Forecast Accuracy Keeps People Safe in a Storm, Just Another Day at AccuWeather
Updated Mar 24, 2018 9:12 AM EDT
AccuWeather Global Weather Center -- March 24, 2018 -- The forecasting floor at the global headquarters of world weather leader AccuWeather hummed with coordinated activity as the first day of spring approached. Days, weeks and, yes, even months before a set of four back-to-back March storms pummeled the northeastern U.S. with snow, a team of the most talented expert operational meteorologists in the world warned that a snowier-than-average March loomed. The last days of March 2018 marked the third consecutive winter when the superior accuracy of AccuWeather’s long-range winter forecast, issued as early as September, was once again proved correct.
The AccuWeather meteorologists’ dedication and commitment to keeping people informed and out of harm’s way when severe weather threatens paid off with what turned out to be the most accurate forecasts available, and the most precise communications regarding expected specific impacts of the storms.
March brought a walloping four nor’easters in the past three weeks, yielding late winter snow, slush, and ice across major cities in the northeastern U.S. Days in advance of people staying home from work and school, off the roads and indoors, the hard-working people at AccuWeather, the largest and fastest-growing provider of weather forecasts and warnings, renowned for its Superior AccuracyTM, were tracking the storm’s path, calculating snow accumulation totals and communicating the dangerous impacts. AccuWeather was first to go public with snow accumulation totals, and was consistent with totals throughout the storm, even as other forecasting sources waffled on their predictions throughout the storms. For New York City—where a faulty snow prediction can grind the city to a halt—the government forecasters and other sources predicted up to 18 inches of snow. The official amount was 8 inches, which fell accurately within AccuWeather’s prediction of 6 to 10 inches.
Lee Goldberg, Chief Meteorologist of WABC-TV in New York, which relies on AccuWeather’s forecast accuracy for reports to its audience, was grateful for AccuWeather’s Superior Accuracy™. “The WABC weather team is very proud of another successful collaboration with AccuWeather on the fourth nor'easter this month. Thanks to vigilant analysis and a constant line of communication, we stayed the course on a very challenging forecast. The result was snowfall forecast verified.”
AccuWeather provided clear, consistent and accurate estimates of snow accumulation totals and expected impact information, pinpointed to specific locations to keep people safe in the midst of yet another high-impact economic disruption. Flight cancellations, transportation delays and damage to personal property from falling trees and power lines were just some of the storms’ effects anticipated by AccuWeather’s meteorologists.
AccuWeather reaches over 1.5 billion users every day in the U.S. and globally on mobile and other electronic devices and AccuWeather.com. Its forecasts are trusted by thousands of radio, TV, and newspaper clients. In severe weather events, the Superior Accuracy of the company’s forecasts can mean the difference between life and death.
Thousands of businesses and government agencies rely on AccuWeather, including nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies as well as school districts, local governments, state departments of transportation, turnpike commissions and others, to ensure that they are proactively guarding against severe weather and its impacts.
“As we predicted, March came in like a lion and went out like a lion, roaring all the way through,” said Paul Pastelok, Senior Meteorologist and Lead Long-Range Forecaster at AccuWeather. “Experiencing four major storms concentrated in just 18 days such as we saw this month, is a rare occurrence. Our long-range winter forecast made several months ahead, was extraordinarily accurate, which was gratifying, but our immediate concern making people in the affected areas aware of what to expect, so that the appropriate precautions would be taken and people would stay safe.”
According to Pastelok, knowledge and experience is essential to predict snow accumulation totals in late March, especially on paved surfaces during the daylight hours—which is why AccuWeather correctly predicted snowfall inches when its competitors and government-issued warnings did not. “Because of the strength of the sun and the warmth of the roads, there is much less snow accumulation on roads and highways than there is on grass, trees and power lines.”
During the storms, meteorologists at AccuWeather communicated specific impacts for northeastern cities, including details such as snow accumulation amounts on non-paved surfaces during the day, and that roads would remain wet to slushy.
“My colleagues at AccuWeather, who are the best in our field, correctly predicted there would be lower snowfall totals in major northeastern cities,” Pastelok said. Indeed, lesser amounts, as accurately predicted by AccuWeather’s expert meteorologists, were verified in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and in Philadelphia.
So how was AccuWeather singularly able to achieve this feat of accuracy and so far ahead of other sources? According to AccuWeather President and Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers, the formula has been honed over 56 years.
“We have over 100 expert meteorologists on staff at AccuWeather, the most under one roof, and they are backed by the most forecast models, weather data and information in any place on the planet, in addition to exclusive and patented technology.”
All this intellectual capital, technology and years of experience, coupled with a dedication to innovation, result in forecasts and warnings with superior accuracy. According to Myers, that means more lives saved.
“In this case of four nor’easters back to back, we are confident we saved lives and kept more people safe" Myers said. "They knew what to expect because of AccuWeather’s warnings, and they were able to take the appropriate actions.”
Myers and his team of expert forecasters are also quick to point out that forecasts, no matter how accurate, are of no value to keeping people safe if they do not clearly specify expected impacts.
AccuWeather provided people and businesses in large metropolises with important details regarding what to expect in the storm. In areas where ice is presumed, AccuWeather alerts clients and users to apply ice-melt products. Additionally, AccuWeather.com updated stories throughout each storm with travel updates for roadway commuters, as well as news regarding flight disruptions.
“Sometimes, it can be tireless, round-the-clock work, but we are acutely aware of this awesome responsibility to keep people safe,” Myers said. “Thankfully we have the best forecasters dedicated to helping people and businesses make the best decisions when weather is a factor.”
