Frequently Asked Questions

How It Works

How do you find live snow webcams?

We automatically search for live video streams from multiple sources including YouTube, ski resorts, weather services, and traffic cameras. Our system verifies that streams are actually live (not pre-recorded videos) and filters out static images, ensuring you only see real-time video feeds.

How do you know if it's actually snowing?

We use a sophisticated multi-layered system to ensure accuracy:

  • Multiple Weather APIs: We cross-reference data from multiple weather services (Tomorrow.io and OpenWeather) to verify conditions
  • Image Analysis: We actually analyze the webcam video frames themselves! Our system looks at the brightness, colors, and visual patterns in the video to detect if snow is visible. This helps catch false positives when weather data might be wrong.
  • Temperature Validation: Snow requires freezing temperatures, so we verify it's cold enough and reject detections if it's too warm
  • Weather Description Checks: We validate that weather descriptions match the conditions (e.g., won't say it's snowing if the weather says "clear" or "rain")
  • Confidence Scoring: Each detection gets a confidence level - we only alert you when we're highly confident it's actually snowing
  • Live Video: You can always watch the webcam feed yourself to see what's actually happening in real-time

By combining weather data with actual video analysis, we can catch errors that weather APIs alone might miss. For example, if it's 35°F and sunny, we won't incorrectly report snow even if there was snow yesterday. The status updates every few minutes to give you the most current information.

How often is the data updated?

Weather data refreshes every 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on API rate limits), and the feed list updates every 2 minutes. The live video streams themselves are real-time, so you can see what's happening right now at any location.

Why It's Useful

See Real Conditions, Not Just Forecasts

Weather forecasts can be wrong, but live webcams show you exactly what's happening right now. Whether you're planning a ski trip, checking road conditions, or just curious about the weather somewhere else, you can see the actual conditions with your own eyes.

Track Multiple Locations at Once

Save your favorite locations and get notified when it starts snowing. Compare conditions between two locations side-by-side. View statistics across all locations to see snowfall trends and patterns.

Perfect for Planning

Planning a ski trip? Checking if roads are clear? Want to know if your hometown is getting snow? This app gives you instant access to live conditions from hundreds of locations around the world.

Key Features

❄️ Interactive Map

Click on any marker to see live conditions, temperature, and snowfall data. The map shows all active webcam feeds, making it easy to explore different locations.

⭐ Favorites & Notification Preferences

Sign in with Google to save your favorite webcams. Customize notification preferences for each favorite:

  • Notify when snow starts: Get alerts when snow begins (enabled by default)
  • Notify when snow stops: Get alerts when snow ends (disabled by default, can be enabled per favorite)
  • Per-Favorite Control: Each favorite has its own notification settings

Manage all your favorites and notification preferences from your profile page.

📊 Statistics Dashboard

See real-time statistics including how many locations are currently snowing, total active feeds, and breakdown by region. Auto-refreshes every 30 seconds.

🔄 Compare Locations

Compare conditions between two locations side-by-side. Perfect for deciding between ski resorts or checking conditions at different elevations.

🔔 Snow Alerts & Notifications

Get notified when it starts or stops snowing at your favorite locations. Notifications work in the background on iOS 16.4+ and Android, so you'll know even when the app is closed. Click any notification to jump directly to that location's webcam.

  • Customizable Preferences: Control which favorites send you notifications for snow starting and/or stopping
  • Device Management: View and manage all devices where you have notifications enabled
  • Smart Notifications: Notifications include the exact location name and take you directly to the webcam when clicked

👤 User Profile & Account Management

Manage your account, favorites, and notification preferences all in one place.

  • Profile Dashboard: View all your favorite webcams and their current snow status
  • Notification Settings: Configure per-favorite notification preferences (notify on start, notify on stop)
  • Device Management: See all devices with notifications enabled and remove devices you no longer use
  • Account Deletion: Permanently delete your account and all associated data with a simple confirmation process

Technical Details

What data sources do you use?

