AccuWeather
A privately held American weather information and forecasting company serving consumers, media organizations, and commercial customers.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
AccuWeather is a privately held American weather information and forecasting company founded in 1962 by meteorologist Joel N. Myers. It began as a commercial forecasting provider serving businesses and institutions, then expanded as radio, television, cable, the internet, mobile devices, and streaming platforms created new ways to distribute weather information. The company adopted the AccuWeather name in 1971. The brand now operates across consumer weather media, business forecasting, data services, broadcast production, digital publishing, and weather-related analytics. Its consumer services provide current conditions, hourly and daily forecasts, longer-range outlooks, severe-weather warnings, precipitation estimates, air-quality information, and location-specific weather content through the AccuWeather website, mobile applications, media partners, and television services. Some offerings are advertising-supported, while subscription tiers provide additional features and premium forecasts. AccuWeather is particularly associated with branded forecasting concepts including RealFeel Temperature, which estimates how weather conditions may feel to people after considering factors such as humidity, wind, sunshine, cloud cover, precipitation, and elevation, and MinuteCast, which provides short-term precipitation timing and intensity information. The company also produces local weather videos, supports digital signage and converged media products, and distributes content through television and online video channels. For commercial customers, AccuWeather combines government and other observational data with proprietary forecasting systems, meteorological expertise, artificial-intelligence methods, and other analytical inputs. Its business services support sectors such as media, retail, energy, transportation, agriculture, and other weather-sensitive industries. The company has maintained offices in the United States and international locations including Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, and Mumbai. AccuWeather has also developed a television presence. The Local AccuWeather Channel began operating through television-station digital subchannels in 2005. A national 24-hour AccuWeather Network was later launched through Verizon FiOS in 2015, and the company introduced AccuWeatherNOW as an over-the-top streaming service in 2021. Distribution has expanded to additional cable, satellite, and streaming platforms, while later agreements made AccuWeather content available through other television networks and digital services. The company has attracted public criticism over its advocacy concerning the role of the U.S. National Weather Service, the reliability and marketing of very long-range forecasts, and an inadvertent location-sharing incident involving its iOS application. AccuWeather has disputed or responded to aspects of these criticisms. It remains a private company, so detailed current financial information, ownership arrangements, and valuation are not publicly established in the available reference material.
History
AccuWeather was founded in Pennsylvania in 1962 by meteorologist Joel N. Myers. Its original business focused on commercial forecasting, supplying weather information to businesses and institutions that needed to plan operations around changing conditions. This model placed AccuWeather within the emerging private weather-services sector, which used public meteorological observations and forecasts together with proprietary analysis and customer-specific delivery. The company adopted the AccuWeather name in 1971. During the expansion of radio, television, and cable broadcasting, it broadened its distribution through media organizations and began turning professional forecasting into a recognizable public-facing media product. AccuWeather later developed local weather videos and other content designed for television, websites, mobile services, digital signage, and partner outlets. The internet transformed the company’s relationship with consumers. AccuWeather.com became a direct destination for location-based weather information, including current conditions, forecasts, warnings, radar-related content, and editorial weather coverage. Mobile applications subsequently added location management, alerts, short-term precipitation forecasts, minute-by-minute information, and user-contributed observations. Advertising-supported free services were complemented by paid subscription tiers offering additional functions and longer-range or premium forecast content. AccuWeather developed proprietary branded features to distinguish its service. RealFeel Temperature presents an estimate of perceived conditions rather than simply reporting measured air temperature. Its calculation is described as incorporating several environmental factors, including wind, humidity, sunlight, cloud cover, precipitation, and elevation. MinuteCast focuses on near-term precipitation timing and intensity. These features helped the company present meteorological information in consumer-oriented formats, although the publication of very long-range forecasts generated criticism concerning predictive reliability. Broadcasting became another important part of the company’s development. From 2005, The Local AccuWeather Channel supplied programming through television-station digital subchannels. In 2015, AccuWeather launched a national 24-hour network after Verizon FiOS replaced The Weather Channel with The AccuWeather Network. The network later appeared through additional cable, satellite, and streaming distributors. In 2021, the company announced AccuWeatherNOW, an over-the-top service emphasizing continuous programming, viral weather videos, and socially shared material. The business also expanded internationally and commercially. AccuWeather has maintained offices in the United States and in Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, and Mumbai, while distributing digital and broadcast information across international markets. Its commercial services provide forecasts, warnings, data feeds, predictive analytics, and customized solutions for media, retail, energy, transportation, agriculture, and other weather-sensitive sectors. In 2015, the company formed a joint venture with China’s Huafeng Media Group related to distribution rights for forecasts produced by the China Meteorological Administration. AccuWeather acquired Plume Labs in 2022, adding an air-quality and pollution-forecasting capability to its portfolio. Plume Labs had developed pollution visualization, street-level air-quality predictions, community data collection, and the Flow wearable air-quality device; sales of Flow devices ended in 2023. More recently, AccuWeather has pursued distribution through AI and digital platforms, including a 2025 partnership with Perplexity. Reference material also describes a 2026 integration with ChatGPT for real-time weather information, although that event lies beyond the presently documented historical period and should be independently verified before being treated as established history. The company’s public profile has also been shaped by policy and privacy controversies. AccuWeather has advocated against unrestricted public provision of some government weather services and supported a greater role for private providers. In 2005, legislation introduced by Senator Rick Santorum would have restricted certain direct public services by the National Weather Service; the bill did not receive a vote and was widely discussed in relation to AccuWeather’s commercial interests. The company denied seeking to eliminate public access to weather information. In 2017, researchers found that an AccuWeather iOS application transmitted location information through a third-party SDK without appropriate user consent; AccuWeather said it had not known about the behavior and removed the SDK in an update. AccuWeather remains privately held, limiting the amount of verifiable public information about its finances and ownership.
