WSI Launches WSI Tropical MarketFirst™

Patent-pending 'forecast of a forecast' technique for tropical storms gives energy traders edge.

Andover, MA (PRWEB) June 12, 2008 -- WSI Corporation, the leader in weather-driven business solutions, today announced the launch of WSI Tropical MarketFirst™, a proprietary technique that provides exclusive access to potentially volatile tropical forecasts hours before the information is released to the general marketplace.

Developed to help energy traders more accurately anticipate changes in the market due to tropical activity, WSI Tropical MarketFirst provides a unique prediction of the 12Z Global Forecast System's (GFS) track forecasts (issued at Noon EDT in the US) for existing named tropical systems in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Basin. It will predict the 12Z GFS hurricane track forecasts out to 16 days or until the forecasted landfall occurs, along with a "cone of uncertainty" surrounding the forecast track.

This exclusive forecast, issued up to two hours before the 12Z GFS forecast, correctly predicts the direction of change of the 12Z track relative to the 00Z GFS track up to 75% of the time.

"During the summer and fall, energy markets are extremely sensitive to forecast changes for tropical systems," said Ira Scharf, General Manager of WSI's Energy and Risk Services. "Traders are looking for early insight into those forecast changes to anticipate market movements and WSI Tropical MarketFirst gives them the edge they need."

With the introduction of WSI Tropical MarketFirst, WSI has extended its successful 'forecast of a forecast' product suite, which was begun in 2006 with WSI MarketFirst, a market-moving prediction of temperature forecasts.

As of June 1, 2008 WSI Tropical MarketFirst is available for all tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Basin. The product will be issued to customers up to two hours before the actual 12Z GFS run itself, giving them plenty of time to react before the markets.

To learn more about WSI Tropical MarketFirst, contact Rob Boucher at rboucher @ wsi.com or call (978) 983-6558.

About WSI Corporation

WSI is the most trusted source of weather information across the globe. Top insurance, risk management companies and financial institutions around the globe trust WSI to supply them with easy-to-use, timely and expert weather guidance to help anticipate market volatility, mitigate risk and make critical decisions with confidence. For more information, please visit us on the web at www.wsi.com or call us in the U.S. at 877.WSI.CORP or in the U.K. at +44.121.233.7600.

For more information, please contact:

Kristen Sullivan

WSI Corporation

(978) 983-6607

ksullivan @ wsi.com

Editorial Contact:

Barbara Rudolph    

Rudolph Communications, LLC

(781) 229-1811

bjr @ rudolphcommunications.com

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