One-size-fits-all weather content is no longer enough for today’s audiences.

As technology evolves and viewer preferences shift, the demand for highly localized, up-to-the-minute weather information is rapidly growing. Weather broadcasters need a new model to meet these preferences, one that isn’t bound by the constraints of traditional broadcast schedules.

This is where Connected TV (CTV) broadcasts become so essential.

What is CTV weather broadcasting and how does it work?

CTV weather broadcasting refers to the delivery of weather-related content through CTV devices such as Xbox, Roku, Apple TV and more. These devices connect to or are embedded in televisions to stream content over the internet.

In the context of weather broadcasting, CTV allows broadcasters to deliver real-time weather updates, forecasts, severe weather alerts, and other related content directly to viewers’ televisions via the internet. This approach leverages the interactivity and connectivity of digital media, allowing for more personalized and location-specific content. For instance, CTV viewers can access weather updates that are tailored to their exact location at any time, not just during scheduled broadcast times.

Through the integration of real-time data from satellites, radar, and weather stations, CTV systems process and tailor weather forecasts specific to each viewer’s location. This customization allows for a more personalized and engaging experience, enabling viewers to interact with the broadcast using their remote controls to explore in-depth weather maps and extended forecasts.

What is the difference between traditional and CTV weather broadcasts?

Traditional (or linear TV) weather broadcasts have been primarily broadcast Over the Air (OTA) or on cable, often at fixed times and with general content intended for broad audiences. In contrast, CTV weather broadcasts leverage the flexibility of online streaming platforms, offering viewers the ability to access weather updates at their convenience across a variety of platforms. This level of personalization makes CTV a better fit for today’s audiences, who expect access to real-time, relevant weather updates across a variety of devices.

What is the difference between OTT and CTV weather broadcasts?

While both Over-the-Top (OTT) and Connected TV (CTV) broadcasting are related, they are different. OTT encompasses the broader method of delivering streaming content. For example, viewers can watch live weather updates or emergency broadcasts directly on their mobile devices through apps like The Weather Channel app, which provides real-time alerts and forecasts wherever they are.

CTV, on the other hand, specifically refers to the internet-connected TV devices. The viewing experience mimics a traditional TV format but with modern connectivity features. Viewers can use these devices to stream dedicated weather channels that offer continuous live broadcasts and specialized content such as local weather reports tailored to their exact locations. CTV weather broadcasts are designed for these kinds of devices and are distributed via streaming channels.

An overview of CTV components

Viewers can access CTV weather broadcasts through a variety of devices and methods, including the following:

Smart TVs

Smart TVs’ integrated internet capabilities allow direct streaming of weather broadcasts, enabling viewers to access real-time weather information with just a few clicks on their remote controls.

Digital Media Players

Digital media players are devices that stream digital content to TVs, such as Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, and video game consoles. These devices allow users to switch seamlessly between watching their favorite shows and viewing the latest weather updates.

Set-Top Boxes

Cable boxes that provide internet connectivity and access to a plethora of streaming services also enable easy access to weather channels and apps.

Advantages of CTV weather broadcasting

The advanced streaming technology that powers CTV broadcasting has tremendous potential for improving your weathercasts. Here are just a few advantages that you can expect:

Cost-effective

CTV broadcasting has lower operational costs because of their simplified content distribution processes. It allows you to automate video creation and share content across multiple channels, reducing the need for extensive manual intervention.

Faster delivery

As broadcasting expands to include digital platforms and CTV alongside traditional linear TV, the need to quickly produce and distribute content has become critical. ReelSphere, a tool enhanced with AI, streamlines this process by automatically generating weather content. It allows you to create targeted, hyperlocal, and adaptive videos based on the forecast, day of the week and other factors. Being able to generate these videos across multiple channels helps ensure that your viewers receive weather information in a timely fashion.

Reaches a larger audience

CTV broadcasting effectively expands audience reach by leveraging advanced technologies to serve tailored weather videos across all digital platforms. For example, allowing on-air talent to incorporate viewer-submitted stories and social media posts into broadcasts. This approach allows you to tap into a broader demographic, including viewers who primarily consume content on mobile devices and online platforms.

