Every StormRecord report is sourced from archived NOAA and National Weather Service observation data. Here's exactly where that data comes from and how it is sourced and processed.
StormRecord was designed and built by a degreed meteorologist with professional experience in data analysis and operations. Every data source, severity threshold, and classification rule in StormRecord reflects predefined meteorological criteria applied consistently across all reports.
Data Sources
No proprietary models, no user-editable inputs, no third-party estimates. Every data point is sourced from archived NOAA observation data.
Hourly surface observations (temperature, wind speed, wind gusts, precipitation, humidity, barometric pressure, and conditions) are sourced from the nearest ASOS or AWOS station. These stations are maintained by NOAA, the FAA, and the Department of Defense.
Station observations are retrieved via Visual Crossing, which aggregates archived NOAA/NWS station data. StormRecord identifies and discloses the specific station used and its distance from the subject property in every report.
weather.gov/asos →Active and archived NWS warnings, watches, and advisories are retrieved from the NWS CAP alert archive. These are the same alerts issued to the public during weather events.
The alert archive retains records for approximately 7–14 days. For dates beyond this window, storm documentation relies on the NCEI Storm Events Database and NWS Local Storm Reports.
weather.gov/documentation/services-web-api →The archive of significant weather events across the United States. This database is referenced in federal disaster reporting, catastrophe modeling, and weather-related litigation.
Each record is reviewed and published by NWS Weather Forecast Offices before inclusion in the NCEI database. Records include event type, magnitude measurements, damage estimates, and detailed narratives. NCEI data is typically published 90–120 days after the event.
ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents →For dates not yet covered by NCEI (typically the most recent 3–4 months), StormRecord retrieves NWS Local Storm Reports (LSRs). LSRs are issued in near real-time during significant weather events.
LSR data is archived by the Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM). When NCEI publishes data for the same period, preliminary LSR records are automatically replaced. Each report clearly identifies its data source.
mesonet.agron.iastate.edu →How It Works
When you enter an address and date, StormRecord performs these steps entirely server-side, with no user modification possible at any stage.
The address is resolved to geographic coordinates using Google's geocoding service, determining the exact location for all weather lookups.
The closest ASOS/AWOS station is identified. Station name, identifier, and distance are disclosed in the report.
24 hours of surface observations are pulled: temperature, wind, precipitation, pressure, and conditions. All values are retrieved from archived station observations and incorporated into the report without alteration.
Observations are evaluated against fixed severity thresholds. These are predefined, consistent across all reports, and not adjustable by any party.
NWS warnings and NCEI Storm Events records (or NWS Local Storm Reports for recent dates) are queried by county and date.
All data is compiled into a structured, multi-page PDF with severity classification, hourly log, charts, storm events, and full source attribution.
Classification
Four fixed severity levels based on observed surface conditions. These thresholds are identical for every report and cannot be adjusted.
| Level | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Severe | Wind gusts exceeding 58 mph, precipitation exceeding 2 inches, or severe convective indicators (tornado, large hail, severe thunderstorm warning) |
| Moderate | Wind gusts between 40–58 mph, precipitation between 1–2 inches, or strong thunderstorms indicated by NWS warnings |
| Measurable | Wind gusts between 25–40 mph, precipitation between 0.5–1 inch, or light storm activity |
| Baseline | Wind gusts below 25 mph, precipitation below 0.5 inch, clear or partly cloudy conditions |
The 58 mph severe wind threshold aligns with the National Weather Service's definition of damaging wind gusts used for severe thunderstorm warnings. The precipitation thresholds reflect standard meteorological benchmarks for significant rainfall events.
Severity classifications are informational and reflect observed meteorological conditions. They do not establish causation, or determine the applicability of any insurance policy, legal claim, or contractual provision.
Standards
StormRecord is designed to produce structured weather documentation that is reproducible and transparent.
Users enter an address and a date. There is no mechanism to edit, filter, adjust, or override any weather observation, alert record, or storm event in the report.
Every report discloses the specific weather station, its ICAO identifier, and distance from the subject property for independent verification.
Hourly weather values are retrieved directly from station observations and stored without alteration. No rounding, averaging, interpolation, or estimation.
Severity thresholds are hardcoded and identical for every report regardless of location, season, or claim type. Same date and location always produces the same result.
Every report includes a generation timestamp and unique identifier, creating a timestamped record of when it was produced and from which data snapshot.
All timestamps in StormRecord reports are presented in the local time of the subject property. Daylight Saving Time is applied automatically based on the historical timekeeping rules in effect on the report date.
StormRecord covers the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories served by the National Weather Service. Coverage depends on the availability of nearby ASOS/AWOS surface observation stations.
Reports can be generated for dates from February 2023 through the present. For dates within the most recent 3–4 months, storm event documentation uses NWS Local Storm Reports (preliminary data). For earlier dates, storm event documentation uses the NCEI Storm Events Database.
A StormRecord report provides an objective, timestamped record of meteorological conditions at a specific location on a specific date. It may be used as documentation where recorded weather conditions are relevant, including insurance, legal, travel, and construction-related matters.
StormRecord reports document factual weather conditions. They do not assess property damage, determine insurance coverage or liability, establish legal causation, evaluate policy applicability, or render professional opinions on weather-related disputes. StormRecord is not a forensic meteorology firm and does not provide expert witness testimony or site-specific analysis.
StormRecord reports are compiled from archived NOAA and National Weather Service observation data, including ASOS/AWOS surface observations, NCEI Storm Events records, and NWS alert archives.
For cases requiring expert testimony, site-specific damage or causation analysis, or radar interpretation consult a Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM).
If you have questions about our methodology, data sources, or how StormRecord reports can support your documentation workflow, contact us at support@stormrecord.com.
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