AccuWeather
AccuWeather, Inc. is a privately held American company specializing in commercial weather forecasting and related services, founded in 1962 by meteorologist Dr. Joel N. Myers as a graduate student at Pennsylvania State University.[1][2]
Headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania, it delivers hyperlocal forecasts, severe weather alerts, and customized data to consumers, businesses, media outlets, and governments worldwide via websites, mobile applications, television networks, and enterprise solutions, reaching billions through partnerships with over 700 newspapers, 400 radio stations, and 100 television stations.[1][3]
AccuWeather has introduced key innovations such as the first commercial seven-day local forecasts in 1975, MinuteCast for minute-by-minute precipitation predictions, RealFeel® Temperature accounting for humidity, sun angle, and wind effects, and the RealImpact™ Scale for assessing hurricane threats beyond wind speed.[4][1]
The company emphasizes proprietary meteorological models and data analytics to achieve what it claims is superior forecast accuracy over competitors and public agencies.[5][6]
A defining controversy involves AccuWeather's advocacy to restrict the National Weather Service from offering free detailed long-range forecasts, positioning such public data as unfair competition to private innovation and investment in forecasting technology.[7][8]