Recent research supports this strategy, showing that 88% of respondents are at least somewhat interested in using local weather streaming services. By utilizing hyperlocal weather broadcasting tools, you can ensure that weather content is both accessible and relevant for local viewers.

Engagement

Weather broadcasting directly impacts people’s daily decisions, making it inherently engaging and important to viewers. For example, viewers stream CBS News Colorado’s digital weather content for an average of more than 30 minutes per day. This high level of engagement makes weather content a pivotal part of their streaming strategy, according to meteorologist Ashton Altieri.

Ability to scale hyperlocal content

With the right CTV weather content solution, you can effectively create targeted and hyperlocal videos at scale. This capability ensures that audiences in different regions receive weather updates that are tailored to their specific local conditions, meeting the growing demand for extremely targeted, relevant content. For example, showing the radar map only when there is precipitation in the forecast.

Though CTV solutions streamline workflows with weather forecast automation features, your team still retains the flexibility to manually edit and refine the content. This blend of automation and manual oversight ensures that you can maintain quality and accuracy even as your production of weather content scales up.

Advertising opportunities

CTV weather broadcasting opens up lucrative advertising opportunities that can significantly enhance revenue streams for your channel. Essentially, localized content provides an opportunity for extremely localized advertising that’s relevant to your viewers. In addition, according to the “Weather OTT Focus Groups & Quantitative Survey” conducted by Magid Research, 98% of advertisers would consider sponsoring weather content on CTV. With the increasing shift toward digital and connected media, weather streaming on CTV platforms presents a fresh and attractive avenue for monetization.

First-party data

Leveraging first-party data is a powerful strategy for CTV weather broadcasting, enabling your station to better target and deliver lifestyle videos that cater precisely to its viewers’ preferences and locations. By collecting and analyzing viewer data, such as viewing habits, preferred content types, and geographical information, you can tailor your weather broadcasts to enhance relevance and viewer engagement such as offering a golfer’s, beach or even runner’s forecast.

Create professional CTV weather broadcasts with ReelSphere

The Weather Company’s ReelSphere solution revolutionizes weather broadcasting by automating the production of on-demand, personalized weather content for CTV and OTT platforms. Leveraging the power of their Max platform and graphics, ReelSphere enables you to deliver curated content at the drop of a hat. The system automatically generates location-specific weather graphics and broadcast templates that vary depending on the time of the day and the existing weather conditions. By letting you scale up localized weather content quickly and efficiently, without expending additional resources, ReelSphere lets you harness the full benefits of the CTV streaming revolution.

People also asked questions

What weather software do meteorologists use?

Meteorologists use a range of sophisticated software tools designed to collect, analyze, and present weather data. These tools include models that predict weather patterns based on current atmospheric conditions gathered from satellites, radar, and ground-based sensors. They also use geographic information systems (GIS) to visually represent weather data on maps, which helps in analyzing and forecasting weather more effectively. Additionally, specialized software like Max helps meteorologists create visual representations of the weather for public broadcasts.

What weather data and model are most accurate?

Determining the most accurate weather data often depends on the region, forecast type, and specific weather events. No model is perfect. Public data from the National Weather Service (NWS) is renowned for its comprehensive and reliable forecasts, thanks to extensive data from satellites and radars. The Weather Company is the world’s most accurate weather forecaster overall, according to a 2017-2022 study from ForecastWatch: Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview, 2017-2022, commissioned by The Weather Company.

It takes a lot of effort for weather broadcasters to capture and keep their audience’s attention at a time when viewership is becoming increasingly fractured. It requires a mix of engaging graphics, accurate, up-to-date information, and high production quality to deliver broadcasts that resonate.

Striking the right balance is critical — after all, weather broadcasters play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between complex meteorological data and the public’s need for accessible and actionable weather information. To disseminate critical information quickly and in a compelling format, broadcasters need live broadcasting software that’s versatile enough to handle the many nuances of weather reporting.

