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National Geophysical Data Center
The Natural Hazards Data Resources Directory has been made available online by NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center with funding from the Institute for Business and Home Safety.
Institute for Business and Home Safety

The following organization provides Avalanche information.


Westwide Avalanche Network

The Westwide Avalanche Network is an Internet computer site designed for the professional avalanche community. Professionals gather critical information about local snow pack and weather variables, as well as avalanche activity from nearby areas, in order to forecast and control avalanche hazard. The network is run by a committee under the American Association of Avalanche Professionals.

The Westwide Avalanche Network (WWAN) provides the following services:

  • Westwide's exclusive weather page, which features a guide to weather forecasting information available on the Internet. It includes the most up-to-date doppler radar, satellite imagery, weather maps and weather data, plus internet tools needed to display them.

  • Avalanche Notes, published each month online as well as in The Avalanche Review. Avalanche Notes is a national compilation of mountain weather, avalanche activity and avalanche accidents data for the month.

  • The new Moonstone Snow and Avalanche Library, which is a cooperative project between Moonstone Mountain and WWAN. The Library provides easy access to all types of papers that contain information about avalanches. Discussion Forums, which are frequently visited by avalanche professionals and members of WWAN, also exist here.

  • Access to avalanche-related data and information. WWAN contains all the avalanche data which ski areas and highway avalanche programs have contributed to Westwide over the years. Users can query the database for specific date ranges. The Westwide Internet site contains the most complete historical avalanche and mountain weather information available for the western U.S. such as:

    • Up-to-date summaries of mountain weather and avalanche activity at each area, plus hourly data from automated stations around the western U.S.

    • Up-to-date public avalanche advisories from throughout the U.S. and Canada.

    • Updates of recent avalanche accidents including photos when available. Also, summaries of all avalanche accidents this season in two different levels of detail.

    • Timely email notification to subscribers of important issues concerning explosives, artillery, avalaunchers, gazex, professional accidents, or any other issues important to avalanche professionals.

      • Data and information are segmented into three groups of increasing security:

    • The first group, in which the general public can access public avalanche advisories from both the US and around the world, lists of avalanche classes, some avalanche news groups, and some automated mountain weather data.

    • The second level, which allows subscribers to access the Data Exchange section (weather and avalanche data from ski resorts, highway control programs and helicopter skiing operations), and up-to-date displays of SNOTEL information for all sites in the U.S. SNOTEL is a network of monitoring stations located throughout the mountains of the western U.S. and operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Various colorful maps of snow cover and water storage for all U.S. watersheds are also accessible.

    • The final and most secure level, designed as an indstry information exchnge, reserved only for permitted explosives users in the avalanche industry and active members of avalanche forecasting and control operations. This section contains important updates for users of explosives, avalaunchers, military weapons, avalanche accidents and other news which can keep users abreast of the current state the art of avalanche forecasting and control. Real-time weather, snow stability and avalanche occurrance information from around the country is also available.

  • Links regarding the topics of avalanche research, snow, and avalanche rescue dogs.

  • Lists of avalanche classes taught in each different region of the country and updates of various avalanche education issues.

  • Links to industry sites such as equipment manufacturers.

  • Links to homepages for ski areas and helicopter ski companies.

    • For information concerning the Natural Hazards listed here, please contact the individual organizations directly.

    For comments about this website, please contact:

    Ruth Brocko