Brewing Trouble: How witch storms can affect business operations

Witch storms, though less common than typical weather events, can pose unique challenges and risks to businesses. Witch storms can take on various forms and pose significant challenges to economies, infrastructure, and the overall stability of businesses. AccuWeather For Business clients who use AccuWeather’s SkyGuard® Notifications receive the most advance notice and accurate forecasts, backed by Superior Accuracy™, to be the best prepared for severe weather. 

What are witch storms? 

Witch storms are a severe weather events that can hit the Midwest in November. These storms are characterized by strong winds that can reach hurricane force, and they are often accompanied by heavy rain, snow, and sleet. Witch storms form in the fall when increasing temperature contrasts form north to south across the U.S., producing stronger low-pressure systems. The term "witch" describes these storms because they can cause significant damage to property and infrastructure.

Ways to prepare your business for witch storms

Witch storms can have a significant impact on businesses. Strong winds and heavy precipitation can cause power outages, road closures, and flight cancellations, which can disrupt supply chains and cause delays in product delivery. Also, businesses that operate in areas prone to flooding may experience damage to their facilities and equipment, leading to costly repairs and downtime.

To prepare for witch storms, businesses should take the following steps:

• Review your business insurance policy: Before a storm hits, it is essential to review your business insurance policy to ensure that you have adequate coverage for storm-related damage. Ask yourself questions such as: What types of damage are covered? What is the deductible? What is the claims process?
• Assess your weather threats: Identify the potential threats your business may face during a storm, such as power outages, flooding, and transportation disruptions. Prioritize the threats that are most likely to occur and develop a plan to mitigate them.
• Strengthen your business locations: Take steps to protect your facilities and equipment from storm damage. This may include installing storm shutters, reinforcing doors and windows, and securing loose items that could become projectiles in high winds.
• Equip your team with the right tools and information: Make sure that your employees have the tools and information they need to stay safe during a storm. This may include providing them with emergency kits, communication devices, and training on responding to different emergencies.
• Keep track of weather updates: Stay informed about the latest weather updates and warnings in your area. Use a reliable weather service like AccuWeather for Business to get real-time updates on storm conditions and potential impacts.

AccuWeather’s SkyGuard® Notifications are a valuable tool for businesses preparing for witch storms and other severe weather events. The service provides customized weather forecasts and alerts that are tailored to your specific location and industry. This can help you make informed decisions about when to close your business, when to evacuate your employees, and when to take other protective measures.

Want to learn more about how AccuWeather’s SkyGuard® Notifications can help you best prepare for severe storms? Speak to an expert and demo SkyGuard today. 

The AccuWeather Advantage

The benefits of AccuWeather go beyond protecting the lives of employees and customers. Businesses will also reduce your operational costs through better planning, better mitigation efforts, and allow you to make better weather-impacted decisions. AccuWeather forecasts will help you make the right decisions sooner and faster, which will keep your people safer, save you money overall, eliminate angst and stress, reduce your risk and liability, reduce losses, and better protect your reputation.

AccuWeather’s track record of Superior Accuracy™ in weather forecasting and warnings has saved our clients tens of billions of dollars, saved the lives of employees and customers, and minimized reputational harm. Overall, for more than 60 years, AccuWeather has saved over 10,000 lives and prevented injuries to over 100,000 people, all beyond what has been done by the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center, and other weather sources.