Your live broadcasting software should empower your team of meteorologists and weather reporters to transform raw data into comprehensible and visually appealing broadcasts that can inform, educate, and sometimes even entertain viewers. Whether it’s tracking a storm in real-time, providing evacuation routes during a hurricane, or explaining the science behind a heatwave, the software that enables your broadcasts needs to ensure precision, speed, and clarity in every weather report.

What is live broadcasting software used for?

Live broadcasting software has become an essential tool in the meteorological and media fields, particularly for reporting severe weather events such as thunderstorms, wildfires, tornadoes, blizzards, and hurricanes. This technology enables real-time dissemination of crucial weather updates and information, leveraging advanced tools like satellites and weather radars to predict weather patterns. Your team can use these tools alongside forecasting models to issue alerts and provide the public with actionable information.

Of course, weather content is most relevant when it’s focused on a viewer’s local region. But delivering hyperlocal content at scale is difficult because it requires significant resources, both in terms of technology and human expertise.

Live broadcasting software minimizes these challenges. It has been instrumental in powering 24/7 weather streaming services with hyperlocal content for communities across the globe. As audiences — especially younger generations — begin to favor streaming services, this technology enables you to reach viewers directly on their preferred platforms.

What are the advantages of broadcasting weather live?

Live weather broadcasts have been a local news staple for decades. But what’s groundbreaking is the ability to stream real-time updates 24/7 from anywhere. Viewers can gain access to valuable weather information right when they need it — without having to wait until the 6 o’clock news rolls around.

Timely

No matter where viewers live or what devices they use, live broadcasting software enables you to reach them with immediate weather updates for their local area. This is especially critical when weather conditions change rapidly because the accuracy of the information can significantly impact viewers’ decisions and safety. Live broadcasting software empowers your team to support real-time updates across streaming channels for every locality you serve without scaling staff or resources.

Highly engaging

Live weather broadcasts have the power to captivate audiences. Ashton Altieri from CBS Colorado noted that platforms like over-the-top (OTT) streaming channels have seen increased viewer engagement, with audiences dedicating a significant amount of time to consuming weather content. This engagement is critical for maintaining and growing your viewer base at a time when fewer households consume weather reports through traditional news broadcasts.

Loyalty

According to research commissioned by Magid and The Weather Company, only 44% of viewers use cable or satellite as a primary source for weather updates on TV. This means that there’s a tremendous opportunity to drive audience engagement by offering more relevant and personalized live weather broadcasts — especially for streamers. More than a third (40%) of all TV viewership is now streaming-related. By offering live streaming options, your company can capture more of this audience share.

Reusable

A robust weather broadcast software lets you repurpose content from live broadcasts across multiple channels, maximizing reach and engagement. This versatility allows you to leverage social media platforms, websites, and mobile apps to make your broadcast content accessible to audiences, wherever they are.

Revenue opportunities

Expanding beyond linear broadcasting into live connected television (CTV) presents a lucrative opportunity for boosting your company’s revenue potential. Magid predicts the CTV revenue stream will grow from $2.7 billion to $3.5 billion by 2027. Additionally, 98% of broadcasters are interested in sponsoring weather content on CTV and OTT platforms.

The advantage of CTV and OTT advertising lies in their capacity for hyperlocal targeting, offering advertisers unprecedented precision in reaching specific markets and tailoring campaigns to local audiences. This is especially attractive for advertisers that have historically invested in ad placements on local TV stations, including legal service providers, hospital networks, and car dealerships.

Where can a live weather broadcast software be used?

Live weather broadcast software can enhance all aspects of weather programming, from the newsroom to the field. Here are just a few ways live weather broadcast software can be used to deliver more high-quality reports.

Newsroom broadcasts

Live broadcasting software is vital in newsrooms for swiftly creating and sharing weather reports and alerts, keeping viewers well-informed when they need it most. During a broadcast, every second matters, which makes having a seamless, responsive software infrastructure essential.

