Tracking weather events

[Jim Jensen]

Well, it's already started. Golfball-sized hail reported in scattered areas last night (man, I hate hail storms). I have struggled over the last few years to find an effective way to record and later reference weather events that may be needed for claim reports. I started with item in Outlook's calendar, but those get archived after a while and aren't active on the calendar. I next tried using tasks, since they don't disappear, unless you make them. It was ok, but not really a good place for them. I am considering just creating a spreadsheet on the server, then placing it in the Intranet for global access. However, maybe someone else came up with a good plan already? I know I could search NWS records, but that's a bit cumbersome and not as easy to show everyone else. I'd like to be able to simply have a date and event description that we can't quickly reference when we ask, "When was that hail storm a few months ago?" Some we never need to reference and the dates are burned into the memory - 4/19/96, 4/16/06 - bad days that made for a few bad years afterward.

[Jan Regnier]

We have just kept a spreadsheet over the years...still use it.

[GeorgeW]

The last agency I worked at setup a Client in TAM called Weather and everyday added an activity with weather details.

[Mark]

How about getting RSS feeds or text/email notifications about weather and archiving them somewhere.

I don't think we do anything to track weather.  Never even occurred to me as useful -- but I have zero involvement in claims, reporting, customer service, etc.

[Marie (Zionkowski) Gozikowski]

George -

Like the 'Weather' client idea :-)

Thanks

[Jim Jensen]

How about getting RSS feeds or text/email notifications about weather and archiving them somewhere.

I don't think we do anything to track weather.  Never even occurred to me as useful -- but I have zero involvement in claims, reporting, customer service, etc.

I don't think an RSS feed would be accurate enough or precise enough. I set up a spreadsheet for the moment and it contains the date, the storm type (e.g. hail, up to golf-ball size) and the areas affected (usually a city, county or portion thereof). Since claims sometimes get reported a year after the fact, or more, it can be very helpful. Often they've no clue when the storm hit if they don't report immediately. Often we get, "I dunno, the roofer just says its damaged."

[Mark]

I don't think an RSS feed would be accurate enough or precise enough.

I guess that would depend on the source  I have no idea what options are out there anyway -- was just throwing it on the floor.

Often they've no clue when the storm hit if they don't report immediately. Often we get, "I dunno, the roofer just says its damaged."

Now I get why you would need this, lol

[Bob]

Jim there are some sites that archive data regarding weather.

This is but one site on hail.  It defaults to national map of moment but tab for archive which brings up calendar and will show past hail events.

http://www.livehailmap.com/

Perhaps this site helps too:  http://www.weatherpages.com/wxhistory.html

[Jim Jensen]

Jim there are some sites that archive data regarding weather.

This is but one site on hail.  It defaults to national map of moment but tab for archive which brings up calendar and will show past hail events.

http://www.livehailmap.com/

Perhaps this site helps too:  http://www.weatherpages.com/wxhistory.html

Thanks Bob. The first may be handy for a general reference. I looked at their maps and they are very, very general, unless you pay $200 for each map. The second leads you back to the first for hail events.

[Lynn Stillings]

Bob - just wanted to say THANKS for this link to the weather history site. I had been tasked with doing a research project on comparing the cold temps we had in our area this winter, which were historically much lower than usual (resulting in lots of broken pipes/water damage claims in our resort area condos). I have been all over the weather sites, but had not really been able to find anything comprehensive. Then I stumbled upon your post and lo-n-behold, the historical weather maps link! Just the sort of thing I had been searching for. That made my day 

Jim there are some sites that archive data regarding weather.

This is but one site on hail.  It defaults to national map of moment but tab for archive which brings up calendar and will show past hail events.

http://www.livehailmap.com/

Perhaps this site helps too:  http://www.weatherpages.com/wxhistory.html

[Bob]

Welcome!