CompuWeather

Precise weather analysis and its reconstruction are vital in determining the extent to which a weather event is responsible for damage to a property site. During forensic analysis of the damage, engineers often rely on freely available data to determine whether the observed damage stems from weather conditions or structural issues. This vague data, coupled with a lack of expertise to analyze it properly, leads to flawed assumptions and conclusions in legal and insurance disputes, with undesirable outcomes.

CompuWeather, a nationwide leader in forensic weather consulting and analysis, caters to the complex weather analysis needs of engineers, legal professionals, and insurance companies assessing property damage. Its proficiency in preparing detailed historical weather reports, consulting, and expert witness testimony enables their clients to better determine the cause of property damage.

“We provide highly accurate site-specific analysis for any type of weather condition that engineers may require assistance with on their legal or insurance property damage disputes,” says Steve Roberts, president and lead weather expert at CompuWeather.

Roberts and James Bria, two seasoned forensic weather experts at CompuWeather, are Certified Consulting Meteorologists, which is a highly respected certification awarded by the American Meteorological Society. They are instrumental in delivering customized and comprehensive weather reports, consultation and courtoom testimony within their clients requested timeframe.

Leveraging over four decades of experience in weather reconstruction expertise, CompuWeather’s portfolio encompasses an impressive array of over 50,000 weather-related cases, claims, and investigations. It solidified its position in the field of hurricane weather reconstruction services by designing over 160 map packages and conducting more than 1600 site-specific hurricane analyses for over 50 tropical systems starting with Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

To create an accurate picture of past weather conditions, CompuWeather uses official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data sources, including weather observation sites, Doppler radar data, satellite imagery, weather maps, and National Weather Service statements, bulletins and alerts. Based on the official meteorological information, it offers site-specific reconstruction analysis for damaging weather events like hurricanes, thunderstorms, straight-line winds, hailstorms, tornadoes, and flooding rainfall, enabling engineers to make informed decisions.

CompuWeather adheres to a meticulously structured procedure during client interactions. As initial contacts, its dedicated forensic account managers partake in thorough discussions with the engineers to ascertain their specific needs related to the required weather reconstruction. Once pivotal details like weather type, location, date, and other relevant contextual background information are collected, they propose the optimal service for the forensic weather investigation.

Their forensic meteorologists then develop a detailed report that encapsulates the weather reconstruction and its subsequent findings. This collaborative exchange empowers CompuWeather to provide an analysis that answers all of the engineer’s weather-related questions for the matter.

The following compelling example vividly showcases CompuWeather’s proficiency in forensic weather analysis. A flooding incident induced by rainfall after excavation work was completed, was alleged to have caused significant flooding to an adjacent property owner’s property. CompuWeather was hired by the defense to ascertain whether the flooding event was typical for the region, or an exceptionally rare occurrence that would absolve charges against the excavation as the primary factor behind the flooding.

During the reconstruction process, CompuWeathers forensic meteorologist researched, analyzed, and interpreted all applicable weather data for the specific location and surrounding areas from official sources. It revealed that the flooding was caused by heavy rainfall that constituted a 200–500-year event. CompuWeather’s client was able to take the position that this rainfall event was of extreme rarity, which assisted the defense with a favorable resolution to the case.

Unlocking the intricacies of weather conditions and events, CompuWeather continues to guide engineers away from pitfalls and towards comprehensive insights that help them navigate complex legal cases and insurance disputes related to structural damage with precision and confidence.