Automated global weather notification system

1. A method of producing informational weather notifications, the method comprising:

obtaining, by one or more processors, an aggregated forecast dataset corresponding to a geographic area, wherein the aggregated forecast dataset is aggregated from two or more datasets selected from a group consisting of a dataset associated with rainfall predictions for a plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with snowfall predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with ice predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with heat predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with cold predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with wind for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with thunderstorm predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, and a dataset associated with fog predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods,

wherein the datasets for the plurality of forecast time periods comprise a first forecast time period and a second forecast time period, wherein the first forecast time period is different from the second forecast time period, and

wherein the datasets for the plurality of forecast time periods are organized in a grid structure having more than one spatial resolution, including a first spatial resolution and a second spatial resolution, wherein each spatial resolution defines a pre-defined set of spacing between grid elements having one or more forecast values, wherein the second spatial resolution is different from the first spatial resolution;

evaluating, by the one or more processor, a plurality of pre-defined business rules specific to a targeted geographic location of a plurality of targeted geographic locations, wherein each targeted geographic location is located within, and as a portion of, the geographic area,

wherein each evaluation comprises:

comparing a threshold value for a notification defined in a business rule of the plurality of pre-defined business rules to one or more derived forecast values, each of the one or more derived forecast values being determined as an average or as an interpolation of a plurality of forecast values associated with respective neighboring grid elements in at least one of the two or more datasets for a given forecast time period, wherein the threshold value is varied based on an elevation associated with a second grid structure, wherein each element of the second grid structure has a data value associated with the elevation for the geographic area to which the second grid structure corresponds; and

determining whether the notification associated with the comparison is at least a pre-defined duration from a last generated notification event, wherein the last generated notification event is a last forecast time period that the comparison associated with the notification is met and offset by a pre-defined expiration period; and

in response to the evaluation, causing, by the one or more processor, for each targeted geographic location having a user of a plurality of users, transmission of an informational weather notification to each user of the plurality of users associated with the targeted geographic location.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering, via SMS (short message service), MMS (multimedia message service), or electronic mail, the informational weather notification associated with the targeted geographic location to the each user associated with the targeted geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering the informational weather notification associated with the targeted geographic location to a website being accessed by a client device, wherein the targeted geographic location is determined using an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the client device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more datasets associated with the aggregated forecast dataset spans, at least, a portion of a globe.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the business rule is based on a period of time less than 48 hours in a future.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the business rule is based on a period of time of at least 3 hours.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the weather data to a second threshold condition for a second notification category, and when the second threshold condition is met, producing an automated informational weather notification for the second threshold condition.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the comparison of the threshold value and the comparison of the second threshold condition, respectively, are done independently of one another.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving observational data from a weather data source for a plurality of geographic locations in the geographic area to obtain aggregated observational data; and

generating forecast models for the two or more datasets from the obtained aggregated observational data.

10. A system for producing informational weather notifications, comprising:

a database having stored thereon an aggregated global forecast dataset,

wherein the aggregated global forecast dataset is aggregated from two or more datasets selected from a group consisting of a dataset associated with rainfall predictions for a plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with snowfall predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with ice predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with heat predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with cold predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with wind for the plurality of forecast time periods a dataset associated with thunderstorm predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, and a dataset associated with fog predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods,

wherein the datasets for the plurality of forecast time periods comprise a first forecast time period and a second forecast time period, wherein the first forecast time period is different from the second forecast time period, and

wherein the datasets for the plurality of forecast time periods are organized in a grid structure having more than one spatial resolution, including a first spatial resolution and a second spatial resolution, wherein each spatial resolution defines a pre-defined set of spacing between grid elements having one or more forecast values, wherein the second spatial resolution is different from the first spatial resolution;

a processor; and

a memory having instruction stored thereon, the instruction comprising:

a plurality of pre-defined business rules to be applied to at least a subset of the aggregated global forecast dataset; and

a plurality of conditional variables to be applied to the subset of the aggregated global forecast dataset,

wherein execution of the instructions by the processor, cause the processor to:

evaluate the plurality of pre-defined business rules and the plurality of conditional variables specific to a targeted geographic location of a plurality of targeted geographic locations, wherein each targeted geographic location is located within, and as a portion of, a geographic area, and

wherein each evaluation comprises:

comparing a threshold value for a notification defined in a business rule of the plurality of pre-defined business rules to one or more derived forecast values, each of the one or more derived forecast values being determined as an average or as an interpolation of a plurality of forecast values associated with respective neighboring grid elements in at least one of the two or more datasets for a given forecast time period, wherein the threshold value is varied based on an elevation associated with a second grid structure, wherein each element of the second grid structure has a data value associated with the elevation for the geographic area to which the second grid structure corresponds; and

determining whether the notification associated with the comparison is at least a pre-defined duration from a last generated notification event, wherein the last generated notification event is a last forecast time period that the comparison associated with the notification is met and offset by a pre-defined expiration period; and

in response to the evaluation, cause for each targeted geographic location having a user of a plurality of users, transmission of an informational weather notification to each user of the plurality of users associated with the targeted geographic location.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a network, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor further cause the processor to automatically distribute the informational weather notification to users located in a relevant geographic location.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein each of the two or more datasets associated with the aggregated global forecast dataset spans, at least, a portion of a globe.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

retrieve observational data from a weather data source for a plurality of geographic locations in the geographic area to obtain aggregated observational data; and

generate forecast models for the two or more datasets from the obtained aggregated observational data.

14. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions, wherein execution of the instructions causes a processor of a computing device to:

obtain an aggregated forecast dataset corresponding to a geographic area,

wherein the aggregated forecast dataset is aggregated from two or more datasets selected from a group consisting of a dataset associated with rainfall predictions for a plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with snowfall predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with ice predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with heat predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with cold predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, a dataset associated with wind for the plurality of forecast time periods a dataset associated with thunderstorm predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods, and a dataset associated with fog predictions for the plurality of forecast time periods,

wherein the datasets for the plurality of forecast time periods comprise a first forecast time period and a second forecast time period, wherein the first forecast time period is different from the second forecast time period, and

wherein the datasets for the plurality of forecast time periods are organized in a grid structure having more than one spatial resolution, including a first spatial resolution and a second spatial resolution, wherein each spatial resolution defines a pre-defined set of spacing between grid elements having one or more forecast values, wherein the second spatial resolution is different from the first spatial resolution;

evaluate a plurality of pre-defined business rules specific to a targeted geographic location of a plurality of targeted geographic locations, wherein each targeted geographic location is located within, and as a portion of, the geographic area,

wherein each evaluation comprises:

comparing a threshold value for a notification defined in a business rule of the plurality of pre-defined business rules to one or more derived forecast values, each of the one or more derived forecast values being determined as an average or as an interpolation of a plurality of forecast values associated with respective neighboring grid elements in at least one of the two or more datasets for a given forecast time period, wherein the threshold value is varied based on an elevation associated with a second grid structure, wherein each element of the second grid structure has a data value associated with the elevation for the geographic area to which the second grid structure corresponds; and

determining whether the notification associated with the comparison is at least a pre-defined duration from a last generated notification event, wherein the last generated notification event is a last forecast time period that the comparison associated with the notification is met and offset by a pre-defined expiration period; and

in response to the evaluation, cause for each targeted geographic location having a user of a plurality of users, transmission of an informational weather notification to each user of the plurality of users associated with the targeted geographic location.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

retrieve observational data from a weather data source for a plurality of geographic locations in the geographic area to obtain aggregated observational data; and

generate forecast models for the two or more datasets from the obtained aggregated observation data.