Reporting on-location

Remote broadcasts transmit video and audio content from remote locations back to your studio using digital video transmission, cloud-based platforms, and remote control systems. This setup gives your team of meteorologists greater flexibility in how they cover specific weather conditions. On-location reporting lends immediacy to weather updates. It offers viewers firsthand insights into weather conditions, making the information more relevant and engaging. This approach also adds a human touch to weather reporting that is difficult to replicate. When paired with tools like augmented reality, reporting outdoors or outside of the typical studio can immerse an audience into a whole new world of storytelling.

6 key considerations for a live weather broadcast software

Not all live broadcast software is created equal. The right software for your organization will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Ask yourself what features are non-negotiable, and begin your search from there.

1. Streamlined workflow

Software with streamlined weather broadcast workflow capabilities can help you create and distribute weather content from any location, at any time. This flexibility allows for seamless collaboration among remote and hybrid team members, eliminating production delays that prevent you from delivering real-time weather updates across channels.

2. Simple to manage

The ideal live broadcast solution should enable your team to create and distribute weather content without needing extensive technical skills or advanced hardware. These features include user-friendly interfaces, preset broadcast templates for quick content creation, and automatic updates to ensure the software remains current without manual intervention.

3. Cloud storage

Prioritize the integration of cloud storage in your broadcasting software selection. This essential feature helps ensure that live streams and generated content are securely backed up and easily accessible for future use across various mediums.

 4. Asset library

Access to a well-organized asset library containing pre-developed weather graphics, templates, and other resources aligned with brand guidelines supports the production of professional and consistent live streams. This repository is invaluable for maintaining brand identity and enhancing the visual appeal of weather broadcasts, especially when you’re moving fast to publish real-time severe weather alerts and warnings.

5. Accuracy & speed

Weather consumers want faster access to information and more up-to-date reports on severe weather, according to a report commissioned by Magid and The Weather Company. Live broadcast software can help you automate content delivery with minimal manual oversight.

The most robust solutions employ sophisticated models, analysis tools, and data feeds that enable your team to improve predictions and deliver accurate forecasts. For example, The Weather Company integrates with the National Weather Service (NWS) to ensure broadcasts always utilize up-to-date weather data from an authoritative source. The Weather Company’s Max Alert Live solution actually has a direct integration with the NWS so alerts are automatically surfaced in order to be the first to air with live-saving information.

6. Production quality

Poorly produced weather segments distract viewers, leading them to tune out your broadcasts. High-quality video production can keep audiences engaged — and you don’t need big teams of professional videographers and animators to pull it off. As a bonus, you can unlock more advertising opportunities, especially in hyperlocal markets, as your volume of published content increases without risking quality.

Broadcast software that’s easy for teams to use with minimal training can take your production quality to the next level. In particular, features like augmented reality can significantly enhance the viewer experience, making complex weather information more understandable and visually appealing. Viewers often tune out standard weather graphic illustrations, but augmented reality can make weather reports more cinematic and engaging. Ultimately, the technology opens up new avenues for creativity in weather storytelling.

Share your broadcast live streams from anywhere at any time with Max Velocity

The Weather Company’s Max Velocity solution is at the cutting edge of broadcast software, enabling broadcasters to produce and share compelling weather content on various digital platforms from anywhere at any time efficiently.

By automating content creation and leveraging advanced broadcast software, Max Velocity allows for personalized, hyperlocal weather reports and alerts. This not only increases engagement across digital platforms but also provides your team of meteorologists with the tools to deliver impactful weather stories.

Interested in hearing more about how Max Velocity and other advanced broadcasting software can take your weather reports to the next level? Get in touch today to get the conversation started.

Emergency alert software plays an important role for weather broadcasters, serving as a critical tool for disseminating timely and potentially life-saving information during severe weather events.

However, not all emergency alert software is made equal. The effectiveness of these systems hinges on their design, features, and integration capabilities. To make an informed decision when choosing the best emergency alert software, it’s crucial to understand its multifaceted applications.

What is emergency alert software used for?

