Weather by satellite text

The forecast, past the last bar of signal.

Text a command and your coordinates from iPhone satellite messaging, a Garmin inReach, or any phone with signal. Get the weather, the snowpack or the avalanche forecast back in a compact message.

Text AdventureWx
+1 (970) 555-0199
Try hourly 39.0708, -106.9890 or text help

Sample replies, shown in the real AdventureWx format.

How it works

Three steps, no app, no bars.

  1. Find your coordinates

    Open the Compass app, or drop a pin in Maps, and read your latitude and longitude. Either format works.

    39.0708, -106.989039.0708° N, 106.9890° W

  2. Text a command

    Send a command followed by your coordinates to the AdventureWx number, from iPhone satellite messaging, an inReach or other satellite communicator, or as a normal text when you have signal.

    fc 39.0708, -106.9890

  3. Read the reply

    The forecast comes back as a short text written for a satellite link: abbreviated conditions, 24-hour times, and wind as speed and direction.

    14-sct.storm-61°F-12mph.sw
Commands

Every reply fits in a text.

Commands aren't case sensitive. Put your coordinates after a space.

hourlyalso: hf, hourly-forecast
Next 12 hours

One line per hour in local time, with sunrise and sunset dropped in where they fall. Wind under 5 mph reads as calm.

13-pt.cldy-63°F-8mph.sw
14-sct.storm-61°F-12mph.sw
15-t-storm-55°F-18mph.w
20.21-sunset
fcalso: forecast, daily, df
10-day forecast

Low to high, sky, and wind for each day. When precipitation is more likely than 20%, you get the chance and the expected amount.

07/18: 44°F to 66°F pt.cldy, 9mph from SW
  40% chance of rain, 0.1in rain
07/19: 42°F to 69°F m.clr, 6mph from W
ccalso: conditions
Current conditions

Temperature, sky and wind right now at your coordinates.

58°F Partly Cloudy 7mph from SW
snow
Nearest SNOTEL station

Snow depth and recent change from the closest USDA SNOTEL site, with its distance, direction and elevation from you.

Snotel 3.2mi NE
- Depth: 41in from 01/14
- Depth Change: +7in (01/12 to 01/14)
- Measurement elevation: 10,040ft
avyalso: avi, avalanche
Avalanche forecast

Today's danger by elevation band and each avalanche problem with its likelihood, size, and the aspects where it applies, from the forecast center for your zone.

Avy Fx from Colorado Avalanche Information Center (01/14)
Danger:
- Upper: Considerable
- Middle: Moderate
- Lower: Low
Problems:
- Persistent Slab
  - Likelihood: Likely
  - Size: 1 - 2
  - Elevations:
    - Upper: N,NE,E
    - Middle: N,NE
    - Lower: none
help
Command list

Texts you back the commands and coordinate formats.

help
clr clearm.clr mostly clearpt.cldy partly cloudycldy cloudydrzl drizzleflur flurriesmix wintry mixsct.storm scattered stormsblow.snow blowing snow
Coverage

Where it works.

AdventureWx pulls from the same sources you'd check at the trailhead and condenses them for a satellite text.

Weather

Current conditions, hourly and 10-day forecasts for your exact coordinates, reported in your local time zone.

Avalanche

Forecasts for every zone covered by the US avalanche centers on avalanche.org and by Avalanche Canada.

LOW MODERATE CONSIDERABLE HIGH EXTREME

Snowpack

Snow depth and change from the nearest of the automated SNOTEL stations across the western United States.

What you need

Anything that can send a text

  • iPhone 14 or later with Messages via satellite (iOS 18 or later, on a supported carrier)
  • A Garmin inReach or any other satellite communicator that can text a phone number
  • Any phone with regular cell signal

Out of coverage, keep a clear view of the sky so your device can reach the satellite.

For avalanche centers & guides

Put your forecast in more hands

AdventureWx delivers your published forecast to people in the backcountry with no signal. If you run a forecast center, guide service or SAR team and want to talk about coverage or attribution, get in touch.

hello@adventurewx.com