by Angela Guess

A new press release out of the company reports, “The Weather Company, an IBM Business, announced today they will leverage one of the largest Internet of Things (IoT) platforms in the world to provide critical weather data to millions of people in currently underserved areas. With severe weather statistically occurring more frequently, governments and businesses are seeking supplemental weather data to better prepare for impending disasters.”

The release goes on, “For the period 2010-2015, severe weather events caused more than $100 billion in damage in the U.S., where modern warning systems exist, according to theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Even more concerning is the fact that 70 developing countries lack robust early warning systems, exposing citizens to potentially life-threatening disasters. On a global scale, The World Bank reports that over the past 30 years, natural disasters, which include severe weather, have taken an estimated 2.5 million lives and cost more than US$4 trillion.”

It continues, “To address these challenges, in 2001 Weather Underground (WU), a subsidiary of The Weather Company, developed the Personal Weather Station (PWS) Network. With over 200,000 stations in 195 countries, this network enables The Weather Company to provide hyperlocal forecasts to millions around the world with unprecedented accuracy. Each station is equipped with multiple sensors for detecting barometric pressure, humidity, temperature, wind speed and direction, and other factors. Greater personal weather station data leads to more precise and enhanced forecasts,which can help governments and communities better anticipate and act on weather conditions.”

Read more at PR Newswire.

Photo credit: The Weather Company