Cookie Policy

How we use cookies and similar technologies

This Cookie Policy explains how SnowDayCalculator.io ("we," "us," or "our") uses cookies, local storage, session storage, and similar browser technologies when you visit our website. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which describes how we handle personal information more broadly. By continuing to use our site, you consent to the use of essential cookies as described below. Where required by law, we will request your consent before placing non-essential cookies such as analytics or advertising trackers.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They allow the site to remember your preferences, maintain session state, and collect usage information. Local storage and session storage are related technologies that store data directly in your browser without transmitting it to our servers. Unlike cookies, local storage data is not automatically sent with every HTTP request.

How We Use Cookies and Storage

SnowDayCalculator.io uses browser storage primarily for functional purposes that improve your experience. We categorize our use as follows:

Strictly Necessary (Essential)

These technologies are required for the website to function properly. They cannot be disabled without breaking core features. Examples include storing your light/dark theme preference, remembering recent location searches for quick access, saving favorite locations you have bookmarked, and maintaining cookie consent choices. Essential storage is retained on your device until you clear it through browser settings.

Performance and Analytics

With your consent, we may use analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with our calculators, which pages are most popular, and where users encounter errors. This aggregate data helps us prioritize improvements and fix bugs. Analytics cookies do not identify you personally. We may use privacy-respecting analytics tools that minimize data collection. You can opt out of analytics cookies through our consent banner or your browser settings.

Advertising

If advertising is enabled on our site, third-party ad networks such as Google AdSense may set cookies to deliver relevant advertisements, measure ad performance, and prevent fraud. These cookies are controlled by the respective ad providers and are subject to their privacy policies. We do not sell personal data to advertisers. You can manage ad personalization through Google's Ad Settings or your browser's "Do Not Track" and cookie-blocking features.

Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are placed by services embedded on our pages rather than by SnowDayCalculator.io directly. Weather data APIs, content delivery networks, font providers, and advertising partners may set their own cookies when you load our site. We do not control these third-party cookies. We encourage you to review the privacy and cookie policies of Google, Open-Meteo, and any other third-party services linked from our platform.

Managing Your Preferences

You have several options for controlling cookies and local storage:

  • Browser settings: Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Consult your browser's help documentation for instructions. Note that blocking all cookies may prevent theme preferences and saved locations from working.
  • Clear site data: You can clear SnowDayCalculator.io data specifically through your browser's site settings without affecting other websites.
  • Consent banner: Where displayed, our cookie consent banner lets you accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your choice at any time by clearing cookies and revisiting the site.
  • Opt-out links: For Google Analytics, visit tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. For Google Ads personalization, visit adssettings.google.com.

Cookie Retention

Session cookies expire when you close your browser. Persistent cookies and local storage entries may remain for varying periods - typically from thirty days to one year - depending on their purpose. Theme preferences and favorites persist until you manually clear them. Analytics cookies generally expire within two years.

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in technology, regulation, or our practices. Revisions will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

Questions about our use of cookies may be sent to privacy@snowdaycalculator.io or through our Contact page.

Browser Controls and Practical Effects

Cookie controls differ by browser and device. Private browsing may delete some storage when the session closes, while clearing history alone may not remove all site data. Browser extensions, network filters, and privacy settings can block third-party requests independently of our consent controls. Consult your browser documentation for the behavior that applies to your version.

Rejecting non-essential storage should not prevent access to ordinary articles or core calculator inputs. Some convenience features may reset, including theme, favorites, recent searches, and a remembered consent choice. Blocking third-party content may also prevent an advertisement, analytics request, or externally hosted asset from loading. We do not attempt to bypass browser privacy settings.

Consent and provider changes

Where consent is legally required, non-essential technologies should be activated only after the appropriate choice. Withdrawal applies going forward and does not automatically delete cookies already stored by a third party; those can be removed through browser or provider controls. Vendors may change cookie names or durations as their services evolve, so this policy describes purposes and categories rather than promising a permanent inventory.

Questions about a specific stored item are most useful when they include its name, domain, and the page where it appeared. Do not send cookie values because they can contain identifiers.