Simplifying Forecasting for Meteorologists
Year: 2025
Role: Product Designer
Challenge
Perry Weather’s meteorology team relied on a complex, multi-tool workflow to send proactive forecasts to customers. The process required manually drawing polygons in Google Maps, exporting CSV files, and emailing forecasts via Gmail—leading to inefficiencies, missed notifications, and limited geographic accuracy.
Additionally, forecasts lacked industry-specific relevance, meaning critical weather information wasn’t always actionable for customers. A more integrated, user-friendly solution was needed to improve forecasting efficiency and enhance the customer experience.
Old Process
New Simple Tool
Process
To streamline proactive forecasting, I designed a fully integrated tool within the Perry Weather platform that:
Simplifies the workflow by allowing meteorologists to draw polygons directly on an interactive map instead of exporting and processing CSV files.
Automatically identifies affected users based on their physical locations, ensuring accurate, geographically relevant notifications.
Enables forecast customization with industry-specific messaging (ex. “High wind gusts over 35mph could impact crane operations”).
Delivers forecasts through multiple channels, including push notifications and email, ensuring critical weather updates reach customers in real time.
Defining a Scalable Color System for Forecasting
To ensure clear, accessible, and intuitive weather visualizations, I developed a structured color system that effectively communicates different forecast types.
Color Palette & Opacity Mapping
I designed a consistent color scheme aligned with industry standards for weather alerts, ensuring immediate recognition.
To balance visibility and usability, I fine-tuned opacity levels (35% fill) to maintain clarity on dark backgrounds.
Testing Common Warning Combinations
I validated the color interactions using real-world weather scenarios, ensuring overlapping alerts remained distinguishable on radar maps.
The system prevents visual confusion when multiple forecast areas intersect, improving legibility at a glance.
This systematic approach created a visually cohesive and scalable color strategy that enhances usability for meteorologists and customers alike.
Key Design Decisions
Interactive Mapping – I designed an intuitive polygon-drawing feature within Perry Weather’s interface, enabling meteorologists to define forecast areas seamlessly.
User Filtering & Forecast Targeting – I incorporated role-based filtering, allowing the met team to send forecasts to specific user types (e.g., admins, super admins, industry-specific roles)
Branded Forecast Templates – Replacing plain-text Gmail emails, I designed branded forecast emails sent via SendGrid, reinforcing Perry Weather’s identity and improving customer trust.
Seamless Mobile Integration – Customers receive push notifications and an in-app “Proactive Forecasts” section, keeping weather updates easily accessible.
Impact
Improved efficiency – The new tool eliminated reliance on external tools, significantly reducing the time and technical effort required to send forecasts.
Greater forecast accuracy – Customers now receive highly relevant alerts based on their exact locations, ensuring more actionable weather insights.
Scalability – By integrating the process into Perry Weather’s ecosystem, the solution sets the stage for future enhancements, such as saved forecast areas and automated scanning for severe weather events.
Key Metrics
520+ hours saved per year (~13 full workweeks!)
10 minutes saved per forecast by eliminating manual steps
$80,000+ in estimated cost savings (avoided hiring an additional meteorologist)
~20% increase in forecast accuracy by ensuring alerts reach all relevant users
Key Learnings
This project reinforced the power of product thinking in UX design, where understanding both internal workflows and customer needs leads to impactful solutions. I gained deeper insights into interactive mapping, spatial data visualization, and role-based filtering, further strengthening my ability to design scalable, user-friendly interfaces for complex workflows.