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Forecast Accuracy Keeps People Safe in a Storm, Just Another Day at AccuWeather
Updated Mar 24, 2018 9:12 AM EDT
AccuWeather Global Weather Center -- March 24, 2018 -- The forecasting floor at the global headquarters of world weather leader AccuWeather hummed with coordinated activity as the first day of spring approached. Days, weeks and, yes, even months before a set of four back-to-back March storms pummeled the northeastern U.S. with snow, a team of the most talented expert operational meteorologists in the world warned that a snowier-than-average March loomed. The last days of March 2018 marked the third consecutive winter when the superior accuracy of AccuWeather’s long-range winter forecast, issued as early as September, was once again proved correct.
The AccuWeather meteorologists’ dedication and commitment to keeping people informed and out of harm’s way when severe weather threatens paid off with what turned out to be the most accurate forecasts available, and the most precise communications regarding expected specific impacts of the storms.
March brought a walloping four nor’easters in the past three weeks, yielding late winter snow, slush, and ice across major cities in the northeastern U.S. Days in advance of people staying home from work and school, off the roads and indoors, the hard-working people at AccuWeather, the largest and fastest-growing provider of weather forecasts and warnings, renowned for its Superior AccuracyTM, were tracking the storm’s path, calculating snow accumulation totals and communicating the dangerous impacts. AccuWeather was first to go public with snow accumulation totals, and was consistent with totals throughout the storm, even as other forecasting sources waffled on their predictions throughout the storms. For New York City—where a faulty snow prediction can grind the city to a halt—the government forecasters and other sources predicted up to 18 inches of snow. The official amount was 8 inches, which fell accurately within AccuWeather’s prediction of 6 to 10 inches.
Lee Goldberg, Chief Meteorologist of WABC-TV in New York, which relies on AccuWeather’s forecast accuracy for reports to its audience, was grateful for AccuWeather’s Superior Accuracy™. “The WABC weather team is very proud of another successful collaboration with AccuWeather on the fourth nor'easter this month. Thanks to vigilant analysis and a constant line of communication, we stayed the course on a very challenging forecast. The result was snowfall forecast verified.”
AccuWeather provided clear, consistent and accurate estimates of snow accumulation totals and expected impact information, pinpointed to specific locations to keep people safe in the midst of yet another high-impact economic disruption. Flight cancellations, transportation delays and damage to personal property from falling trees and power lines were just some of the storms’ effects anticipated by AccuWeather’s meteorologists.
AccuWeather reaches over 1.5 billion users every day in the U.S. and globally on mobile and other electronic devices and AccuWeather.com. Its forecasts are trusted by thousands of radio, TV, and newspaper clients. In severe weather events, the Superior Accuracy of the company’s forecasts can mean the difference between life and death.
Thousands of businesses and government agencies rely on AccuWeather, including nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies as well as school districts, local governments, state departments of transportation, turnpike commissions and others, to ensure that they are proactively guarding against severe weather and its impacts.
“As we predicted, March came in like a lion and went out like a lion, roaring all the way through,” said Paul Pastelok, Senior Meteorologist and Lead Long-Range Forecaster at AccuWeather. “Experiencing four major storms concentrated in just 18 days such as we saw this month, is a rare occurrence. Our long-range winter forecast made several months ahead, was extraordinarily accurate, which was gratifying, but our immediate concern making people in the affected areas aware of what to expect, so that the appropriate precautions would be taken and people would stay safe.”
According to Pastelok, knowledge and experience is essential to predict snow accumulation totals in late March, especially on paved surfaces during the daylight hours—which is why AccuWeather correctly predicted snowfall inches when its competitors and government-issued warnings did not. “Because of the strength of the sun and the warmth of the roads, there is much less snow accumulation on roads and highways than there is on grass, trees and power lines.”
During the storms, meteorologists at AccuWeather communicated specific impacts for northeastern cities, including details such as snow accumulation amounts on non-paved surfaces during the day, and that roads would remain wet to slushy.
“My colleagues at AccuWeather, who are the best in our field, correctly predicted there would be lower snowfall totals in major northeastern cities,” Pastelok said. Indeed, lesser amounts, as accurately predicted by AccuWeather’s expert meteorologists, were verified in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and in Philadelphia.
So how was AccuWeather singularly able to achieve this feat of accuracy and so far ahead of other sources? According to AccuWeather President and Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers, the formula has been honed over 56 years.
“We have over 100 expert meteorologists on staff at AccuWeather, the most under one roof, and they are backed by the most forecast models, weather data and information in any place on the planet, in addition to exclusive and patented technology.”
All this intellectual capital, technology and years of experience, coupled with a dedication to innovation, result in forecasts and warnings with superior accuracy. According to Myers, that means more lives saved.
“In this case of four nor’easters back to back, we are confident we saved lives and kept more people safe" Myers said. "They knew what to expect because of AccuWeather’s warnings, and they were able to take the appropriate actions.”
Myers and his team of expert forecasters are also quick to point out that forecasts, no matter how accurate, are of no value to keeping people safe if they do not clearly specify expected impacts.
AccuWeather provided people and businesses in large metropolises with important details regarding what to expect in the storm. In areas where ice is presumed, AccuWeather alerts clients and users to apply ice-melt products. Additionally, AccuWeather.com updated stories throughout each storm with travel updates for roadway commuters, as well as news regarding flight disruptions.
“Sometimes, it can be tireless, round-the-clock work, but we are acutely aware of this awesome responsibility to keep people safe,” Myers said. “Thankfully we have the best forecasters dedicated to helping people and businesses make the best decisions when weather is a factor.”
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