How Weather Forecasts Help Reduce Power Outages and Enhance Response Times
Weather is the leading cause of power outages across the United States, accounting for over 70% of major outages in recent years. And the problem is only getting worse. As climate change fuels more frequent and extreme events—think derechos, flash floods, polar vortexes, and high-wind microbursts—utilities are tasked with keeping a complex, aging power grid resilient in the face of unprecedented weather volatility.
The key to staying ahead of these growing challenges? Hyperlocal, accurate, and fast weather forecasting that empowers utilities to act before, during, and after high-impact events.
At Climavision, we’re changing the forecast game. Our Horizon AI models offer tailored predictions for specific assets and geographies, equipping grid operators with the tools they need to reduce outages, protect infrastructure, and accelerate restoration efforts—without sacrificing speed or accuracy.
In Summary:
- Severe weather is the top cause of power outages, and climate change is intensifying these events—making accurate, timely forecasts more critical than ever.
- Climavision’s Horizon AI HIRES model provides high-resolution forecasts down to 0.67 km, enabling utilities to anticipate and mitigate risks from localized storms, high winds, and precipitation.
- Horizon AI Point delivers asset-specific forecasts, using machine learning and local sensor data to provide hyperlocal insights for substations, transmission lines, and renewable energy assets.
- Better forecasting supports faster, smarter storm response—from staging crews before an event to prioritizing restoration efforts and protecting workers during and after.
- Climavision’s AI-driven models combine speed and accuracy, helping utilities maintain grid reliability, reduce downtime, and build greater climate resilience.
Forecasting to Prevent and Prepare
Seeing Trouble Before It Hits
One of the biggest challenges for utility operators is the unpredictability of severe weather at the local level. Traditional weather models often miss small-scale, high-impact phenomena like isolated thunderstorms, localized flooding, or wind surges. These micro-weather events may be small in scale but can cause massive disruption when they intersect with vulnerable grid assets.
That’s why precision matters. Forecasts that can resolve weather down to a neighborhood, or even a single substation, allow utilities to take action earlier—whether that means reinforcing infrastructure, deploying mobile crews, or pre-positioning restoration resources.
Advanced warning isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. A few extra hours of lead time can be the difference between a planned response and a widespread blackout.
Enhancing Real-Time Decision-Making
Of course, not everything can be prevented. But when disaster strikes, real-time awareness becomes mission critical. Utilities must constantly adjust to fast-changing conditions: shifting wind directions, unexpected rainfall totals, or rapidly evolving storm cells.
Climavision’s high-frequency forecast updates and easy-to-interpret visualizations help grid operators maintain situational awareness throughout an event. Whether managing load balancing, rerouting field crews, or communicating with customers, more accurate and timely data leads to faster, smarter decisions—and better outcomes for everyone.
Climavision’s Forecasting Advantage
Horizon AI HIRES: Pinpoint Precision Across Large Areas
Our Horizon AI HIRES model is built for the most demanding utility applications. By delivering forecasts at 2 km resolution across CONUS and customizable down to a 0.67 km sub-domain, HIRES reveals critical weather insights that conventional models can’t capture.
What sets it apart? HIRES uses advanced convection-permitting physics, enhanced boundary layer modeling, and real-time assimilation of radar, satellite, and surface observations. The result is an ultra-detailed forecast that can anticipate wind gusts, rainfall totals, temperature shifts, and other localized phenomena with exceptional accuracy.
For utilities, HIRES delivers key advantages:
- More accurate predictions of wind, temperature, and precipitation that directly affect power generation and grid stability.
- The ability to adjust dispatch from backup or renewable sources in advance of forecasted output swings.
- Confidence in storm threat assessments—without overcommitting resources or underestimating risk.
Horizon AI Point: Asset-Specific Intelligence
For utilities managing a dispersed network of substations, transmission lines, and renewable assets, Horizon AI Point brings forecasting down to the individual asset. Designed to deliver highly localized predictions at any point of interest, this system combines:
- Dynamic blending of multiple numerical weather prediction (NWP) models
- Machine learning trained on historical weather data and forecast bias correction
- Integration with nearby sensor and radar networks
Point forecasts are optimized to account for site-specific variables like elevation, urban heat islands, tree cover, and nearby water bodies—factors that generic models typically ignore.
Benefits for utilities include:
- Improved demand forecasting using hyperlocal weather variables like temperature, solar irradiance, and humidity.
- Advanced storm readiness at the substation level: know exactly when a storm may impact a specific location, not just a region.
- More efficient scheduling of maintenance windows based on forecasted weather breaks—minimizing service disruption and keeping workers safe.
From Forecast to Faster Response
With Climavision’s Horizon models, utilities don’t just get data—they get foresight that transforms how they respond before, during, and after severe weather events.
Before the Storm
- Identify high-risk zones with hyperlocal forecasts
- Stage crews, backup equipment, and response teams ahead of impact
- Communicate with stakeholders and the public earlier and more confidently
During the Storm
- Adjust operations in real time based on evolving weather intelligence
- Prioritize restoration efforts as new data comes in
- Track damage-prone areas and mitigate further risk through de-energization or load shifting
After the Storm
- Use forecasted impact areas to guide field assessments and expedite recovery
- Reallocate crews to priority locations based on expected conditions
- Plan for follow-up weather that may hinder or help restoration
In short, better forecasts mean fewer outages—and faster recovery when they do happen.
Why Utilities Trust Climavision
When lives and livelihoods depend on keeping the power on, accuracy and speed are non-negotiable. That’s why Climavision built its forecasting systems from the ground up—leveraging AI, physics, proprietary radar networks, and cloud supercomputing to deliver the industry’s most trusted weather intelligence.
Our dual forecast systems offer:
- Resolution down to 0.67 km for HIRES and pinpoint asset-level accuracy with Point
- Update frequency that supports near real-time decision-making
- Superior accuracy, verified by third-party evaluations across 1- to 14-day forecasts
- Scalability, with custom domains and asset-based forecasts available anywhere on Earth
Climavision doesn’t force you to choose between detail and speed—we deliver both.
A More Resilient Future Starts with Smarter Forecasting
As the energy landscape grows more complex, utilities must operate with greater agility, foresight, and precision. The days of relying on broad, generalized weather models are over. In their place: actionable, high-resolution forecasting systems that help utilities adapt to a new era of climate-driven risk.
With Horizon AI HIRES and Horizon AI Point, Climavision empowers utilities to not just weather the storm—but to see it coming, respond faster, and recover stronger.
Ready to level up your outage prevention and response strategy? Let’s talk.
