Storm Alerts & Weather Intelligence Disclaimer

1.1 Data Source & Timeliness

Alert data may be delayed. PeakScout polls NWS alert feeds on a schedule and caches results for up to 15 minutes. An alert that is issued, upgraded, downgraded, or cancelled by NWS may not be reflected in PeakScout's display for up to 15 minutes from the time of NWS issuance. Always check weather.gov for the most current watches, warnings, and advisories.

1.2 Scope of NWS Data Usage

PeakScout displays NWS data on the following surfaces:

• Daily briefing page — Active watches, warnings, and advisories for Colorado and Montana
• Severe weather banners — Inline alert cards on briefing and condition pages
• Push notifications — SAME-coded NWS alert broadcasts to subscribed users
• Trail and peak pages — Zone-level NWS hazard indicators

All NWS data displayed by PeakScout is a representation of official NWS publications. PeakScout does not issue, verify, modify, or certify NWS watches, warnings, or advisories. The National Weather Service is the sole authoritative source for official weather alerts in the United States.

1.3 Attribution Requirement

Per NOAA/NWS data policy, weather alert data displayed by PeakScout is sourced from api.weather.gov — the official NWS API. This data is in the public domain per 17 U.S.C. § 105 (government works). PeakScout's presentation, formatting, and contextual annotations of NWS data are our original work; the underlying alert content is NWS-authored.

2.1 Storm Timing Estimates

Storm timing estimates are based on barometric pressure trends, frontal movement modeling from Open-Meteo grid data (HRRR, ECMWF, GFS models), and historical arrival patterns for the target geographic area. These estimates may be inaccurate. Mountain weather is inherently difficult to predict — convective storms can initiate hours ahead of or behind model guidance, and orographic forcing creates hyperlocal timing variations invisible to grid-scale models.

2.2 Elevation-Based Precipitation Typing

PeakScout models precipitation type (snow vs. rain vs. mixed) at different elevations using freezing-level data from atmospheric soundings and forecast model output. This is modeled, not observed. Actual precipitation type at your specific elevation and aspect may differ from the model output due to:

• Temperature inversions trapping cold air in valleys
• Orographic lift creating snow at elevations below the regional freezing level
• Wind-driven cooling or warming on exposed ridgelines
• Rapid freezing-level changes during frontal passages

2.3 Accumulation Forecasts

Snow and rain accumulation forecasts are derived from multi-model ensemble averages (Open-Meteo) cross-referenced with nearest-SNOTEL station readings when available. Accumulation forecasts carry significant uncertainty — typically ±30-50% for mountain locations. Orographic enhancement can produce 2-3x the modeled accumulation on windward slopes while leeward valleys may see half the forecast.

2.4 Post-Storm Trail Recovery Estimates

Post-storm trail recovery predictions (time until a trail is likely passable or conditions improve) are estimates based on historical patterns, temperature forecasts, solar aspect, and trail elevation. These are not official USFS, NPS, or BLM trail status determinations. Actual recovery depends on:

• Storm total precipitation (may exceed or underperform forecast)
• Wind redistribution of snow on trails vs. open terrain
• Drainage characteristics unique to each trail
• Agency decisions on trail closure or reopening (not modeled by PeakScout)
• Tree blowdown, rockfall, or debris flows triggered by the storm

3.1 Lightning

Lightning kills. If PeakScout shows thunderstorm activity in your area, get off exposed ridges, summits, and open water immediately. Lightning is the leading weather-related cause of death in outdoor recreation. PeakScout's storm timing estimates are not precise enough to determine safe summit windows during convective storm cycles. The NWS 30/30 rule applies: if you count fewer than 30 seconds between lightning and thunder, seek shelter and wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike before resuming exposed travel.

3.2 Flash Floods

Flash floods can occur rapidly and without warning. Mountain canyons, slot canyons, creek crossings, and low-water river access points are especially dangerous during and after storms. Flash floods can arrive from storms miles upstream that may not be visible from your location. PeakScout's precipitation forecasts do not model flash flood timing at a specific location — consult NWS flash flood watches and warnings, and do not enter flood-prone terrain when storms are forecast.

3.3 High Winds & Hypothermia

Mountain storms frequently bring sustained winds exceeding 60 mph on exposed terrain, with gusts above ridgeline significantly stronger than valley wind speeds. Wind chill in combination with precipitation can create hypothermia conditions rapidly — even in summer at high elevations. PeakScout's wind forecasts are modeled from grid data and may underestimate peak gusts, especially on ridgelines and passes.

