AccuWeather

Infobox Company
name = AccuWeather

type = Private
genre =
foundation = 1962
founder = Joel N. Myers
location_city = State College, Pennsylvania
location_country = USA
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homepage = [http://www.accuweather.com/ AccuWeather.com]
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AccuWeather is an American media company that provides for profit weather forecasting services worldwide.

AccuWeather was founded in 1962 by Dr. Joel N. Myers, then a Penn State graduate student working on degrees in meteorology. His first customer was a gas company in Pennsylvania. While running the company, Myers also became a member of Penn State's meteorology faculty. The company adopted the name "AccuWeather" in 1971.

AccuWeather is headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania, with a sales office in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. In 2006, AccuWeather acquired WeatherData, Inc. of Wichita, Kansas. As WeatherData Services, Inc., an AccuWeather Company, the Wichita facility now houses AccuWeather’s specialized severe weather forecasters. [ [http://cache.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=1537257189&page_url=%2f%2fwww.centredaily.com%2fmld%2fcentredaily%2fnews%2flocal%2f14514629.htm&page_last_updated=5%2f6%2f2006+5%3a48%3a20+PM&firstName=Lee&lastName=Rainey ZoomInfo Cached Page ] ]

Company Profile

AccuWeather markets weather products and services, with 175,000 clients worldwide in media, business and government. [http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/752863/firm_expands_ways_to_get_weather/index.html Firm Expands Ways to Get Weather - Technology - redOrbit ] ] It also runs the free, advertising-supported website AccuWeather.com, an online weather provider. The company claims that the AccuWeather brand and weather are presented to over 110 million people every day. AccuWeather employs 404 persons, of whom 113 are meteorologists.

AccuWeather's forecasts and services are based on weather information derived from numerous sources, including weather observations and data gathered by the National Weather Service and meteorological organizations outside the United States, and from information provided by non-meteorological organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the armed forces.

AccuWeather operates a 24-hour commercially sponsored weather channel known as The Local AccuWeather Channel, which is similar to NBC Weather Plus. The Local AccuWeather Channel launched in 2006 and is currently on the air in 48 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Houston.

The regular weather provider for Bloomberg Television and numerous local TV stations, AccuWeather also provides guest commentary on major TV networks. AccuWeather also provides weather for numerous radio stations and newspapers, including WINS (AM) in New York City, KFWB (AM) in Los Angeles and WBZ (AM) in Boston. During severe-weather episodes, AccuWeather experts have been called upon by television journalists such as Larry King [ [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/22/lkl.01.html CNN.com - Transcripts ] ] , Geraldo Rivera [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,96577,00.html FOXNews.com - Topics and Guests for September 24 & 25 - At Large w/ Geraldo Rivera ] ] , and Greta van Susteren [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,167326,00.html FOXNews.com - Covering Katrina - Greta Van Susteren | On The Record With Greta ] ] for expert commentary. Many of its broadcast meteorologists, such as Joe Bastardi and Elliot Abrams, are known nationally.

AccuWeather produces local weather videos each day for use on their own web site, on the Local AccuWeather Channel, and on wired Internet and mobile web sites. The company is also active in the areas of convergence and digital signage. [ [http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/612357/correction_content_from_accuweather_to_expand_to_digital_signs/index.html CORRECTION: Content From AccuWeather to Expand to Digital Signs - Business - redOrbit ] ] They have added a user-contributed video section to their photo gallery.

Current Programming

* Weather Detectives with Jacqueline Noto. Discusses how AccuWeather.com forensic meteorologists have assisted in establishing the truth in legal proceedings.
* Headline Earth with Katie Fehlinger. Presents discussions of the science behind the global warming debate. (AccuWeather also contributes space on its website for this discussion at www. global-warming.accuweather.com.)
* Travel Talk with Jason Handman. Weekly reviews of travel destinations around the U.S.
* Entertainment Weather with Karah Donovan. Presents weekend weather and its impact on entertainment options.
* Astronomy with Katrina Voss. Explores scientific topics related to meteor showers, eclipses, prominent constellations and reports on recent news and events in the field of astronomy.
* Weather 101/Weather Whys with Kate Bilo. Educational discussions of how the weather happens and how it impacts the world around us.
* Weather History with Kate Bilo. How precipitation, temperature or wind events have influenced the course of history. .
* Point Counterpoint with Joe Bastardi and Ken Reeves. Offers weather enthusiasts a fresh perspective on the current weather around the country. The Internet's only weather talk show. Now available on the AccuWeather.com Free Site.

On-air Personalities

AccuWeather’s broadcasters include Elliot Abrams, Brett Anderson, Carl Babinski, Joe Bastardi, Kate Bilo, Jack Boston, Dave Bowers, Dean Devore, Karah Donovan, John Feerick, Katie Fehlinger, Jason Handman, Maggie Johnson, Jim Kosek, Bob Larson, Michael Leseney, Henry Margusity, Melissa Magee, Byron May, Josh Nagelberg, Jacqueline Noto, Paul Pastelok, Steve Penstone, Jon Porter, Dan Pydynowski, Bernie Rayno, Ken Reeves, Matt Rinde, Kerry Schwindenhammer, Dr. Joe Sobel, Kari Chessario Smith, Katrina Voss, Eric Wilhelm, and Heather Zehr.

