ATLANTA, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc. (TWCI), today announced the introduction of a new mapplet for Google Maps, making weather conditions available on the map with one click. In addition, TWCI has been selected as the weather provider supplying current weather conditions, forecasts and radar in Google Earth.

The weather data layer on Google Maps and Earth features current conditions powered by HiRAD (High Resolution Aggregated Data), which is an exclusive patented technology developed by The Weather Channel that delivers a more local snapshot of current weather conditions for the contiguous United States. HiRAD combines traditional weather observations with data obtained by Doppler radar, satellite, lightning strike detection, computer models, and climate profiles to provide unique conditions for 1.9 million locations.

The weather mapplet for Google Maps enables users to add customizable weather layers to their map. Options include clouds and radar and points of interest, such as US and international cities and airports and US golf courses, lakes and schools. When selected, a bubble will appear at the point on the map with current weather conditions and temperature displayed. If there is severe weather for a point of interest, the bubble will be displayed in red with details of the alert.

The mapplet's weather bubbles expand with a click to display HiRAD data for the point of interest including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and UV Index along with an observation of overhead sky conditions, which is unique to the HiRAD system. Forecast links including hourly, tomorrow, and 10-day are in the expanded bubble along with a link to a video forecast for the selected location. In addition, during severe tropical weather, users will see a Hurricane Central option on the mapplet that will enable them to track an active storm on the map.

Weather Layer on Google Earth

Current conditions in the Google Earth weather data layer are presented in a pop up window and include temperature, humidity, wind speed, pressure and dewpoint, along with an observation of overhead sky conditions. This is presented with forecast data including a 36 hour forecast and links to hour by hour and 10 day outlooks on weather.com. Also available are radar images on the map which are provided by weather.com and Weather Services International (WSI) via a product known as NOWrad.

"Adding HiRAD data from weather.com to Google Maps and Earth enables people to find the weather at the locations most important to them -- schools, parks, golf courses and neighborhoods. No one else can make weather so personal and relevant," said Joe Fiveash, executive vice president/general manager of TWCI.

The Weather Channel Interactive mapplet on Google Maps will be a part of the Featured Content section in the My Maps utility. The mapplet can be found by visiting maps.google.com. To find the weather layer on Google Earth, simply activate weather box under "layers" in the sidebar.

About The Weather Channel Interactive

The Weather Channel Interactive is the leading provider of broadband and wireless weather products including weather.com, Desktop Weather by The Weather Channel, and The Weather Channel Mobile. weather.com, the Web site of The Weather Channel, is the ultimate source of weather on the Web helping users plan their lives by delivering timely current conditions, expert forecasts and relevant lifestyle content for 98,000 locations worldwide. The Weather Channel Interactive reaches more than 35 million unique users online each month and is the most popular source of online weather, news and information according to Nielsen//NetRatings. The Weather Channel Interactive also provides consumers with unique and customizable products such as Desktop Weather and a full lineup of mobile services including downloads, messaging, mobile Web, and mobile video. Other TWCI sites include forGetaway.com, a vacation home rental site, Forecast Earth, a site dedicated to the discussion of climate change, and a series of international sites, including http://www.weather.co.uk/, http://www.meteo123.com/, http://www.wetter123.com/, http://www.canaldotempo.com/ and http://www.weather.com/espanol.

CONTACT: David Blumenthal of The Weather Channel, +1-770-226-2611,
dblumenthal@weather.com; or Dana Mark of Trevelino Keller Communications,
+1-404-214-0722 x113, dmark@trevelinokeller.com

Web site: http://www.weather.com/
http://maps.google.com/
http://www.forgetaway.com/
http://www.weather.co.uk/
http://www.meteo123.com/
http://www.wetter123.com/
http://www.canaldotempo.com/
http://www.weather.com/espanol