Emergency alert software helps bring severe weather alerts and warnings to the air. The software integrates with your existing broadcasting systems to deliver automated notifications from the National Weather Service to local audiences. These alerts can be delivered via TV broadcasts, email, text, push notifications, and a variety of other channels. According to Weather Company research done with Magid, during severe weather about 75% of viewers check their local broadcast or mobile alerts for convenient and trusted information. Thus it’s important to employ software that delivers the message to where your audience is.

Sophisticated software ensures severe weather warnings pop up on viewers’ radars in real time. Handling this manually is nearly impossible, especially with the amount of platforms requiring content and the need for repeated updates as events evolve. Emergency alert software automates severe or dangerous weather notifications, freeing up broadcasters to focus on delivering additional instructions and context. The software also supports ongoing coverage by streamlining the creation of maps and other visuals when time is of the essence.

How does emergency alert software work?

There’s a wide range of emergency alert software available, each with varying features and capabilities. However, its fundamental purpose remains the same: to rapidly communicate critical information during severe weather events.

Emergency alert software enables you to:

Design alerts

Effective emergency alert software allows you to design alerts that capture attention and deliver information clearly for TV broadcast viewers. The visual appeal of alerts is crucial, ensuring that viewers immediately grasp the severity, location, timing and nature of the weather event. Sound also plays an important role—viewers should immediately know that an important alert is occurring.

Set trigger conditions

Customizing trigger conditions is essential. Emergency alert software should enable you to set specific conditions that automatically activate alerts. Some common trigger conditions could include hazardous air quality, hurricanes, tornadoes, and landslides. Setting these triggers ensures a proactive approach, keeping your audience informed without manual intervention. Based on the severity level, these alerts can either be deployed manually or automatically. When no internet is available, these conditions should be able to trigger locally.

Test alerts regularly

Regular testing is a key component of emergency alert preparedness. Your chosen software should facilitate easy and frequent testing to ensure that alerts function as intended. This includes checking the visual elements, message delivery, and overall effectiveness.

Where can emergency weather alerts be transmitted?

Emergency weather alerts are only useful if they can reach their target destination. Being able to transmit these alerts in a timely fashion across multiple channels, such as television broadcasts and mobile app push notifications, helps ensure audiences remain aware of hazardous weather conditions.

Weather broadcasts

Emergency weather alerts are a staple of weather broadcasts. The software should seamlessly integrate with your broadcasting systems, allowing for the swift dissemination of critical information to your audience.

Mobile alerts

In an era of digital connectivity, smartphones are a primary source of information for many individuals. According to Magid, during severe weather 38% of viewers check their smartphones due to ease and speed. Ensure that your emergency alert software extends its reach to mobile alerts, maximizing the dissemination of crucial information.

OTT

More and more viewers are engaging with over-the-top (OTT) media services as a way to consume information. OTT goes beyond broadcasts, with 40% of viewers using a steaming device as a primary source for watching weather via TV according to Magid. It’s crucial to have a weather alert system that can convey emergency alert information through OTT channels.

9 features to look for in emergency alert software

Investing in emergency alert software requires a careful consideration of features to ensure optimal functionality. Without prioritizing these features, your organization can encounter unforeseen issues that prevent audiences from receiving timely weather updates when they need them most.

Let’s take a look at nine of the top features to look for when evaluating emergency alert software.

1. Automated alerts

Automated weather alerting, supported by advanced technology, is a cornerstone of effective emergency messaging software. It not only covers everyday weather forecasts but also proves invaluable during severe storms. Automated alerts are low-maintenance, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for your broadcasts. They enhance safety, keep viewers informed, and contribute to higher engagement rates.

2. Customizable weather graphics

Visual representation is key in weather broadcasting. Look for emergency alert software that offers customizable weather graphics. These graphics should provide a clear and engaging visual representation of weather forecasts, providing viewers with detailed information about storm locations and other relevant extreme weather events.

3. Comprehensive weather map

A robust weather map feature is essential for conveying complex meteorological data to your audience. Weather map software should allow meteorologists to create, analyze, and visualize data such as distinct area maps effectively. In the case of severe weather, creating a hurricane track can serve as a supplement to details such as position, wind speed, or direction that help to keep your viewers informed on the latest status of the storm. These weather maps can also be used to display what areas should be evacuated or information on a local level. All without pre-rendering or having to employ another graphics system. An efficient emergency alert software can go beyond alerting and the standard crawl, it should be a valued asset in your toolkit.