AccuWeather in the Profession of Meteorology

AccuWeather does not use the commonly cited wind chill and heat index values. Instead, AccuWeather created a unified value known as The AccuWeather Exclusive RealFeel Temperature(r). The formula for calculating this value incorporates the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation and elevation on the human body. AccuWeather has been granted a United States patent on The RealFeel Temperature. [ [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F7251579 United States Patent: 7251579 ] ] ]

AccuWeather employees who have been recognized for their services to the profession of meteorology include:

* Elliot Abrams, AccuWeather Chief Forecaster and Senior Vice President, is one of only a few living persons who has earned both the title of Certified Consulting Meteorologist and the AMS Seal of Approval for both radio and television from the American Meteorological Society. He is a member of the AMS Board of Certified Consulting Meteorologists, a Fellow of the AMS, [http://www.ametsoc.org/memdir/fellowslist/get_listoffellows.cfm AMS List of Fellows ] ] and winner of the 1993 AMS award for Outstanding Service by a Broadcasting Meteorologist. [http://www.ametsoc.org/getpastawards/get_allawards.cfm AMS All Awards Inquiry ] ] In 1996, the National Weather Association named Abrams "Broadcaster of the Year". [http://www.nwas.org/awards/index.php National Weather Association ] ] In 1994, he won the AMS Charles L. Mitchell Award for “outstanding and unique dissemination of weather forecasts to the nation’s public by radio and television.” Abrams is co-inventor of the AccuWeather Exclusive RealFeel Temperature(r).

* Dr. Joe Sobel, AccuWeather Senior Vice President, was recognized in 2004 by the AMS for Outstanding Service as a Broadcast Meteorologist. Dr. Sobel is co-inventor of the AccuWeather Exclusive RealFeel Temperature(r).

* Michael R. Smith, CEO of WeatherData Services, Inc., [http://cache.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=1537257189&page_url=%2f%2fwww.centredaily.com%2fmld%2fcentredaily%2fnews%2flocal%2f14514629.htm&page_last_updated=5%2f6%2f2006+5%3a48%3a20+PM&firstName=Lee&lastName=Rainey ] an AccuWeather company, is a Fellow of the AMS. In 1992, he won the American Meteorological Society's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Applied Meteorology [ http://www.ametsoc.org/getpastawards/get_awardsyear.cfm ] and shared in WeatherData's 2000 Award for Outstanding Service to Meteorology by a Corporation. [http://www.ametsoc.org/awards/2000all_recipients.pdf] He is a recipient of five United States patents, with four other U.S. and foreign patents pending.

* AccuWeather CEO Barry Lee Myers has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Commercial Weather Services Association, the weather industry’s trade association, since 1990, serving as the industry’s chief federal-relations officer. Barry Lee Myers is recognized as an expert in weather information exchange and public/private relationships in the weather field. He also has served as advisor to the Director of the U.S. National Weather Service at the U.N.’s World Meteorological Organization Meetings in Geneva, Switzerland.

* Dr. Joel N. Myers, AccuWeather Founder, Chairman and President, was awarded the National Weather Association’s Operation Achievement Award in 2004. Dr. Myers was recognized in 1997 as one of the 528 greatest entrepreneurs in American history in "Entrepreneur Magazine’s Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs". [Anthony Hallett and Diane Hallet. "Entrepreneur Magazine Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs." New York: Wiley, 1997. ISBN 978-0471175360 ] Dr. Myers is the co-recipient of two United States patents for the AccuWeather Exclusive RealFeel Temperature (r) and AccuWeather StormRisc(r).

Criticisms

The National Weather Service (NWS) states as their mission the following: "The National Weather Service provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community." [ [http://www.weather.gov/mission.shtml NOAA - National Weather Service - Mission Statement ] ]

AccuWeather and other members of the Commercial Weather Services Association have from time to time criticized the NWS for what they have claimed is a lack of focus on this mission, often exemplified by NWS activities that are claimed to compete with the private weather companies.

On April 14, 2005 senator Rick Santorum introduced the "National Weather Service Duties Act of 2005" into the U.S. Senate. The legislation would have placed into federal law a definition of the duties of the NWS similar to its stated mission [ [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.786: Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress) ] ] and would have prohibited the NWS from providing products or services for free that the private sector is willing and able to provide (S. 786). The bill did not garner a single co-sponsor, did not come up for a vote and Santorum was subsequently defeated in his re-election bid.

AccuWeather received criticism for their support of the legislation, [ [http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/epaper/2005/04/21/m1a_wx_0421.html Weather info could go dark ] ] and Santorum received campaign contributions from the privately-held company's president and family. [ [http://www.newsmeat.com/ceo_political_donations/Joel_Myers.php NEWSMEAT ▷ Joel Myers's Federal Campaign Contribution Report ] ]

Accuweather has also received some criticism from the companies they serve, as some meteorologists feel their service is overpriced and not worth paying for when compared with the free information from the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service generally has a more stringent hiring policy for their meteorologists as well.

References

External links

Official site

* [http://www.accuweather.com/ AccuWeather.com]

Reviews

* AccuWeather Releases Spanish-Language Widgets - Hispanic PRWire(http://www.hispanicprwire.com/news.php?l=in&id=9372&cha=12)
* PC World Ten Must-See iPhone Apps (including AccuWeather iPhone app) http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,135586-c,iphone/article.html
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* cite web |url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2108163,00.asp |title= Ten Must-Have Gadgets for Windows Vista Sidebar |accessdate=2007-06-25 |publisher=PC World
* AccuWeather.com 15-day forecast widget for iPhone and Mac OS X users http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13549_7-9740071-30.html?tag=head