AccuWeather, Inc. Acquires WeatherData, Inc.
Purchase to Fuel Further Development of Advanced Radar and Mobile Weather-Monitoring Technology for Risk Management
(State College, PA, May 8, 2006) - AccuWeather, Inc. (www.accuweather.com) announced today that it had completed the purchase of WeatherData, Inc. (www.weatherdata.com).
WeatherData specializes in weather-risk management consulting and state-of-the-art weather forecasting and services to utility, transportation, manufacturing, educational and governmental clients throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The company also holds significant patents for weather forecasting technology.
“WeatherData is a world leader in severe weather forecasting, so this acquisition brings important new technologies into the AccuWeather repertoire,” said Dr. Joel N. Myers, Founder and President of AccuWeather. “We expect to integrate these new capabilities into our AccuWeather offerings to deliver even stronger solutions that help keep people safe and help businesses protect their property, continuity and bottom line.”
“Joining the AccuWeather family means that we will have greater research and development, financial and technical resources to better serve our customers,” said Mike Smith, Founder and CEO of WeatherData. “Customers of both companies will benefit from the combination of AccuWeather’s unparalleled 15-day forecasts with WeatherData’s up-to-the-minute, site-specific severe weather warnings and innovative software.”
The acquisition is expected to foster further development of several key WeatherData technologies, including:
SkyGuard® - a comprehensive, enterprise solution for weather risk management, the SkyGuard service aids businesses in optimizing their supply chain while simultaneously maximizing production time and employee safety. SkyGuard delivers highly-detailed site-specific forecast and warning information for each facility and rail or highway mile that is pertinent to a business’s operations and supply chain, while at the same time monitoring and advising on critical thresholds such as temperature, precipitation, wind or lightning strikes.
SelectWarn® - an advanced, on-air radar system which delivers weather graphics and video to television stations, faster than any system on the market today. Incorporating the latest Level II NEXRAD reports, SelectWarn delivers highly specific, GIS-based warnings that are 70% more precise than the traditional "countywide" warnings. Additional exclusive on-air capabilities available through SelectWarn are true-color weather satellite images, precision rainfall forecast amounts, and precise lightning forecasts, predicted 30 minutes into the future. In addition to its powerful weather forecasting capabilities, SelectWarn also provides television stations with unique tools for covering deadly geo-hazards, including animated flood inundation mapping, and earthquake ground shaking.
Storm Hawk® - A hand-held GPS-based weather-monitoring and forecasting device with moving-map GPS technology, delivered onto a personal digital assistant, StormHawk provides real-time weather radar, and detailed information on lightning, wind speed and weather warnings. StormHawk is in use today in applications ranging from news gathering to athletic safety and outdoor construction management.
WeatherData was founded in 1981 and has been located in Wichita, KS since that time. The company will continue to operate in Wichita as WeatherData Services, Inc., with its current staff, address and phone number and local management. WeatherData Founder Mike Smith will continue as CEO. WeatherData previously sold its Newspaper Division to AccuWeather in 2002, in a highly successful arrangement that benefited both companies and their customers.
About AccuWeather
AccuWeather, The World’s Weather Authority®, provides a portfolio of products and services through the airwaves, via the Internet, in print, and behind the scenes that benefit hundreds of millions of people worldwide. AccuWeather serves over 250,000 paying customers in media, business, government and institutions, and millions more through AccuWeather.com. AccuWeather also provides content onto more than 10,000 Internet sites including CNN Interactive, ABC’s owned and operated stations, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Visit www.accuweather.com for more information.
About WeatherData
WeatherData is a commercial weather company providing weather risk management consulting and state-of-the-art weather forecasting and services to more than 200 utility, transportation, manufacturing, educational and governmental clients throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Visit www.weatherdata.com and www.storm-hawk.com for more information.
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