- 2022
Plume Labs is acquired
[1]AccuWeather acquires the air-pollution forecasting and visualization startup Plume Labs.
- 2021
AccuWeatherNOW is announced
[1]AccuWeather announces a streaming service built around continuous weather programming and socially circulated weather content.
- 2017
iOS location-sharing issue is disclosed
[1]Researchers report unintended transmission of user location information through a third-party SDK in the AccuWeather iOS application.
- 2015
Chinese joint venture is formed
[1]AccuWeather enters a joint venture with Huafeng Media Group concerning Chinese meteorological forecast distribution.
- 2015
The AccuWeather Network launches
[1]A national 24-hour AccuWeather television network launches through Verizon FiOS.
- 2012
Forecast horizon expands to 90 days
[1]AccuWeather extends its published forecast range, leading to public debate about the value and accuracy of forecasts beyond the normal reliable range.
- 2005
The Local AccuWeather Channel begins
[1]AccuWeather starts providing weather programming through television-station digital subchannels.
- 1971
The AccuWeather name is adopted
[1]The company begins using the AccuWeather name for its weather-information business.
- 1962
AccuWeather is founded
[1]Meteorologist Joel N. Myers establishes the company in Pennsylvania as a commercial weather-forecasting provider.
Products and positioning
A comprehensive, localized weather-information brand combining consumer forecasts and alerts, proprietary weather presentation, broadcast media, and commercial meteorological data and analytics.
Digital weather service
AccuWeather website
The company’s principal consumer web platform provides location-based current conditions, hourly and daily forecasts, warnings, weather news, maps, and other weather content. It combines free, advertising-supported access with paid offerings that can provide additional forecast features and premium alerts.
Mobile application
AccuWeather mobile app
The mobile application delivers forecasts, current conditions, severe-weather notifications, location management, short-term precipitation information, and other weather features. It has also supported minute-by-minute forecasts and user-contributed weather observations.
Short-term precipitation forecast
MinuteCast
MinuteCast is a near-term precipitation service intended to show when rain or snow is expected to begin, end, or change in intensity for a selected location. It is designed for immediate planning rather than long-range weather outlooks.
Apparent-temperature information
RealFeel Temperature
RealFeel Temperature is AccuWeather’s branded estimate of how outdoor conditions may feel to people. The company describes the system as considering temperature together with wind, humidity, sunshine, cloud cover, precipitation, elevation, and other environmental influences.
Commercial weather data and analytics
AccuWeather for Business
AccuWeather’s business services provide weather forecasts, warnings, data feeds, predictive analytics, and customized solutions. Customers can use these services to plan operations, manage weather-related risk, optimize logistics, and support decisions in industries affected by atmospheric conditions.
Local television weather programming · 2005
The Local AccuWeather Channel
A television distribution service launched in 2005 that supplies local weather programming through participating television stations and digital subchannels. It is distinct from the national AccuWeather Network.
24-hour television network · 2015
AccuWeather Network
A national, continuously operating weather television network launched through Verizon FiOS and subsequently distributed through additional television and streaming providers. Its programming combines forecasts, warnings, weather reporting, and explanatory content.
Streaming video service · 2021
AccuWeatherNOW
An over-the-top video service announced in 2021, focused on around-the-clock weather programming, viral weather footage, and content circulated through social media.
Air-quality information
Plume Labs air-quality services
Air-pollution visualization and forecasting capabilities acquired through Plume Labs. The offering included street-level air-quality predictions and community-generated pollution observations. Sales of Plume Labs’ Flow measurement devices were discontinued in 2023.
Controversies
2017
AccuWeather iOS location-privacy incident
Security researchers reported that the AccuWeather iOS application transmitted location information to Reveal Mobile through a faulty third-party SDK, including when users had not granted location permission. AccuWeather stated that it had not known about the behavior, said it did not use the data, and issued an update removing the SDK.
2005
Controversy over National Weather Service restrictions
AccuWeather faced criticism over its lobbying concerning publicly provided National Weather Service information. A 2005 bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would have restricted some direct public weather services, and critics viewed it as benefiting private weather companies. The bill was not brought to a vote. AccuWeather denied seeking to eliminate public access or fully commercialize the National Weather Service.