We use multiple weather APIs (Tomorrow.io and OpenWeather) for redundancy and accuracy. Webcam feeds come from YouTube live streams, ski resort websites, traffic cameras, weather services, and other public sources.

How accurate is the snow detection?

Our system is designed to be highly accurate by using multiple validation layers:

  • Multi-Source Weather Data: We check multiple weather APIs and only report snow when they agree
  • Video Frame Analysis: We analyze the actual webcam video to visually confirm snow is present - this catches false positives that weather data alone might miss
  • Strict Validation: We reject detections that don't make sense (e.g., snowing when it's 40°F and sunny)
  • Confidence Levels: Each detection has a confidence score - we only send alerts when confidence is high
  • User Feedback: Users can report errors, which helps us continuously improve

However, the most accurate way to know is to watch the live webcam feed yourself - that's why we provide both the detection status and the live video. If you notice an error, you can report it using the "Report Issue" button, and we'll use that feedback to improve the system.

What should I do if a webcam isn't working?

If you find a webcam that's not working (broken video, error message, or just a black screen), you can help us fix it:

  1. Click the "Report Issue" button on the webcam page
  2. Select "Stream Issue" to report a broken video feed
  3. Add any details about what's wrong (optional but helpful)
  4. Submit the report

When you report a broken stream, here's what happens:

  • Immediate Action: The feed is immediately marked as offline and hidden from the main feed list, so other users won't see broken feeds
  • Automatic Fix Attempt: Our system tries to automatically find a working replacement stream right away
  • Background Fixing: If the automatic fix doesn't work, our system keeps trying every 6 hours until it finds a working stream
  • Auto-Reactivation: Once a working stream is found, the webcam automatically reappears for everyone
  • Smart Redirect: If the broken webcam is not one of your favorites, we'll automatically redirect you to another working webcam. If it is a favorite, you'll stay on the page so you can check back later

What you'll see: If you visit an offline feed directly (via bookmark or link), you'll see a clear message that the feed is currently inaccessible, rather than a broken video player. This prevents confusion and makes it obvious the feed is being worked on.

What if the snow detection is wrong?

If you notice that the system says it's snowing when it's not (false positive), or says it's not snowing when it actually is (false negative), you can help us improve:

  1. Click the "Report Issue" button on the webcam page
  2. Select "Detection Issue" to report incorrect snow detection
  3. Choose the type: "False Positive" (says snowing but isn't) or "False Negative" (says not snowing but is)
  4. Add any details about what you're seeing (optional but very helpful)
  5. Submit the report

Your feedback helps us improve the detection system for everyone. We use these reports to refine our algorithms and make the system more accurate over time.

Is my data private?

Yes! We only store your favorites and notification preferences if you choose to sign in. We don't track your browsing or share your data. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

Getting Started

How do I use this app?

  1. Browse the map: Click on any marker to see live conditions and watch the webcam
  2. Search for locations: Use the search bar to find specific cities or regions
  3. Filter by snow: Toggle "Show only snowing" to see only locations where it's currently snowing
  4. Save favorites: Sign in to save your favorite webcams and get snow alerts
  5. Compare locations: Use the Compare feature to see conditions at two places side-by-side

Can I add my own webcam?

Yes! Use the "Submit a Snow Cam" link in the header to submit a webcam feed. We review submissions and add them to the database. We prefer live video streams (YouTube, HLS, etc.) over static images.

Why do some webcams show "Unknown" status?

Sometimes weather APIs are temporarily unavailable or rate-limited. When this happens, we show "Unknown" status but you can still watch the live webcam feed to see conditions yourself. The status will update once the weather API is available again.

Have More Questions?

Found a broken webcam? Use the "Report Issue" button on any webcam page to let us know. Have a suggestion or want to submit a new webcam? Use the Submit a Snow Cam page to get in touch or submit new webcam feeds.