Due to these expensive threats, alerting owners and managers of commercial and residential property early on to the potential for incoming winter storms and developing action plans to deal with the wintry weather events represents a growing business.

Those with commercial assets to protect tend to be increasingly receptive, says Shannon Kenny, senior vice president of Soft Services at Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Lessen.

“In today’s uncertain economic environment, it is more important than ever for commercial owners across sectors to prioritize the health and resiliency of their portfolios, especially as weather events like winter storms become more severe and destructive,” says Kenny, whose company uses weather data to predict the impact of storms on property portfolios, and creates pre-, during and post-storm strategies. For instance, post-storm, it supports customers with insurance claims related to onsite injuries by overseeing the process from claim review to collaboration with legal teams.

Kenny says technology is key in preparing for winter storm events. Tech tools can deliver predictive information, help smooth preparation for storms, coordinate recovery from wild weather and help owners limit damage, cut downtime and protect investment.

Snowfall forecast

AccuWeather is another company that serves real estate owners in this space. The company issues weather forecasts. It also delivers accurate and location-specific “SkyGuard Warnings” of inclement weather as many as 10 days ahead.

Leveraging historic and contemporary weather data, AccuWeather’s Snow Warning Service serves up exact snowfall start and stop times, specific times when rain or snow will turn to ice and vice versa, as well as expected accumulations and hourly conditions.

The company can also present property owners with tailored alerts taking into account building locations and deliver long-range forecasts that can help companies undertake seasonal planning in advance. All the above help owners decide on risk-reduction and storm-preparation strategies that may guide staffing adjustments, supply chain rerouting and suggest ways to minimize downtime, safeguard assets and help assure safety.

One more provider is WeatherWorks, which blends real-time weather data with its own proprietary algorithms to help its property owner clients keep track of looming weather perils at every level, from regional and city perspectives to the individual property level.

Intensity and peak timing, hourly and period forecasting and storm hazards enable real estate owners to gain 360-degree perspectives on how winter’s onslaught will affect their properties, enabling them to better weather the toughest storms.

Kenny speaks for many in the growing industry when she sums up the challenges and opportunities presented by winter. “The ability to act proactively and respond efficiently is essential for long-term success in an era of increasing climate risk,” she says.