Where does J2Ski get their reports from?

I prefer the weather forecasts issued by the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research http://www.slf.ch/lawinenbulletin/schneedecke_wetter/index_EN and for snow depth I look at the data from the SLF measuring stations http://www.slf.ch/schneeinfo/messwerte/stationsdaten/index_EN The ski resorts often site their snow depth measuring stations in very favourable locations.

Most of the alpine countries make this type of information available, unfortunately elsewhere it's usually only available in the local language.

Considering all the microclimates in the alps, and that they are based on computer models I think the J2Ski and other skiing website forecasts are OK, but they do tend to overestimate the amount of snow that is likely fall, especially the long range forecasts. Today's J2Ski forecast for Zermatt accurately forecasted the amount of snow at altitude, but overestimated the amounts lower down and it rained in the village.



Interestingly it also forecast a thunder snowstorm. Thundersnow is a very rare phenomena http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thundersnow

I have been in Kaprun for the last 5 days and J2ski's weather reports have been very wrong.............as usual.