3.4 Your Responsibility

PeakScout storm data, predictions, and NWS alert displays are informational tools to help you plan around weather — they are not safety systems and do not replace your personal judgment. You are responsible for:

• Checking official NWS forecasts (weather.gov) before every outing
• Monitoring conditions continuously while in the field
• Carrying appropriate gear for sudden weather changes
• Knowing your turnaround time relative to expected storm arrival
• Having an escape plan for lightning, flood, and wind events

1.1 What Can Prevent Alert Delivery

• Browser notification permissions revoked — Your browser must have push permission granted for peakscout.polsia.app. Revoking permission silently stops all push alerts.
• Network connectivity — Push notifications require an active internet connection at the time of delivery. Offline devices, airplane mode, or poor cellular coverage will delay or prevent receipt.
• Device sleep / Do Not Disturb — Operating system DND mode, battery optimization, or app backgrounding policies may suppress notification delivery without notice.
• Browser lifecycle management — Mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Chrome for Android) may terminate push service workers during resource pressure. This is outside PeakScout's control.
• Push endpoint expiration — Push tokens issued by your browser can expire. PeakScout prunes expired tokens; if your token expired silently, you will not receive push alerts until you re-subscribe.
• Email delivery — Email alerts are subject to spam filtering, domain reputation, and recipient mail server policies. PeakScout uses Postmark for delivery but cannot guarantee inbox placement.

1.2 Time-Critical Decision Rule

Do not rely on PeakScout push notifications as your sole warning system for life-safety storm decisions. For backcountry travel, verify current conditions directly with NOAA weather.gov, CAIC (Colorado), and the relevant Montana avalanche center (GNFAC, WCMAC, or FAC) immediately before departure — not hours before. Conditions can change materially between when an alert is generated and when it is received.

1.3 Subscription to Official Sources

We strongly recommend subscribing to official NWS wireless emergency alerts (WEA) on your mobile device, which are carrier-delivered and not dependent on internet connectivity or browser permissions. CDOT and MDT also provide road condition SMS alerts. These official channels operate independently of PeakScout.

When PeakScout displays a severe weather banner (tornado watch, blizzard warning, winter storm warning, flash flood watch, etc.), that banner reflects data pulled from the official NOAA/NWS API — specifically active watches, warnings, and advisories for the queried geographic area.

5.1 Data Freshness

NWS alert data is cached for up to 15 minutes in PeakScout. An alert that is issued, upgraded, downgraded, or cancelled by NWS may not be reflected in PeakScout's display for up to 15 minutes from the time of NWS issuance. Do not treat PeakScout's banner absence as confirmation that no official warning exists for your area.

5.2 Geographic Precision

NWS alerts are issued for counties or forecast zones, which can be large. A warning that covers "Summit County, CO" applies to the entire county — the specific conditions at your trailhead or campsite may be significantly different from the county-wide forecast. Mountain weather is inherently hyperlocal; county-level alerts are approximations of your specific exposure.

5.3 What the Banner Does Not Cover

• Local fire behavior and spot weather forecasts (consult NIFC/USFS fire weather)
• Avalanche hazard (separate disclosure — see Section 7)
• River flood stage relative to a specific gauge (consult USGS water.usgs.gov)
• High-altitude summit weather diverging from valley forecasts

PeakScout provides storm impact assessments for outdoor activities including hiking, paddling, fishing, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, and snowmobiling. These assessments indicate likely conditions during or after a storm but are general guidance only — not safety certifications, go/no-go recommendations, or substitutes for expert local knowledge.

Storms are the single most significant trigger of elevated avalanche danger. The relationship between storm loading and instability is complex and highly terrain-dependent. PeakScout displays storm loading indicators derived from SNOTEL new-snow-water-equivalent (SWE) data as one input to understanding storm consequences in avalanche terrain — not as a substitute for official avalanche forecasts.

7.1 SNOTEL Loading Estimates

SNOTEL measures snowpack at a single point (typically a sheltered clearing at mid-elevation). These measurements:

• Do not capture wind redistribution — cross-loaded ridgelines and lee slopes accumulate far more new snow than SNOTEL reads
• Are point measurements — conditions 1 km away at different elevations, aspects, and terrain features can differ dramatically
• May lag actual deposition by 30–60 minutes due to telemetry intervals
• Can fail or report anomalous values during extreme events

7.2 Official Forecasts Supersede All Estimates

The official avalanche forecasts from CAIC (Colorado), GNFAC, WCMAC, and FAC (Montana) supersede any storm or loading data shown in PeakScout. These centers have trained forecasters, field observation networks, and terrain-specific analysis that PeakScout's automated data aggregation cannot replicate. Check the official forecast every day you travel in avalanche terrain — including the day after a storm when danger may still be elevated or increasing.

This disclaimer supplements PeakScout's Master Terms of Service (Section 1 — Service Description and Section 7 — Disclaimer of Warranties) and the Federal Land Liability Disclaimer. In the event of any conflict, the Master Terms control.

State-specific addenda in Sections 8 (Colorado) and 9 (Montana) supplement but do not replace the Master Terms. The Master Terms of Service limitation of liability (ToS §8), indemnification (ToS §9), and dispute resolution (ToS §10) provisions apply in full to storm intelligence features, alert delivery, and all data displayed on storm-related pages.

For questions about this disclaimer, contact peakscout@polsia.app.