WINDSOR, Colo., /PRNewswire/ -- As our society and aging infrastructure become increasingly more vulnerable and impacted by extreme rainfall, the requirement for timely, accurate and informative rainfall information presented in a meaningful context is paramount to saving lives, protecting property and efficiently managing water. An innovative new way of looking at rainfall data is providing a wide variety of users a powerful perspective of how unusual, or common, recent rainstorms have been. Metstat, Inc., which provides accurate, innovative and detailed precipitation information to help private and public clients make cost-effective decisions, has launched iRainStat, a service that translates rainfall maps into average recurrence interval (ARI) maps in near real-time. iRainStat provides information analogous to the 100-year flood, but for rainfall instead.

The ARI is the average period of time between rainfall events of the same magnitude. For example, the ARI of six inches of rain in 24 hours in Washington, D.C. is 25 years. In other words, Washington, D.C. can expect six or more inches of rain in 24 hours to occur, on average, every 25 years. An ARI can also be expressed in terms of probability. For example, a 25-year event has 1-in-25 or 4% (1/25) chance of occurring in any given year.

iRainStat maps are created by translating rainfall into its equivalent ARI. The rainfall-to-ARI conversion is based on official precipitation frequency data published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) together with high-resolution gauge-adjusted radar rainfall from Weather Decision Technologies and the National Weather Service. To see a free, live example of today's ARI map visit http://www.metstat.com.

The concept of ARI rainfall mapping has been used in recent government documents pertaining to extreme rainstorms. For instance, according to a report posted on the Nashville, Tenn. National Weather Service website, the catastrophic flooding that occurred early last May across western Tennessee was the result of two-day rainfall exceeding the 1,000-year ARI. However, iRainStat is the first and only service that provides ARI rainfall maps in near real-time for the United States. Metstat's six-year archive of ARI rainfall maps is providing a unique perspective of extreme rain storms across the United States. In fact, surprisingly a 50- or 100-year rainstorm occurs somewhere in America nearly every day.

Although the ARI of rainfall does not necessarily equate to a flood of the same ARI, iRainStat provides an excellent indicator of flooding potential. Floods are caused by heavy rain, spring snowmelt, dam/levee failure and/or limited soil absorption. The degree of flooding from heavy rainfall depends on the rainfall intensity, duration, topography, soil conditions, ground cover, basin size and infrastructure design. For instance, rain associated with a one to five-year ARI can cause significant urban flooding since most urban storm water systems are typically designed for one to ten-year ARI.

iRainStat is a powerful and unique tool that benefits a wide variety of users, including dam owners/operators, media, storm water managers, county/city flood control districts, insurance companies, sewer districts, irrigation districts, emergency managers, departments of transportation, and private weather forecast companies.  

Media contact:

Tye Parzybok, 970.686.1253, info@metstat.com

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Metstat, Inc.

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 Hunters Across the United States Offered the Best Hunting Weather Data Available

Norman, Oklahoma, September 3rd, 2010 – Realtree has launched an innovative iPhone application optimized for the nation’s hunting communities that displays up-to-date radar images, current conditions, wind speed and direction, on an interactive Google map.  The iMap-enabled Realtree Weather application, developed by weather leader Weather Decision Technologies, Inc., (WDT) detects your location and uses an advanced algorithm technology for data processing to display the best quality radar data available in the United States, as well as current conditions, a 7-day forecast, humidity, wind direction and dew-point data.  
 
The Realtree application also offers severe weather information, including the latest US radar, IR satellite and Lightning strikes, as well as a news tab, featuring  Blogs.  Realtree for iPhone is available on the iTunes store for $3.99 at: http://bit.ly/RealTreeApp                                                                                                                                                   

“Weather is a very high priority for any hunter or outdoor sportsman,” said Mike Gauthier, Vice President of sales for WDT.  “With Realtree's mobile application, we are bringing the most powerful, innovative, and accurate weather, radar and satellite data available in the United States, transforming any iPhone into a reliable decision-making tool for the nation’s more than 23 million hunters,” said Gauthier, an avid hunter himself.
 
Realtree Weather automatically detects users’ current location with a blue pin.  Browsers can also simply type in the name of a location of interest and the application drops a pin on the map, marking that location and providing current weather conditions, temperatures, forecasts, highs and lows.   
 
Using the “pinch zoom” method to zoom in and out of the map, users can access detailed radar information, all the way down to street level.   The radar animates on demand, creating a continuous loop, allowing hunters to better predict storm paths. The radar data is updated every 5 minutes.

Realtree Weather provides direct access to the nation’s conservation and hunting news, classic Realtree videos, articles and hunting tips from the team at Realtree. 
 
Local media companies seeking to add mobile or interactive Hurricane tracking to their digital and mobile portfolio can contact Mike Gauthier at 405-618-2239 or mgauthier@wdtinc.com.

About Realtree  

Realtree ® is the creator and marketer of the world's most versatile camo patterns. No matter where you hunt or enjoy the outdoors, there's no better way to blend in with your surroundings than by wearing Realtree camo. For more information: http://www.realtreemedia.com

About Weather Decision Technologies, Inc. Founded in 1999, Weather Decision Technologies has become a global leader in providing state-of-the-science weather detection, nowcasting, and forecasting systems and services to our partners and customers. WDT's iMap services provide dynamic, web-based and mobile interactive mapping solutions for the world's leading local media companies. WDT maintains operational and international offices in Washington, D.C.; Norman, Oklahoma, and Atlanta, Georgia. http://www.wdtinc.com

For more information:
Matthew Piette, WDT
512-736-8316
mpiette@wdtinc.com

Tracking Hurricane Earl Real-Time on Your iPhone with iMapHurricane

Advanced Hurricane app offers constant updates for mobile and online users

Norman, OK - September 2, 2010 – As Hurricane Earl heads north along the eastern seaboard this weekend, mobile phone users are now able to access real-time Hurricane tracks and forecasts right on their iPhones.

iPhone users can download the MyFoxHurricane mobile application featuring iMap® technology at: http://bit.ly/FOXhurr

With MyFoxHurricane, users can view the most up-to-date conditions and breaking news with exclusive Hurricane video reports, and video briefings from hurricane specialists.

iMapHurricane from weather leader Weather Decision Technologies, gives mobile users in hurricane zones actionable hurricane information when they need it most, directly on their  iPhone screens.

Interactive users can also track Hurricane Earl by exploring the interactive flash module application at: http://www.wdtinc.com/pages/imaphurricane

Local media companies seeking to add mobile or interactive Hurricane tracking to their digital and mobile portfolio can contact Mike Gauthier at 405 618-2239 or mgauthier@wdtinc.com. 

Weather Decision Technologies has grown to have 70 employees, benefiting from startup funds from Oklahoma investors.

Best-Selling Aviation iPad and iPhone Application is First to Let Pilots Gather Preflight Weather Intelligence Based on Unique Radar Mosaic

Mike Eilts, president and CEO of Weather Decision Technologies in Norman, with his iMap technology. His company is moving toward mobile device content. (Brent Fuchs)

High School Race Teams Use Lightning Decision Support System and iMap®  Interactive Map to Track Weather Changes

WDT Appoints David VandenHeuvel Senior Vice President of Professional Services

Top 50 Android Challenge Winner Provides iMap Weather and WAP Solution for Nextel iDEN Users in Latin America

Agreement Provides Best-in-Class Weather Services to over 60 Major U.S. Cities