From tracking storms, hurricanes, and weather changes, Rainbow Weather brings a solution that aims to have a billion users in the short term.
The growth of the world's population is unstoppable, and so is global warming. Today, there are over 8 billion people on Earth, all witnessing the destructive nature of climate change and the growing need for enhanced weather-predictive technologies.
The summer of 2023 is now officially the hottest on record, and this year will go down in history as the warmest since 1880 when record-keeping began, according to a 7 September 2023 Copernicus Climate Change Service report.
"Extreme weather, turbo-charged by man-made global warming," has left over two million people dead and $4.3 trillion in economic losses over the past five decades, a UN 2023 study revealed.
Between 1970 and 2021, weather, climate, and water-related hazards triggered 11,800 disasters worldwide, with developing countries bearing the brunt, accounting for 90% of global reported deaths and 60% of economic losses, the World Meteorological Organization recently said. Since 1880, the Earth's temperature has surged by over 1°C (2°F), with two-thirds of this warming occurring since 1975. The repercussions are dire, but there's hope on the horizon.
The World Bank estimates that the expected improvements in weather and climate prediction models could bring about $5 billion in annual benefits in addition to the current $160 billion in annual benefits from weather forecasts and climate prediction.
Challenging and complex
Meteorologists and specialists worldwide acknowledge that weather forecasting is essential but inherently complex and challenging. Accurate forecasts have the power to save lives and minimize property damage. They are critical for informing farmers about optimal planting times and crop protection strategies.
Climate change is also responsible for speedy weather changes, and its conditions are more frequent and intense, making it even more vital to have precise forecasts and timely updates.
When temperatures are extreme, the accuracy of a weather forecast is the difference between life and death. The National Bureau of Economic Research recently released a study showing that even minimal errors in temperature predictions - even just one degree celsius - lead to more deaths. Improving forecasts could potentially save thousands of lives and billions of dollars annually.
Creating an innovative app for weather forecasting
Rainbow Weather has unveiled an innovative app designed to address these pressing concerns head-on. Their mission is crystal clear: to provide users with rapid updates on severe weather changes. Their prediction model is the world's first to merge data from a wide array of sources, including satellites, meteorologists' radars, and stations, among many others, to significantly increase the quality and accuracy of its forecasts.
"We are building a Waze-like app for weather forecasting," said CEO and Founder Alexander Matveenko. "With the weather changing so very fast, the only way we can ensure the highest forecast quality possible is to collect as much weather data as we can, as well as integrate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for faster and more precise calculations."
Matveenko said: "By creating Waze for weather we aim to get people globally to leave feedback and share their barometer information to create a more exact weather tracker, and with our AI models, we will create the best weather service for all users because as with Waze, our users will understand how crucial their feedback is to help others."
The revolutionary weather forecast model processes data from around 1,000 meteorological radars, about 400,000 weather stations, several satellites, approximately 10,000 user reviews, and millions of barometric values from user mobile devices, Matveenko added.
Storm and hurricane tracker
"Rainbow Weather has also recently introduced Storm Alerts and a Hurricane Tracker to take their app to the next level, enabling users to monitor early storm formations, tropical depressions, and hurricanes on an interactive map," added Matveenko, whose background includes roles with Maps.me and MapData, which he and his team transformed into the Mapbox main development after being acquired by them in 2017.
Co-founder Yury Melnichek brings a wealth of experience as an IT entrepreneur and venture investor, with a track record that includes co-founding Maps.me and AI-Matter, as well as Bulba Ventures, which supports and co-founds machine-learning startups.
Melnichek revealed Rainbow Weather's goals, which he said have no bounds. "Our team is committed to extending its forecasting window from one hour to 16 hours," he said. "With over 400,000 app downloads and 50,000 active users worldwide, our ultimate goal is to reach a billion users as soon as possible."
The technologist said that "in a crowded market of over 1,000 weather forecasting apps, Rainbow Weather stands out with its dedication to precision, modern design, and seamless user experience, empowering users to control their plans and make the most of their day."
In a world where unpredictable weather can disrupt our lives, Rainbow Weather is the beacon of hope, enhancing global weather forecasting to unprecedented precision and accessibility. Their commitment to providing timely, accurate, and localized weather information empowers users to regain control of their plans and make the most of each day.
As the team at Rainbow Meteo Technologies continues its evolution and expansion, its mission remains resolute: delivering unparalleled weather forecasting accuracy and convenience to users worldwide, unlike the thousands of weather forecasting apps out there.
