Snow and winter
Extremely detailed snow cover and fresh snowfall maps
MetGIS snow maps
On this page you can find out all about MetGIS’ innovative solutions for the precise recording of snow cover and fresh snow. MetGIS combines high-resolution satellite data with proprietary weather models to create detailed snow cover maps with an accuracy of up to 30 meters. Our new snow maps provide accurate forecasts of the amount of fresh snow over different time periods. With the MetGIS Maps API and Point API, you can integrate this valuable snow data and other weather parameters relevant to the cold season into your applications. This gives you a comprehensive overview of the current snow and weather conditions.
Ultra-precise snow cover maps for important mountain ranges (Alps, Pyrenees, Andes …)
Fresh snow maps for various forecast periods worldwide, even for remote regions
Special parameters such as wet bulb temperature, perceived temperature, fresh snow density, freezing rain and much more
Extremely high horizontal resolution of up to 30 m
Information available via Point API, Maps API and the MetGIS Pro+ dashboard
SNOW COVER MAPS
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SNOW COVER IN NEW PRECISION
MetGIS, together with the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt/German Aerospace Center (DLR), has developed special techniques that can be used to generate daily updated maps of snow cover for alpine regions (Central Europe, southern Andes, Pyrenees, …). The maps can be zoomed to any resolution up to 30 meters. The uniqueness of the MetGIS snow cover maps is not only in the extremely high resolution and full zoom capability, but also in the use of satellite data (Sentinel-2, Modis) combined with our own high-resolution weather model.Â
Ground information from satellites is often not available due to cloud cover. During longer periods of bad weather, there would be no up-to-date snow cover information from satellites alone. The combination of satellite data and our own high-resolution weather model makes it possible for our data to always be up to date and can even be updated more frequently. It is possible to integrate the snow cover maps into third-party applications via the MetGIS Maps API or to query them as an integrated solution via MetGIS Pro+.
WEATHER PARAMETERS
Snow cover (total map, combines all sources)
Snow cover (information only from Sentinel-2 satellite)
Snow cover (information only from Modis satellite)
Age of snow information
Source of snow cover information
REGIONS
Central Europe
Pyrenees
Southern Andes
Availability
As a turnkey solution via the  MetGIS PRO+ weather dashboard
or as an API solution integrated into the MAPS API
FRESH SNOW MAPS
BETTER SNOW INFORMATION WITH METGIS
The MetGIS fresh snow maps provide information on the forecast amount of fresh snow (in cm) over a specific period of time. MetGIS uses a specially developed algorithm to calculate the amount of fresh snow, which includes high-resolution terrain data in the forecasting process in addition to a precise determination of the snow line.
The calculated value can be seen as the amount of fresh snow that reaches the ground during the snowfall. There can be a number of reasons why this value deviates from the measured values. For example, the calculation scheme does not take into account the transportation of the snow by the wind, nor melting processes and the settling of the fresh snow. The latter two factors mean that the calculated value is often somewhat higher than the measured value in the case of heavier snowfall and longer reference periods (especially 24 hours and more). The fresh snow maps are calculated by MetGIS for the following forecast periods:
- Fresh snow in 3-hour resolution for the next 72 hours
- Fresh snow 0 – 24 h (Day 1)
- Fresh snow 24 – 48 h (Day 2)
- Fresh snow 48 – 72 h (Day 3)
These maps are either available via the MetGIS Maps API or can be accessed directly via the MetGIS Pro+ Dashboard.
Simplicity and expertise:
Snow cover and fresh snow maps in MetGIS Pro+
Our MetGIS Pro+ weather dashboard combines numerous advantages in one user-friendly application. No programming skills? No problem! Simply connect APIs without technical expertise. All information is presented graphically, allowing you to leverage MetGIS’ extensive expertise and experience in an intuitive GUI interface. MetGIS Pro+ is your turnkey solution for snow cover and fresh snow mapping – simple, efficient and effective.
EXPERIENCE METGIS PRO+ IN ACTION
METGIS SNOW MAPS – PICTURES SAY MORE THAN WORDS
A picture is worth a thousand words – and our interactive demo speaks volumes about the benefits of MetGIS Pro+. Test the dashboard for selected regions and gain a comprehensive insight into the functionality of the MetGIS weather dashboard.
METGIS MAPS API
METGIS SNOW MAPS VIA THE METGIS MAPS API
You can integrate the MetGIS snow cover and fresh snow information into your application via our Maps API. The following layers are available here:
- Fresh snow (fresh snow information in 3-hour resolution)
- Fresh snow 0-24 h, fresh snow 24-48 h, fresh snow 48-72 h (fresh snow daily totals)
- Snow cover (main snow cover map, composed of satellite and fresh snow data),
- Snow Cover Sentinel, Snow Cover Modis (snow cover maps produced by individual satellites)
- Age of snow information (information on the last update for each map point)
- Source of snow information (for each map point information about the source of information)
The MetGIS Maps API enables an exceptional graphical representation of high-resolution weather data from narrowly defined areas to large regions. Users can get a quick and accurate spatial overview of a wide range of weather parameters. MetGIS snow maps – your key to precise and detailed snow information displayed on maps.
METGIS POINT API
PRECISE WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THE COLD SEASON
The MetGIS Point API provides you with forecasts for a wide range of weather parameters for any point in the world. We offer a special winter package specifically for snow and winter, which contains the following variables in addition to the classic weather parameters:
- Fresh snow
- Fresh snow density
- freezing rain
- Cloud base and cloud top (beta version)
- Zero degree level
- Snow line
- Wet bulb temperature
For the fresh snow parameter, we also provide historical weather data in high resolution via our Hist API.
For special industries
Outdoor industry
For ski resorts, slope management and everyone involved with snow and mountains.
Energy
For weather-optimized solutions in the energy sector and associated software and apps.
Other sectors
For all industries that depend on snow and winter
Contact us
The fastest way to more information
Do you have questions about our services or any other questions, simply fill out the contact form or send us an e-mail.
We also look forward to your call.
DATA INTEGRATION IS THAT SIMPLE
MetGIS weather layers are based on TMS (Tile Map Service), an internationally standardized format that enables easy integration into dynamic map applications (websites, apps,…).
The data is provided as PNG (raster format), PBF (vector format) and in the form of numerical values (UTFGrids).
You can find more information and examples in our documentation.
