Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
President Trump to visit flood-ravaged Kerrville as search continues Chevron right
New flash flood threat looms in Texas as heat scorches recovery zone. Chevron right

Columbus, OH

93°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

93°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

AccuWeather provides important forecasts for Special Olympics event in Orlando

As a tropical rainstorm caused travel impacts around South Florida, a team of AccuWeather meteorologists provided specialized weather warnings to ensure Special Olympians could reach their destination safely.

By John Murphy, AccuWeather staff writer

Published Jun 6, 2022 4:36 PM EDT | Updated Jun 7, 2022 8:59 AM EDT

Copied

AccuWeather provided important weather forecasting to help the Special Olympics Airlift, carrying athletes to the USA Games in Orlando.

The tropical rainstorm that deluged parts of South Florida over the weekend didn’t stop the hundreds of Special Olympians from letting their games begin.

With athletes from across the United States as well as Puerto Rico and Caribbean competing, it’s typically a large-scale undertaking each year orchestrating the vast transportation needs.

And this year was no different, with the exception of some pretty bad weather and less-than-optimal landing conditions.

Textron Aviation and its Special Olympics Airlift program teamed up with AccuWeather to ensure that the large contingent of athletes and their coaches made it safely to Orlando, Florida, during the storm.

Private aircraft owners and operators donate their planes, fuel and pilots for Airlift, which has been shuttling teams to the Games since 1987, according to Textron officials.

During the Airlift event, multiple aircraft were set to land at Orlando Executive Airport last Saturday, with a Textron Aviation aircraft taking off or landing every two minutes.

"We have 5,500 athletes and coaches who are coming from, not only the 50 states but from the Caribbean...approximately 1,000 athletes will take part in this great airlift and we're just so excited, it's a great opportunity for the athletes," Special Olympics CEO Joe Dzaluk told AccuWeather.

However, on Saturday morning, a tropical rainstorm brought significant precipitation to portions of South Florida, causing Miami to flood in the early morning. As the tropical rainstorm continued to impact the region, AccuWeather utilized its SkyGuard® Severe Weather Warnings to provide up-to-the-minute ground forecasts and ensure Special Olympics Airlift could still operate safely in the central part of the state.

Textron Aviation volunteers wave as a donated private flight moves past them.

"We're going to be letting them know before dangerous thunderstorms get in the area, which is going to allow them to start safety plans and making sure that all aircraft operations are occurring with good information about the weather that's coming," AccuWeather Implementation Manager Tom Bedard said prior to the start of the competition.

AccuWeather SkyGuard® is able to send immediate notifications for inclement weather via text message and email. During the airlift, AccuWeather was able to call individuals on-site at Orlando Executive Airport to inform them of potential lightning, wind or other dangerous conditions.

"[We had] direct contact between our meteorologist and those responsible for life safety in Orlando just to try to get them as much lead time and in a full understanding of the weather impacts through the entire day," said Bedard.

GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

  •    Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+

“AccuWeather has had a tradition of providing additional services and free services to groups that really worked towards a higher being for everybody,” said Guy Pearson, AccuWeather's director of weather warning services.

The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games began on June 5 and will continue through June 12 in Orlando. More than 4,000 athletes from the United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean will compete at the games, which are held once every four years.

Related:

World may have only 4 climate-reliable locations for Winter Olympics by 2050
Sports An 11-year forecast? What the weather might be for the 2032 Olympics
Sports Meet Benny, the ice-skating dog

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.

Report a Typo
Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.
Comments
Hide Comments

Weather News

Weather News

A week after deadly Texas flooding, hope fades but resilience grows

Jul. 11, 2025
Severe Weather

Rounds of severe storms to rattle, drench central US

Jul. 11, 2025
Severe Weather

Is the US seeing worse flooding this summer? Here’s what’s happening

Jul. 11, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

New flash flood threat looms in Texas as heat scorches recovery zone

5 hours ago

Weather News

President Trump visits Texas Hill Country as flood recovery continues

4 hours ago

Weather News

Camp Mystic’s owner warned of floods for decades

8 hours ago

AccuWeather Ready

Is your house in a flood zone? This map has the answer

2 hours ago

Severe Weather

Is the US seeing worse flooding this summer? Here’s what’s happening

7 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Health

How can families handle new anxieties around summer camp?

3 hours ago

Weather News

Viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng celebrates her first birthday

7 hours ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

7 hours ago

Business

Samsung is looking into more AI devices potentially including earrings...

7 hours ago

Weather News

The US has a plan to breed millions of flies and drop them from planes

1 day ago

AccuWeather Weather News AccuWeather provides important forecasts for Special Olympics event in Orlando
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...