WSI Introduces WSI LiveCat Forecast™ Europe - Weather Solutions Expert Provides Insurers, Reinsurers, Energy Traders and Utility Executives with

ANDOVER, MA (PRWEB) February 11, 2009 -- Weather Services International (WSI), the most trusted global weather solutions provider, today announced the launch of WSI LiveCat Forecast™ Europe, an innovative service providing highly accurate predictions -- up to 10 days out -- of the development path and intensity of European windstorms. Other weather services and vendors typically only forecast five days out.

WSI LiveCat Forecast™ Europe is based on the same patent-pending technology that, throughout the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, outperformed U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts, as well as other leading weather models. The product's expert capabilities were powerfully demonstrated during the 2008 Atlantic Season, including Hurricane Ike, for which WSI provided more accurate track forecasts than NHC.

In addition to being the only European storm forecasting service offering live, real-time consultation with in-house meteorologists, WSI LiveCat Forecast Europe provides at least two forecast updates daily which include expressions of forecast uncertainty. These updates provide as much notice on European storms as is currently possible and offer a means of factoring forecast confidence information into critical decision-making processes to help mitigate potentially costly damage and loss.

"European windstorms don't rapidly weaken when they reach landfall, making them the second largest driver of insured losses in the world," said Ira Scharf, General Manager of WSI's Energy and Risk Services. "Using predictions from WSI LiveCat Forecast Europe, insurance professionals and risk managers will be able to develop more precise recovery plans and risk mitigation assessments days ahead of those relying on more commonly available five-day forecasts."

Plus, to complete the service circle and provide year-round information on European windstorm forecasting, WSI will also offer an additional service that will complement WSI LiveCat Forecast Europe featuring pre-season forecasts of both the total number and location of European windstorms for the upcoming season.

To learn more about WSI LiveCat Forecast Europe, contact Todd Crawford at tcrawford@wsi.com or call (978) 983-6540. Also, visit the WSI stand #528 in Hall #2, at eWorld, Feb. 10-12, in Essen, Germany.

About WSI Corporation

WSI is the most trusted source of weather information across the globe. Top insurance, risk management companies and financial institutions worldwide trust WSI to supply them with easy-to-use, timely and expert weather guidance to help anticipate market volatility, mitigate risk and make critical decisions with confidence. WSI is a member of The Weather Channel Companies and is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, with offices in Birmingham, England. The Weather Channel Companies are owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms, The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. For more information, please visit us on the web at www.wsi.com or call us at 877.WSI.CORP or +44.121.233.7600.

For more information, please contact:

Kristen Sullivan

WSI Corporation

(978) 983-6607

Editorial Contact:

Barbara Rudolph    

Rudolph Communications, LLC

(781) 229-1811

# # #