4. Cloud capabilities

Cloud capabilities in emergency alert software are a game-changer, enabling broadcasters to create and publish high-quality videos from any location with an internet connection. This feature should also offer a streamlined interface for user-friendly navigation, facilitating easy formatting for various platforms and the creation of visually compelling graphics. This cloud-based approach also elevates the overall quality of content delivery, ensuring that critical alerts are disseminated effectively across different channels.

Cloud technology fosters real-time collaboration, allowing broadcasters and meteorologists to work seamlessly together. This collaborative environment facilitates swift decision-making and adjustments to content, ensuring that emergency alerts are visually engaging and up-to-date.

5. Simple & efficient user interface

User-friendliness is crucial in emergency alert software. A simple and efficient user interface ensures that your team can navigate the software seamlessly, reducing the learning curve and minimizing the risk of errors during live broadcasts. In critical moments, the importance of a straightforward and responsive user interface cannot be overstated, ensuring that broadcasters can focus on delivering accurate and timely information to the public.

6. Brand compatibility

Consistency is key in branding. Beyond timely alerts, the software should seamlessly integrate with your brand guidelines, ensuring that the messaging aligns with your established tone and identity. This consistent branding fosters a sense of reliability, reinforcing your viewers’ trust in the information you provide during critical moments. A focus on branding through the use of tools like broadcast templates helps present alerts in a way that resonates with your audience and reinforces the credibility of the broadcasted emergency information.

7. Language support

Language support in emergency alert software goes beyond translation; it’s about ensuring that your critical messages resonate with diverse communities. Seek software that not only offers multilingual capabilities but also considers cultural nuances, making your alerts more accessible and impactful. This inclusive approach ensures that your emergency information is understood by a broad and diverse audience.

8. Accuracy

Accurate weather forecasting is the backbone of reliable emergency alerts. Short-range and long-range forecasts should be supported, with integration with reputable sources like the National Weather Service to ensure precision. Accurate alerts help establish the credibility of your broadcast and build trust with audiences. In a study by Forecast Watch from 2017 – 2022, they found The Weather Company has the most accurate weather forecasting technology. Which ensures both timely and accurate emergency alerts.

9. Third-party data integration

Comprehensive emergency alert software goes beyond just weather alerting. It can also ingest and display third-party data within the crawl such as school closings, sports scores or headlines for added value.

Invest in custom emergency alert software with Max Alert Live

Choosing the right emergency alert software involves careful consideration of features, functionality, and integration capabilities. To keep your audience safe, consider Max Alert Live. This comprehensive solution provides customizable, automated weather alerts that can be controlled from virtually anywhere. Max Alert Live also goes beyond traditional alerting, allowing for accurate information to be displayed across platforms efficiently and effectively.

Extreme weather events pose threats to the local community. When storms form and move quickly, they can endanger human life and property, while making it difficult for broadcasters to communicate updates in real time.

Fortunately, an effective emergency weather alert system can help people stay safe. Designed to provide early notice about impending severe weather, and give people the time needed to evacuate or prepare, emergency weather alert systems can save lives and help viewers prepare for severe weather.

After understanding what they are and how they work, there are many ways for you to incorporate emergency alert systems into your broadcasts to tell a complete and accurate story.

What is an emergency weather alert system?

An emergency alert system makes it easy for broadcasters to send out real-time and automated weather information so communities can stay up to date. According to a survey conducted in cooperation with Magid and The Weather Company, viewers prefer to receive severe weather alerts across various platforms, including mobile apps (38%), local television (37%), websites (14%) and social media (12%).

As a result, organizations need to automate as much as they can to ensure that alerts are getting to their viewers. With the right solution, broadcasters can integrate data directly from the National Weather Service to create banners with lifesaving information at the bottom, top or side of television reports. High-quality weather graphics and maps should also be included as an option to provide viewers with strong visuals of affected areas.

