Weathering the Storm: How OpenWeather Helps Keep Communities Resilient in the USA

The impact of extreme weather is a global challenge, but its effects are acutely felt in susceptible regions of the USA, where densely populated areas and critical infrastructure are increasingly vulnerable. From hurricanes and wildfires to floods and blizzards, these events disrupt economies, strain resources, and threaten lives. However, amidst these challenges lies an opportunity: leveraging data to build resilience and adapt to our changing climate.

In our previous article we examined the effect of extreme weather on areas of Bangladesh, Rotterdam and Puerto Rico, we now look at how community-centric projects in the USA are proving to be equally successful.

The Price of Unpredictability

Recent years have brought a stark reminder of the economic and social costs of extreme weather events in the USA and around the world. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey devastated the Gulf Coast of Texas, causing over $125 billion in damages and crippling the region's vital oil and gas industry. The storm exposed the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and supply chains to extreme rainfall and flooding.

Events such as this show the urgent need for climate action and disaster preparedness. By understanding and adapting to weather patterns, we can reduce the impact of these events throughout the world.

Here are a few examples of how people in the USA are working to build a more resilient future:

Galveston Bay

The largest estuary in Texas is facing significant challenges from rising sea levels and land subsidence. These factors have led to the loss of critical wetland habitats, threatening the bay's rich biodiversity and the communities that depend on it. The Galveston Bay Foundation is actively working to restore these vital ecosystems, constructing breakwaters and marsh terraces to protect shorelines and create new habitats. This work has not only benefited wildlife but also inspired local landowners to join conservation projects.

OpenWeather's accurate weather data and customizable reporting tools can play a crucial role in supporting projects like these. By providing insights into the impact of storms and sea level rise, OpenWeather empowers organizations to make informed decisions about restoration efforts.

OpenWeather's advanced Meteorological Service provides clear, actionable weather data tailored to your needs, wherever you are. This includes easy-to-understand current conditions, custom forecasts for your business, and information for both emergency preparedness and long-term planning.

In addition, the versatile OpenWeather Dashboard enables you to stay up to date with accurate forecasts, timely alerts, detailed overviews, meteorological reports and professional expert consultations for any location, worldwide, helping you make informed decisions based on accurate and timely weather information.

Beaumont-Port Arthur

The Beaumont-Port Arthur region of Texas faces significant environmental challenges. Its location on the Gulf Coast makes it vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding, while the presence of oil and gas refineries exposes residents to industrial pollution. Hurricane Harvey tragically underscored these vulnerabilities, causing widespread devastation and disproportionately impacting low-income and minority communities. To address these complex issues, researchers and community members are working together to develop effective climate adaptation strategies.

This collaborative approach recognizes the importance of local knowledge and values in creating solutions for all. Understanding historical weather patterns, real-time conditions, and future climate projections is crucial for this effort.

OpenWeather's Dashboard weather reports can be invaluable tools in this process. By providing precise and tailored information on rainfall intensity, wind speed, and air temperature, OpenWeather can help residents and researchers build strategies that protect vulnerable populations and build community resilience.

This includes:

• Utilizing the OpenWeather Dashboard trigger feature to provide early warnings for specific weather events, allowing for timely evacuations and resource deployment.
• Creating weather reports to model future climate scenarios and assess the potential impact on vulnerable communities, enabling the development of targeted adaptation strategies that prioritize their needs.

You can sign-up for OpenWeather Dashboard for FREE here

OpenWeather: Helping communities stay safe

OpenWeather provides a comprehensive suite of weather data and APIs that can be used by developers, businesses, and researchers around the world to build innovative solutions for a changing climate. From historical weather data to OpenWeather Dashboard with hyperlocal weather insights, OpenWeather offers the tools needed to understand, adapt, and thrive in the face of weather-related challenges.

The challenges posed by extreme weather events are significant, but they are not insurmountable. By embracing data-driven solutions and fostering collaboration, we can build a more resilient and sustainable future for the USA and beyond.

In addition, with The OpenWeather Dashboard, you can track the temperature using Fahrenheit. Just go to the Units section inside the Dashboard Settings and choose the format that suits you best.

About OpenWeather:

OpenWeather provides weather data for any location on the globe using a proprietary hyperlocal forecasting model with a resolution from 500 m to 2 km, globally. More than 7,000,000 customers from logistics, agriculture, insurance, energy, retail, and many other sectors, are working with the company's weather products.

OpenWeather cooperates with global meteorological agencies such as MetOffice and NOAA, and enhances its model with data from radars, weather stations and satellites. The company provides great availability of service at 99.9% for enterprise-level products. The products can be easily integrated into complex IT systems and are ideal for ML analytic systems.

Furthermore, OpenWeather offers a comprehensive weather dashboard, providing accurate forecasts, timely severe weather alerts, detailed overviews, and expert consultations from meteorologists. As a member of the Royal Meteorological Society and an Achilles-certified supplier, OpenWeather maintains high standards of quality and reliability. The company also demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical initiatives through the OpenWeather Foundation, which supports educators and students, provides non-profit subscriptions to increase weather awareness, and fosters a community of innovators working towards a sustainable future. This commitment extends to humanitarian efforts such as the Ukrainian donation program.

For more information on how to gain access to our OpenWeather products, please email us.