Project Overview
SnowFinder analyzes historical snowfall data from 62+ Japanese ski resorts (seasons 2014-2025) sourced from SnowJapan.com to help you find the best powder conditions.
Peak Period Detection Algorithm
Our algorithm identifies the top 5 snowiest periods for each resort using a sophisticated approach:
- Rolling Window Analysis: We scan through historical data using flexible 2-7 day windows to capture both short intense dumps and sustained snowfall periods.
- Prominence Scoring: Peaks are ranked not just by total snowfall, but by how much they stand out from surrounding periods - identifying true powder bonanzas rather than seasonal averages.
- Statistical Validation: Each peak is assigned a confidence level (high/medium/low) based on data consistency across multiple seasons, ensuring reliable predictions.
- Multi-Year Averaging: Dates represent historical patterns across all available seasons, smoothing out year-to-year variations to reveal true seasonal trends.
The algorithm balances total snowfall volume, daily intensity, and statistical significance to surface the periods when resorts historically receive their best conditions. Confidence levels indicate data reliability: "high" means 4+ years of consistent data, "medium" means 2-3 years, and "low" means limited historical coverage.