North Pacific NOAA Buoy pops (What is this?)
Source: utahavalanchecenter.org
Significant wave height graph for buoy 1
Significant wave height graph for buoy 2
Source: University of Utah Atmospheric Science Dept.
National Weather Service (weather.gov) Snow Report
Source: avalanche.org
Source: noaa.gov
Source: noaa.gov
Buoypop! Must be all that good mojo from the party last week. We’ve got a few small flybys coming in the next week, I think we see another better storm around the 12th, and now the 15th. Looking out, I think we’re in a pretty active pattern across the pacific, storms stacked into about Nov 22nd. Lining up pretty well for some opening days. Let’s go super El Niño. Why would I deceive you? There is no reason for me to do that. #yeahbuoy
Nov 2
Yeah buoy! Right on target for next week. There’s more behind it, I think we’re active up to about Nov 14 from what I can see right now. In other news, come join me tomorrow at the park city brewery for a fun night supporting the Utah Avalanche Center, doors @ 6pm, see you there. #yeahbuoy
Oct 27
Here’s all that bouncing around. Looks like we are ramping up through the end of the month and into the beginning of November until about the 4th. There’s some more action on the Hawaiian horizon, with a big storm looking to hit Hawaii around the 30th. In other news, come help me support the Utah Avalanche center next week at the Park City Brewery. #yeahbuoy
Oct 23
bike season for a few more days, then back to ski season on the 22nd/23rd, looks like the buoy is bouncing, so may be another storm on the 26th and then the 28th. Going for a ride and then watching some football. #utefanandanyoneplayingagainstbyu #yeahbuoy
Oct 17
Who snuck out for some turns the last couple days? Amazing how many people found mid winter blower conditions out there 🙄.
Next fella on deck, not as sure fire as the last but right in the buoypop window. Only one way to find out… #yeahbuoy
Oct 15
Got gear, art, gift cards, or experiences to spare? Put them to good use.
We are collecting silent auction items for the 2026 Powder Buoy Powder Party - our fundraiser with the Utah Avalanche Center on Oct 28 at Park City Brewing. Every dollar raised supports avalanche forecasting and education in Utah.
DM @powderbuoy to donate an item. We will make it easy.
2026 Powder Buoy Powder Party - Oct 28 - 6-10 PM - Park City Brewing
Tickets via link in bio
Oct 13
Not sure what to make of this, but putting it out into the universe. If it hits, would put a storm around the 22nd / 23rd. This incoming storm looks to be shaping up and may be enough for some base welds and blown out edges. Will Utah have the first ski pics or will it be the @silvertonmtn ski patrol like usual. Only one way to find out… #yeahbuoy
Oct 10
What do we have here? I saw the buoy pop back on the first but kind of chalked it up to another hurricane and my head is still in biking mode. We’ll see how this thing pans out, but probably our first measurable snow (up high) for the year. The monsoon flow has been awesome this year, we didn’t have that the last 2 years. The last 2 years kind of sucked (not really, but in a spoiled way, they sucked) so I think we’re gearing up for a banger. More on that to come…. #yeahbuoy
Oct 7
BUOYPOP! Well… maybe not. Pretty sure that’s just the hurricane rolling through.
There have been a LOT of hurricanes cruising around the Pacific this year, which has been kind of wild. East Pacific has already had 14 named storms, four above normal for this point, while Central Pacific ACE is running more than 300% above normal.
Both NOAA buoys have been offline for a bit, but one just jumped back into action.
Meanwhile, ski stoke is finally starting to creep back in after some long summer days. The monsoon flow has been encouraging this summer, banger trail conditions the last few weeks. I don’t remember seeing much of a monsoon the last year or two, hopefully a sign of better things to come.
But the buoy is alive, fall is getting closer, fired up for this season.
#yeahbuoy
Sep 11
Setting it out to the universe to have Super El Niño deliver the goods this year.A super El Niño is now the single most likely outcome for 2026–27 — 98% probability per IRI, subsurface temps running hotter than any event on record at this stage. The Wasatch sits right on the razor’s edge of the El Niño storm split. Could be another drought year, could be 1982–83 (amazing year). Only one way to find out…
Jun 13
I’ve gotten a lot of messages in the last 24 hours about an article in the New York Times regarding the administration dismantling a weather buoy program. I am happy to say that the National Buoy Data Center confirmed to me that the Hawaii buoys are not part of this shutdown and will continue. Thank you for your attention to this matter
Jun 2
Permit fishing is the perfect combination of hunting, patience, skill, and luck.
Earlier this year I heard about catching permit on a floating crab pattern — a dry fly for permit. The idea of one breaking the surface to eat seemed unreal… until it became reality.
15 mph NE winds, nervous water, a cast of 55-60 ft into the chop. A few seconds after the fly landed, a permit head breaks the surface and charges the crab. I stop stripping — the fish bumps it and turns away. I keep the slow strip going. One or two seconds later, a second head pops up. I look the fish in the eye. It takes the fly. We’re off to the races.
What most people don’t realize: permit mouths are on the underside of their head, so eating off the surface means the entire head and eyes breach the water. You’re essentially watching a permit porpoise on a dry fly.
Probably the coolest eat I’ve ever seen. So f’n rad. Chance of a pow day right before tax day. #yeahbuoy
Apr 7
There’s a storm loomin out there in time for April fools/clown day. The plumes are all over the map but we’ll see. I think there could be a little more after this too like I said last time. All those crazy Kona low storms that are sadly flooding Hawaii. I’m going fishing 🎣 #palomettatime
Mar 25
This is that next chance of now I mentioned a few weeks ago. Looks like there could be some more behind it around the 27, 28th, April 1, 3 , and 8th. I’m secretly hoping for a tax day pow day to keep that tradition alive too. With it being 70 this week, I don’t think most resorts will even make it this far, but I’m just calling em like I see em. No idea if this is going to be snow or rain, that’s been the name of the game all year. I try my best to stay stoked but at this point I’ve got permit fishing on my mind…
Mar 17
This is the next potential shot for a storm around the 24th and then another one looks to be on deck for the 28th, slim pickins out there
Mar 11
