AccuWeather Provides the Earliest, Most Detailed, Most Actionable and Most Accurate Forecasts for Major Snow and Ice Storm to Start 2025
AccuWeather was ahead of all other known sources in issuing forecast snowfall accumulation and ice impact maps, providing more advance notice on dangerous impacts.
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Storm chaser Aaron Rigsby was stuck on I-71 near Glencoe, Kentucky, due to authorities shutting the roadway down because of heavy snow and ice.
AccuWeather’s forecasts for a widespread snow and ice storm that developed in the central Plains the weekend after New Year’s and continued into Monday for parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic were issued ahead of other known sources. AccuWeather’s forecasts for many areas proved to be more detailed, more actionable and more accurate than those from other known sources, providing valuable insights so that customers could be better prepared and stay safer.
AccuWeather was ahead of all other known sources in issuing forecast snowfall accumulation and ice impact maps, providing more advance notice on dangerous impacts.
- On Jan.1, more than three days in advance of the storm’s development, AccuWeather was the first known source to issue a forecast snowfall accumulation map for the storm that would eventually impact an area from the Plains into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
- Also, ahead of all other known sources, AccuWeather produced a graphic detailing the storm's widespread ice impact. This graphic also detailed the risk of hazardous travel and the downing of trees and power lines that could lead to power outages.
- On Jan. 2, AccuWeather was the first and only known source to create a forecasted power outage risk map, providing people and businesses with helpful insights to plan for potential outages.
- AccuWeather was also the only known source to produce a map showing the widespread, dangerous and persistent cold that would follow the storm. AccuWeather’s forecast map of minimum AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures provided valuable information to enable customers to make the best decisions related to the cold wave.
>>READ MORE: Six winter weather risks for businesses and how to prepare
AccuWeather forecasts were consistently more accurate than those from other known sources. A few of many such examples:
- On Jan. 1, AccuWeather was the first known source to issue a storm total snowfall forecast for cities in the storm's path.
- In Kansas City, AccuWeather most accurately predicted 6-10” consistently from the start. Other sources, such as Fox Weather, predicted 3-5” – far too little snow (around 10” fell). In addition, the government’s National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts flip-flopped constantly – they predicted all of the following at various times during the storm: 4-12 inches, 8-13 inches, 6-13 inches, 7-14 inches, 7-15 inches and then 6-14 inches.
- In New York City, AccuWeather’s forecast for a coating to an inch, with the best chance for more than an inch south of the city, was correct and issued before any other known source.
- On Jan. 2, recognizing the potential for a lake-effect snow band to develop in the wake of the main storm passing by to the south, AccuWeather was the first to accurately predict snow showers developing off Lake Michigan and moving through the Chicago area Monday afternoon, Jan. 6. In contrast, the NWS, as of 11 a.m. ET Jan. 2, only predicted a chance of snow in the morning on Monday.
>>READ MORE: Better Protect Your Business from the Hidden Costs of Snowstorms
AccuWeather For Business SkyGuard® customers and users of the AccuWeather AlertTM service, including our subscription services such as Premium+ in the AccuWeather app, exclusively received at least a day of additional advance notice of the storm compared to the NWS watches and warnings available from other sources.
- On Jan 1., an AccuWeather Alert Snow and Ice Potential was issued for an area from Kansas City and St. Louis to Cincinnati, Indianapolis and all of Kentucky.
- This AccuWeather Alert was 24-28 hours in advance of the Winter Storm Watches being issued by the NWS.
- In Washington, DC, AccuWeather Alert Snow Potential was issued at 10 a.m. on Jan. 2, while the NWS did not issue a Winter Storm Watch until nearly two days later at 3 a.m. on Jan. 4!
AccuWeather forecasts were more specific and provided greater actionable detail in describing the potential impacts for areas from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
- Several days before the storm, AccuWeather’s meteorologists placed messaging in its forecasts, highlighting the upcoming winter storm. No other known sources provided this kind of advance awareness. Examples include:
- A major winter storm is on the way this weekend (first issued for an area from eastern Kansas through the Ohio Valley on Jan. 2).
- A major winter storm is expected Sunday night and Monday (issued around Jan. 2 for the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic).
- An impactful storm is expected to slow travel; check AccuWeather often
- Difficult and dangerous travel is expected for the Monday morning commute (for places across southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington DC).
- AccuWeather forecasts accurately and more descriptively than any other known source predicted that “rapidly deteriorating road conditions can lead to slow and slippery travel” Saturday night in parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.
- As early as Jan. 2, AccuWeather conveyed that “there can be power outages and dangerous travel” for parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley Sunday into Sunday night. Around the same time on Jan. 2, the National Weather Service had yet to issue any winter weather watches or warnings for the event.
The AccuWeather Advantage
More than 100 times every year, AccuWeather has been documented as providing more accurate, more advanced notification of significant and extreme weather events that impact businesses and threaten the health, welfare, and lives of individuals. AccuWeather has proven to be the most accurate source of weather forecasts and warnings.
These are additional examples of the many weather events where AccuWeather provided superior forecasts and impact descriptions to people, communities, and businesses, helping them better prepare and stay safe.
