paying much attention and this fella snuck up on me. Fingers crossed for another push, we’ll take all we can get. #yeahbuoy

Lots of noise but some good potential for next week. I was on vacation last week, hence the storm cycle, so was not paying much attention and this fella snuck up on me. Fingers crossed for another push, we’ll take all we can get. #yeahbuoy ...

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Buoypop for march 13 or so. Looks like a quick hitter.

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Feb 27

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Buoypop for march 13 or so. Looks like a quick hitter.

Buoypop for march 13 or so. Looks like a quick hitter. ...

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Buoypop! March 9/10 on the radar. Sadly March 1 fizzled out, can’t win em all. Looks like its going to go south and blow apart. Hopefully you’re all basking in the glory of this last storm cycle, which of course landed when I was out of town, can’t win em all. On a side note, thanks to everyone who bought a mug last week, they apparently sold out in 4 days and $500 is going to both the Utah Avalanche Center and Summit Land Conservancy. #yeahbuoy

View

Feb 24

Open
Buoypop! March 9/10 on the radar. Sadly March 1 fizzled out, can’t win em all. Looks like its going to go south and blow apart. Hopefully you’re all basking in the glory of this last storm cycle, which of course landed when I was out of town, can’t win em all. On a side note, thanks to everyone who bought a mug last week, they apparently sold out in 4 days and $500 is going to both the Utah Avalanche Center and Summit Land Conservancy. #yeahbuoy

Buoypop! March 9/10 on the radar. Sadly March 1 fizzled out, can’t win em all. Looks like its going to go south and blow apart. Hopefully you’re all basking in the glory of this last storm cycle, which of course landed when I was out of town, can’t win em all. On a side note, thanks to everyone who bought a mug last week, they apparently sold out in 4 days and $500 is going to both the Utah Avalanche Center and Summit Land Conservancy. #yeahbuoy ...

1507 15

Alta snow lab report just in…. Lab deep out there #yeahbuoy

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Feb 15

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Alta snow lab report just in…. Lab deep out there #yeahbuoy

Alta snow lab report just in…. Lab deep out there #yeahbuoy ...

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Max says he’s ready for some more lab deep conditions around march 1. I’ve been slacking on the lab reports this season, will make a concerted effort going forward. Yesterday morning was probably 3/4 lab deep around here. Still looking for snow on the 17th and 21st. #yeahbuoy

View

Feb 15

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Max says he’s ready for some more lab deep conditions around march 1. I’ve been slacking on the lab reports this season, will make a concerted effort going forward. Yesterday morning was probably 3/4 lab deep around here. Still looking for snow on the 17th and 21st. #yeahbuoy

Max says he’s ready for some more lab deep conditions around march 1. I’ve been slacking on the lab reports this season, will make a concerted effort going forward. Yesterday morning was probably 3/4 lab deep around here. Still looking for snow on the 17th and 21st. #yeahbuoy ...

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Feb 14

Open
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