Weather you can count on
Backcountry Forecast
Reliable forecasts in the most remote places, by text message. Simply text your coordinates from a phone or satellite messenger.
Works with Garmin inReach, ZOLEO, SPOT X, Bivy Stick, and any phone that can text, by cell or by satellite.
Start your free trial90 days free, then CAD 35 or USD 25 per year. Nothing is charged until the trial ends.
- Weather and marine forecastsMore coming soon
- Up to 10 days ahead3-hour resolution
- High-resolution modelsECMWF, HRDPS, HRRR and more
- Customize your requestsDates, times, weather model, units
- Unlimited forecastsConnect your phone and satellite messenger
How it works
Connect a device
Sign up, then link your phone or satellite messenger from your dashboard. You get a number to text.
Text your request
Copy coordinates from your favourite map app, or have your satellite messenger include your location automatically.
Get a forecast
Make decisions in the backcountry with confidence knowing you have the most up-to-date weather information.
Reading a forecast
Compact, readable weather data optimized for text messages.
One line per three-hour period
7:00 am · 7 °C · partly cloudy · 0.9 mm of rain · wind 7 gusting 9 km/h from the ESE
7:00 am · 12 °C air temperature · wind 2 gusting 6 kt from the SSW · 3.2 m waves every 8 s from the SE
One line per three-hour period
7:00 am · 7 °C · partly cloudy · 0.9 mm of rain · wind 7 gusting 9 km/h from the ESE
7:00 am · 12 °C air temperature · wind 2 gusting 6 kt from the SSW · 3.2 m waves every 8 s from the SE
Go further
Learn
Simple tutorials and tips to get the most out of the service.
Try it yourself
Send requests from your browser and read real responses.
Field guide
A helpful cheat sheet you can save to your phone for when you're off grid.
One plan
Subscription
or USD 25 / year. Less than a dollar a week.
- Unlimited forecast requests
- Weather and marine forecasts
- High-resolution global and regional weather models, including ECMWF
- Custom time frames, up to a 10-day horizon
- Up to one phone and one satellite messenger per account
Renews yearly. Cancel any time from your account.
Questions
My inReach already has weather. Why this?
Built-in forecasts come in one fixed format from a low-resolution weather model, with marine forecasts often unavailable close to shore. Backcountry Forecast offers modern, high-resolution models and the flexibility to customize, and it works with devices that have no weather feature at all.
Which devices work?
Any device that can send and receive text messages: Garmin inReach (current and older models), ZOLEO, SPOT X, ACR Bivy Stick, iPhones with Messages via satellite, any phone with a satellite texting plan from its carrier, and ordinary phones on the cell network. One-way devices such as SPOT Gen4 can't receive a reply, so they don't work.
Where does it work?
The service provides global forecast coverage, and you can request a forecast from anywhere your device can send a message. Currently, only US and Canadian phone numbers are accepted, but please get in touch if you'd like to see support for your country.
Why annual only?
One price, once a year, and nothing to pause or resume between trips. The 90-day trial means you've used it for a season before you pay, and you can cancel any time from your account.
Where does the weather data come from?
Weather data is sourced primarily from Open-Meteo. The default weather model is a blend of the best available models for the location, and you can ask for a specific model in any request.
Do I need an app?
No. Requests and forecasts are plain text messages, so they work in whatever messaging app your device already uses. The web dashboard allows you to connect devices, change settings, and manage your subscription.
How do I cancel?
You can cancel anytime from your account page. If you cancel during the free trial, you won't be charged. If you cancel during your subscription, forecasts keep working until the end of the year you've paid for.
