Ever since Gary England showed the first radar image of a tornado on television back in
1973, a proprietary radar has been the ultimate differentiator for severe weather
coverage on television. But, owning a radar involves a large capital investment and
significant ongoing expense — commitments that are more difficult in today’s broadcast
landscape. Even those who can make the investment have frequently had to work
through complex integrations just to display their radar feeds to viewers.
Climavision and The Weather Company, an IBM Business, are working together to
solve both those challenges.
Launched in 2021, Louisville, Ky.-based Climavision is deploying its own network of X-band radars and making the data available to broadcasters on a subscription basis. With a direct interface into The Weather Company’s Max suite of products, Climavision’s radar as a service is designed to give broadcasters all the advantages of a station-owned radar.
With many decades of combined experience in the weather radar industry, Climavision’s
team was able to zero in on the “gaps” between NEXRAD radars – where the
government systems may have a harder time spotting potentially dangerous weather at
low altitudes. Because NEXRAD radars mostly sit near large urban areas, many of the communities that fall in the gaps are underserved. These rural communities may have access to fewer services and longer waits for emergency response, but Climavision’s radar data can help make up for that discrepancy.
Within days of installation, Climavision’s radar system captured a tornado moving into an area overseen by Shawn Granato, EMA Director for Columbia County, Ga. “The resolution in this radar shows even more detail so we can see storms and tornadoes forming close to the ground. If we can give people just 30 or even 60 seconds more… we can make a difference.”
Earlier this year, Climavision installed three new radars in Central North Carolina to
effectively close one of the country’s most notable gaps, bringing low-altitude coverage to an area that’s home to more than 3 million people.
Gray Television-owned WBTV-3 in Charlotte was the first television station with access to the new system. “Viewers trust us with their family’s safety during severe weather, so we owe them the best information we can possibly provide,” said Molly Kelleher, the station’s News Director.
Data from Climavision’s network can be incorporated directly into a client’s Rapid Radar Service data feed, allowing it to be displayed on-air alongside NEXRAD data. The Weather Company’s Max system can also highlight the Climavision feed.
Joe Sciortino, General Manager at Gray’s WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, is also a fan of the product. “Climavision gives us a clear, visual differentiator for our weather coverage,” he said.
Climavision radar installations in North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee are underway, and the company will have 35 radars online by the end of 2023.
“Weather radar coverage is critically important for all of us, and the way most people
see it is through their local broadcaster,” said Climavision Co-Founder and CEO Chris
Goode. “Our collaboration with The Weather Company gives local stations a clear
competitive advantage while also allowing them to serve viewers with a new level of
protection.”
— With reporting by Melissa Medori
