ABC15HD has been awarded the WeatheRate seal of approval, as the most accurate television weather forecasting team in the Phoenix television viewing market. WeatheRate is the only independent weather forecast verification company in the United States basing the certified results over the course of an entire year of weather data ending February 29, 2008.
WeatheRate's Weather Tracker II software compares the weather forecasts of all Greater Phoenix area TV meteorologists with the actual observed conditions to reveal which station is truly the most accurate. Through a series of mathematical calculations, WeatheRate determined that ABC15HD had the best daily, weekly and monthly accuracy.
"We are not affiliated with any TV stations or the companies that own them, so when we tell you who's really most accurate in the Greater Phoenix area it’s true," said meteorologist Bruce Fixman, President of WeatheRate. "WeatheRate employees review the five-day forecasts from two hundred local TV stations in 50 major U.S. metropolitan areas. WeatheRate then obtains the official local observed weather data. The forecast and observed weather data are fed into our patented software, WeatherTracker II, which compares the forecast with the actual observed conditions," Fixman said. WeatheRate only certifies the one station that is truly the most accurate in each city.
Accurate and reliable weather coverage is a top priority for ABC15HD. That’s why Chief meteorologist Bill Bellis has a tough job in one of the most unpredictable climates in the nation. Bill completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of Arizona in Tucson. He has worked closely with the National Weather Service and studied flow of weather, atmospheric pressures and the effect of rain on the desert. The Monsoon storms fascinated him and he fell in love with Arizona's mountains, lakes, desert and climate forecasting.
Bill Bellis is nationally certified as a meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. He is one of a small number of local television station weather forecasters that truly know how to accurately create a reliable forecast rather than rely on national weather service information. Bill uses his knowledge and experience to personally create a forecast our viewers can trust.
ABC15HD leads the market in weather technology with Desert Doppler15HD the market’s most powerful radar system with 3D views. Desert Doppler15HD has five sweeps of radar covering Arizona with the most reliable imagery available.
Bill Bellis and the ABC15 weather team are committed to accuracy as a promise. The addition of the WeatheRate certification verifies to our community the ABC15HD weather team truly and consistently delivers the most accurate forecast available.
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The E. W. Scripps Company (www.scripps.com) is a diverse, 130-year-old media enterprise with interests in broadcast television stations, newspaper publishing, and licensing and syndication. The company's portfolio of locally focused media properties includes: 10 broadcast TV stations, with six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent; daily and community newspapers in 15 markets and the Washington, D.C.-based Scripps Media Center, home of the Scripps Howard News Service; and United Media, the licensor and syndicator of Peanuts, Dilbert and approximately 150 other features and comics.