When are emergency broadcasting systems used?

Emergency broadcasting systems are used in the event of severe storms, where damage can be expected. With climate change affecting weather patterns, it’s more important than ever for broadcasters to establish a system of updating their communities. The 2020s have broken records for billion-dollar weather events, with 2020 seeing 22 of these destructive storms and 2022 seeing 18.

What goes into an emergency weather alert?

The following components can be included in a severe weather alert:

1. Crawl messages.

The crawl message is the full text of the message, which appears as a text or a screen crawl (if the event is broadcast on TV).

2. Weather graphics and maps.

To provide accurate, real-time information for viewers, most emergency weather alerts include hazard areas that outline each area’s level of risk, depending on the nature of the impending weather event. Visuals can also help viewers assess their risk levels and better understand the data. A storm track or zoom-in on the affected DMA could also be used as well as street-level mapping.

3. Current radar.

For more detail, alerts could also include an animating current weather radar.

4. Additional weather data.

Depending on the nature of the weather event, the emergency weather alert may also include additional weather data such as the projected timeframe of the weather event or natural disaster, next steps, and agencies to contact for more resources or information.

What types of storm alerts can an emergency broadcasting system provide?

In most cases, the National Weather Service (NWS) issues Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) for upcoming events like tsunamis, tornados, flash floods, hurricanes, typhoons, dust storms and extreme wind events.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of different kinds of weather alerts:

1. Tornado

Tornado storm alerts come in the form of tornado watches and tornado warnings. A tornado watch advises people in the watch area to be prepared and to know that tornadoes are possible.

On the other hand, a tornado warning alerts people in the watch area that a tornado has been visually identified or confirmed on weather radar. This warning is an urgent call to take shelter on the home’s lowest floor and wait for further information or instruction.

2. Thunderstorm

A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a thunderstorm capable of producing hail 1 inch or larger in diameter and winds of greater than 58 mph are predicted.

This warning encourages people in watch areas to seek shelter immediately since severe thunderstorms can also produce tornadoes and other weather events.

3. Hurricane

Hurricane warnings indicate that a specified area is expected to experience hurricane conditions – defined as sustained winds of 74 mph or higher.

4. Flood

Flood warnings are issued when a hazardous weather event is expected to create imminent flooding. Flood watches and advisories, however, are issued when flooding may threaten life or property or when conditions are favorable for flooding.

5. Tsunami

The National Weather Service issues tsunami warnings when tsunamis with the potential to generate flooding are expected or actively occurring. Likewise, tsunami advisories and watches caution people that tsunamis are possible and that precautions should be taken.

6. Blizzard

Blizzard warnings indicate that blizzard conditions – defined as low visibility, falling or blowing snow, and winds of 35 mph minimum – are expected for the coming three hours.

What are common issues with an emergency alert weather system?

While emergency alert weather systems are convenient and potentially lifesaving, there are some issues associated with using them.

Here are several factors that broadcasters should be aware of and cautious about:

1. Switching systems

While emergency alert weather systems should deploy rapidly, speed and reliability aren’t always a given. Instead, stations may find themselves switching between different systems to provide critical warnings.

This can create bottlenecks and operational difficulties as well as roadblocks when it comes to providing effective, accurate weather graphics that deliver to-the-minute information while maintaining a broadcaster’s branding.

2. Accuracy

Weather conditions change rapidly, and it’s essential to ensure that emergency alert weather systems are providing the most accurate, updated information possible.

Fortunately, a system like Max Alert Live integrates its data with the National Weather Service, which guarantees that weather alerts are always as accurate as possible at any given minute.

3. Speed

When a severe weather event is imminent, it’s critical to get weather alerts out as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to do if a broadcaster must create and recreate weather alerts from scratch. Because of this, we recommend working with a platform that allows creators to template and trigger weather alerts, which makes for easy, fast deployment.

4. Consistent messaging

Finally, weather alerts must remain on-brand for broadcasters. Again, this is difficult to achieve if every weather alert is created from scratch. By working with an emergency alert weather system that allows for customized broadcast templates to match your brand, you can push quick, accurate, timely and on-brand weather alerts whenever you need them.

