Protect Your Property and Budget From Winter Storms

These days just about anyone can whip out their smartphone and check out the weather forecast. And while weather apps are great if you just want to know if you should grab a jacket or an umbrella, they shouldn’t be relied upon to make important business decisions.

Weather apps just aren’t reliable when it comes to predicting the weather — they often get their information from a single, computer-generated data point. Your app might insist it’s going to be sunny even though you can hear the thunder and see the rain clouds.  

When it comes to snow and ice management, it’s crucial to know precisely when, where and how much snow and ice to expect — that’s why ND Landscapes subscribes to a dedicated weather monitoring system.

What is a weather monitoring system?  

Simply put, a weather monitoring system uses sensors to obtain high-quality weather data. It detects and records a variety of weather parameters (such as temperature, humidity and wind velocity).

Highly trained meteorologists are on staff to interpret the information and provide: 

• Historical weather data and snowfall averages to help determine the weather risks for a specific area. We use this data to gain insight and help develop our snow-fighting strategy — and make sure we’re properly prepared each winter.

• Detailed weather forecasts, which are suitable for short-term planning, such as scheduling weekly activities.

• Direct measurements from a weather monitoring system, to detect sudden changes and help us make quick decisions — such as a storm suddenly changing its trajectory. 

The company we have used for over a decade is WeatherWorks. We have access to their professional meteorologists 24/7 and they provide us with a detailed update before a winter storm arrives — and if we need more accurate forecasting, a trained analyst is always available to provide updates on demand.

This helps us map out our service plan and ensures we make the right decisions during weather events — such as when to send out the plows and how much salt and deicing chemicals are needed.

Weather monitoring systems also provide accurate reporting. 

Using a third-party meteorological firm not only alerts us of incoming storms; they also provide us with a certified report afterward so your bill is exceptionally accurate so disputes are avoided.

Here’s a brief look at what typically happens when a significant weather event is in the forecast:

1. WeatherWorks issues a storm alert between 24–48 hours before the storm. Subsequent updates are sent by email and text message as the storm progresses.
   
   
2. Our crews are ready for action once we’ve been alerted about the weather, and will arrive shortly after the snow starts to accumulate. They’ll continue to clear snow and ice throughout the storm.
   
   
3. Your sidewalks, driveways and parking lots will stay clear of snow and ice with specialized applications of brine, ice melt, and/or salt before, during and after the storm as needed based upon weather conditions.
   
   
4. WeatherWorks will have a certified report available within three or four days, giving you a meteorologist-approved, quality-controlled explanation of everything that happened during the weather event.

Your meteorologist’s report is a play-by-play of how the storm unfolded, including:

• Start and end times
• Precipitation type & intensity — Precipitation types include rain, drizzle, snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice accretion.
• Temperature data
• Wind speeds

It also includes a complete breakdown of the type and amount of precipitation that fell in your zip code, which are the numbers we use when determining your bill (depending on the type of contract you have in place). 

Leave nothing to chance.

Budgeting for snow and ice management can be a struggle, so when it comes to being prepared for snow events, it’s important to have a reliable and detailed weather forecast.  

Partnering with a company that uses third-party weather monitoring will give you peace of mind. It gives us the best available data to ensure proper planning and execution of our resources for all snow and ice events — and is the best way to keep your commercial property safe and clear while ensuring your bills are accurate.

If you’re looking for professional snow and ice management for your commercial property this winter, contact us for a free consultation. We’ll be happy to discuss your needs and see what we can do to help keep your property safe this winter.