Ventusky has revealed that it has expanded its weather platform with safety information.
The app now shows satellite-detected fires, official fire incidents and official meteorological and hydrological warnings.
Expansion
According to the company, the value is in seeing hazards together with the weather factors that can shape and influence them into serious hazards, including:
- Wind
- Humidity
- Precipitation
- Temperature
- Satellite imagery
- Air quality
These conditions can influence how a fire spreads, where smoke moves, how severe a storm becomes or which areas may need closer attention.
Fire markers in Ventusky combine several sources.
Features
Ventusky said that its Global fire detection uses NASA FIRMS data based on VIIRS satellite measurements and is supported by observations from MTG and Himawari geostationary satellites.
In the United States, Canada and Australia, Ventusky also shows official fire incidents reported by firefighting agencies.
These records can include affected area, intensity, number of fire personnel, fuel type or percentage of containment.
Prescribed burns are marked separately from uncontrolled fires.
Warnings and hazards
Official warnings come from national meteorological and hydrological services.
They cover hazards such as strong wind, thunderstorms, heavy rain, flooding, snow, ice, extreme
temperatures and fire weather.
The app
Ventusky is not meant to replace official emergency communication.
It gives residents, journalists, local authorities and emergency responders a quick visual context around a developing situation.
The company added that the app keeps this information in a clean interface without advertising, while the key fire and warning information is available without a paid subscription.