What are the benefits of choosing the right emergency alert weather system?

There are many ways in which choosing the right emergency alert weather software helps you and your broadcast network. Here are a few of the top benefits:

Keep viewers safe

Accurate emergency alert weather systems keep viewers safe while also encouraging community well-being. According to our research report with Magid, when there is severe weather, mobile apps and local TV tie for the preferred source for coverage. Local TV is driven by trust, accuracy, and hyper-local and live coverage. Viewers also noted that they want local alerts on streaming services and more detailed updates on severe weather. Communities depend on their news stations to provide accurate information and broadcasters can help viewers by investing in tools that make these updates easy to communicate.

The automation, templates and integration associated with good emergency weather alert systems allow you to go to air faster and deliver essential weather information to your viewers.

Build audience trust

Accurate emergency alert weather systems also work to promote brand loyalty. By using easy-to-understand and eye-catching graphics that correspond to your brand, you can help reassure an audience that your broadcast network is a name they can trust. By using these graphics alongside maps, your viewers can get a more complete picture of the severe weather coming their way, and better prepare.

With a service like Max Alert Live, broadcast networks can show English or Spanish text depending on the audience and use QR codes alongside a weather alert system. This allows your viewers to scan the code to learn more about the alert or warning, and what areas it is currently affecting via the station’s mobile app. It provides a more comprehensive view that has your viewers returning for the most accurate and descriptive information available.

Streamline workflow

Accuracy and speed are critical when it comes to weather alerts. Fortunately, choosing the right emergency weather alert system allows you to automate weather forecast alerts based on threat levels and risk areas, which is a great way to deliver critical information faster and more efficiently. With the right system, teams can also decide which alerts should be automated and which should be created manually based on the severity, which helps optimize the broadcast workflow.

In addition, cloud-based tools remove many of the roadblocks and bottlenecks from traditional emergency alert weather systems by making alerts easy to create and publish – no matter where you are or who is creating the content. Meteorologists can easily log in anywhere as long as they have an internet connection to create triggers to alert their community.

When severe storms hit, it’s common for internet services to be disrupted. Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about this if you’re working with a service like Max Alert Live. With this type of platform, you can trigger weather notifications locally, which helps ensure viewer safety and up-to-the-minute information, no matter what.

Create engaging and effective emergency weather alerts with Max Alert Live

Want to learn how to create engaging, effective emergency weather alerts with Max Alert Live? Follow these five smart steps:

1. Set trigger conditions beforehand

Make your alerts easy to create and publish by defining trigger conditions before you need them. Trigger conditions are the conditions under which your system will auto-generate weather alerts and send them out to your audience.

2. Customize your alerts

Again, make the most of automation. To simplify the process of sending out weather alerts, customize your alerts before it’s time to issue them. This means altering appearance, messaging and branding so that the alerts match your station branding and ensuring you’re adding relevant language, design and more.

3. Incorporate automation

Once you’ve set trigger conditions and customized your alerts, automate them so they go out without you or a member of your team having to issue them manually. This is, by far, the best way to deliver accurate, real-time weather alerts for viewers.

4. Create dynamic graphics

Weather is inherently dynamic, and your weather alerts should be, too. For best results, we recommend including maps, storm tracks, QR codes and more so viewers better understand the potential impact.

5. Match alerts with on-air appearances

Finally, use weather alerts to enhance and complement on-air appearances. This may mean including guest experts, bringing in sponsors, or running alerts in conjunction with other on-air appearances. This helps your station tell an engaging and seamless story.

Final thoughts

When it comes to keeping viewers informed, emergency weather alerts are an especially critical tool. Despite the importance of these alerts though, they can be difficult to use. Fortunately, it’s easy to overhaul your broadcasts and make them more effective by incorporating a good weather alert system into your technology stack. Max Alert Live allows you to customize, automate and integrate your weather alerts, which helps you serve your viewers, keep people safe and encourage viewer loyalty.