Accuweather, Inc.

Weatherdata, Inc.

Bill Vincent

Casey Mcgeever

Gregg Pavlik

R Lee Rainey

Michelle L Massung

Michael R Smith

A system and method for outputting weather data associated with a user-specified location based on a user-specified weather inquiry, including weather data output based on user-specified weather conditions, locations output based on a user-specified weather inquiry, notifications output regarding weather-related warnings, and notifications output based on weather-related notification thresholds.

Customizable weather analysis system for providing weather-related warnings

Customizable weather analysis system for outputting user-specified procedures in response to weather-related warnings

The invention provides a system and method for predicting areas where lightning strikes are likely to occur by evaluating radar and temperature data. Radar volume data is analyzed to locate cloud tops that extend above a height corresponding to a temperature line of about &minus;10&deg; C. Areas where cloud tops extend above the height of the &minus;10&deg; C. line and that have a radar composite reflectivity greater than 30 dBZ are designated as probable lightning threat areas. Radar movement is tracked across at least two time periods, and a correlation algorithm predicts the future location of lightning threat areas at predetermined time periods (e.g., 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 30 minutes) based on predicted radar values. A computer display shows the predicted location of the lightning threat areas for the future time periods. In one variation, selected structures or areas (e.g., power lines, factories, or the like) are superimposed on a computer display with predicted lightning threat areas to illustrate where lightning damage is likely to occur.

Method and apparatus for predicting lightning threats based on radar and temperature data

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Wichita, KS, United States of America

Bill Vincent