Brand decisions
2025
Integrate AccuWeather data with PerplexityStrategyBackground
AI-powered search platforms were becoming an additional distribution channel for real-time information.
Action taken
AccuWeather partnered with Perplexity to integrate its forecasts and weather data into the AI search platform.
Aftermath
The partnership extended AccuWeather’s distribution beyond dedicated weather websites, applications, and conventional media.
2022
Acquire Plume LabsM&ABackground
AccuWeather sought to broaden its weather-information portfolio into air-quality monitoring and pollution forecasting.
Action taken
AccuWeather acquired Plume Labs, a startup specializing in air-pollution visualization and forecasting.
Aftermath
The acquisition added air-quality capabilities, while Plume Labs’ Flow device sales were later discontinued in spring 2023.
2021
Launch AccuWeatherNOWProduct launchBackground
Changing viewing habits and the growth of streaming created an opportunity to distribute weather programming outside conventional television packages.
Action taken
AccuWeather announced an over-the-top companion channel focused on continuous weather programming and socially shared or viral weather videos.
Aftermath
The service extended AccuWeather’s video strategy into direct streaming distribution.
2015
Form a joint venture with Huafeng Media GroupM&ABackground
AccuWeather pursued expanded access to Chinese weather-content distribution and forecast products.
Action taken
The company entered a joint venture with Huafeng Media Group and received sole rights connected with delivering forecasts produced by the China Meteorological Administration.
Aftermath
The arrangement expanded AccuWeather’s international distribution and commercial relationship in China.
2015
Launch a national 24-hour weather networkProduct launchBackground
AccuWeather sought to strengthen its position in television weather media alongside its digital and local-station operations.
Action taken
The company launched The AccuWeather Network through Verizon FiOS.
Aftermath
The network became a separate national operation from The Local AccuWeather Channel and later gained distribution through additional television and streaming services.
- The Weather Channel — Verizon FiOS replaced The Weather Channel with the new AccuWeather service.
2012
Extend the published forecast range to 90 daysGeneration changeBackground
AccuWeather sought to provide users with a substantially longer planning horizon than conventional short- and medium-range forecasts.
Action taken
The company began publishing forecasts extending to 90 days.
Aftermath
Critics argued that forecasts at such horizons could be less useful than climatological averages. AccuWeather said the extended outlook should be interpreted as a general trend rather than a promise of precise conditions.
Recent events
Reported
AccuWeather launches ClimateReady Risk Mitigation[3]
AccuWeather announced the launch of ClimateReady Risk Mitigation, a service intended to help companies, municipalities and organizations worldwide prepare for climate-change impacts using long-range forecasts.
Reported
AccuWeather announces acquisition of the rest of Plume Labs[4]
AccuWeather is acquiring the remainder of French startup Plume Labs; the terms of the deal were undisclosed. Plume Labs will become AccuWeather’s center for climate and environmental data.
Reported
AccuWeather completes acquisition of Plume Labs[5]
AccuWeather acquired Plume Labs; the deal closed in December 2021, and Plume Labs was integrated into the AccuWeather group in January 2022. Plume Labs will continue operating within the group as its center for climate and environmental data.
Reported
AccuWeather announces Hurricane Tracker feature[6]
AccuWeather announced its new Hurricane Tracker feature, available in its iOS and Android app and on accuweather.com, providing storm details, forecast maps and localized impact information.
Reported
AccuWeather rolls out StoryTeller+ platform[7]
AccuWeather is rolling out StoryTeller+, an all-in-one interactive touch screen platform designed to help newsrooms cover different aspects of stories.
- Unconfirmed
Byton announces North American connected-content partners[8]
Byton announced that it would work with a group of North American connected-content partners. The source identifies ViacomCBS, Access, AccuWeather, Aiqudo, CloudCar, Road.Travel and Xperi among the initial partners.
Reported
AccuWeather announces updates to its mobile app[9]
AccuWeather announced recent updates to its iOS and Android app, including a RealFeel Shade indicator and an enhanced Allergy section with allergen impact information.
Sources11 sources
- 1AccuWeatheren.wikipedia.org
- 2AccuWeather official websiteaccuweather.com
- 3AccuWeather推出ClimateReady风险缓解服务prnewswire.com
- 4AccuWeather宣布收购Plume Labs剩余股权techcrunch.com
- 5AccuWeather 完成对 Plume Labs 的收购prnewswire.com
- 6AccuWeather宣布推出飓风追踪功能prnewswire.com
- 7AccuWeather推出StoryTeller+平台tvtechnology.com
- 8拜腾宣布北美互联内容合作伙伴auto.cnfol.com
- 9AccuWeather宣布更新其移动应用prnewswire.com
- 10AccuWeather Launches Redesigned App with Enhanced Features and Better User Experienceprnewswire.com
- 11AccuWeather's Making a Play for Dark Sky's Android Users With a Redesigned Appgizmodo.com
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