Weather channel buying Weather underground

[Catbird]

All the weather geeks are not happy. Most expect that TWC will ruin the site.

I used to watch TWC, back when they actually showed weather. But not so much since DH got involved in WU.

"Weather Channel Acquiring Weather Underground"

[Sysiphus]

This weather geek is quite wary.

[dyrt]

Yep . . . it is a big story in the weather world. Even though WU had about 16 million users, lots of the active contributors liked thinking themselves as rebels in the "underground." I think the biggest change will be the advertisements. The media monster that bought WU will want to get maximum profits. WU will never be the same.

[linttrap]

It's a travesty, for sure.

I can't even find the weather on my WC page anymore, it's surrounded by so much crap I don't care about.

And Accuweather? Meh. The Fox News of Weather.

[Catbird]

Not to mention that TWC is now owned by NBC, so I expect to see Al Roker plastered all over the Underground pretty soon.

[Catbird]

One of the issues that is coming up on the weather geek forums is that WU gets a lot of their data from Personal Weather Stations that people buy for their own use. They voluntarily give WU that info and it's used for a number of non-commercial purposes. But now, with TWC/NBC taking over WU, it essentially means that people who offer their PWS data to WU will be helping TWC/NBC to make money.

Lots of folks are NOT happy about this.


"Fans Howl After Weather Site Buys Out Rival"

[Sonny]

One of the issues that is coming up on the weather geek forums is that WU gets a lot of their data from Personal Weather Stations that people buy for their own use.

Catbird, I'd be happy to know what you think about that. WU has been my favorite weather web site for Nexrad Radar. I guess I just don't understand the part about, "WU gets a lot of their data from "Personal Weather Stations"

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[NowVoyager]

WU surpassed TWC, IMO, not only for more accurate weather information, but because of WU using the input from individuals PWS, you could weather information that was very specific to you exact location.

I suppose I'll get used to whatever changed TWC forces upon WU but I don't have to be happy about it

I really got hooked on WU back a few years when members submitted and voted on weather photos ...........

[Sonny]

Well OK then, I guess I'm more dense then I released..

How about helping me understand the significance of the part where WU gets data from
"Personal Weather Stations" ..

so what?
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[Twoolf]

Sonny,

There are thousands of us around the country with semi-professional weather stations. Many link the real time data via the web to WU. So instead of spotty coverage from the "Official" stations, data coverage is much more uniform. That being said, many people don't have their stations calibrated properly and are just shipping out erroneous data. I've got a guy a mile or so from me and his data is never even close to mine.

[Pablo Escobar]

We have a personal weather station of the best quality because of Weather underground. We were unable to site it properly, and so our wind speed and directionals are waay off, so we decided to take it off the Weather Underground feed.

On the other hand, it is in the top three of christmas gifts to my wife that she most likes, and I am her hero for getting it.

---------- Post added at 03:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:13 PM ----------

Here it is. She didn't want the live camera feed, but the views of Puget Sound sunsets, snow capped olympic mountain ranges, and Camino Island from our back door probably would have made our station a very popular one....

http://www.davisnet.com/weather/prod...asp?pnum=06163

[Catbird]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Catbird, I'd be happy to know what you think about that. WU has been my favorite weather web site for Nexrad Radar. I guess I just don't understand the part about, "WU gets a lot of their data from "Personal Weather Stations"

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Sonny, as Twoolf said, lots of people have Personal Weather Stations that they've bought. Many people submit their data, either live via Web or archived records, to WU. They do it voluntarily, cuz they're weather geeks , in the same way that Hams do voluntary communication support in their local and national communities.

This data is a big part of what has allowed WU to develop very precise and consistent pinpoint forecasts and modeling of micro-climates. The models produced by WU, and the supporting data, are used by agencies like DHS, local and state EMA's, and other non-commercial groups that track and research weather like CoCoRaHS and
CWOP (Citizen Weather Observer Program). All of this data is given to WU voluntarily and free of charge.

Now that TWC/NBC has bought WU, they have access to this info. They'll use it to enhance the forecasts and "weather prediction services" that they sell or show on their TV channel and use in their apps. All of that stuff makes them lots of money. As a result of the takeover, there are now lots of weather geeks that are not happy about helping TWC/NBC get richer.

And it's just sad to see another grass-roots, volunteer, non-profit, good-for-the-community program get taken over and become commercial.

[Twoolf]

Screw TWC. We need to find a really good code writer and replace WU with a new open source site. When all the stations pull their data from WU, it will have proven a very bad investment. Hmmmmmm, Weather-R-us.com....?

[dyrt]

I really like the wundermap because there is no delay and it is fast and easy to get on the screen and it shows what I want to see.

The ownership of the 10,000 photos and weather data from the volunteers is a big issue. I never read the terms of use and don't intend too. It really does not matter what it says because if TWC/WU screws up, then their content feeds will die.

I would expect a marketing plan will be emerging soon.

[Sonny]

Thanks to everyone for explaining that for me. I'm surprised to fine out that
so many here contribute to the accurate weather reporting at WU.

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