You know those buoys that have been placed throughout the oceans loaded with various sensors that transmit data remotely to data collection centers stationed throughout the world? Well, same thing, but in the mountains.
Long, vertical, highly sensitive poles like...no, more sensitive than that...are placed throughout the mountains that collect data (wind speed/direction, snow depth, temperature, density, etc.) and send their info to centers for analysis and report.
We pay for it through sales of cc.com t-shirts, out-of-state Tauntaun/Snaffle combined-season hunting license surcharge, and a Seattle sales tax increase of .03%.