In South Florida, the impact of rising sea levels is all too familiar, with streets flooding even on sunny days and communities bracing for increasingly severe storm surges.
To address these urgent issues, Boca Raton-based startup SkyWind Solutions has emerged with innovative hyperlocal tide forecasting solutions designed to provide coastal municipalities with timely and accurate predictions.
Former national TV meteorologist Bonnie Schneider, known for her roles at CNN, HLN, and MSNBC, has taken her expertise beyond reporting to focus on actionable solutions for climate challenges.
Alongside co-founders Dr. Greg Rainwater and Dr. Kevin Viner, Schneider launched SkyWind to implement cutting-edge science and artificial intelligence in tackling one of Florida’s most pressing concerns.
The company’s inaugural product is a tide prediction platform that surpasses National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tidal gauges, which are often positioned miles from at-risk neighborhoods.
SkyWind’s technology leverages AI-based modeling to offer hyperlocal forecasts of high and low tides for an entire week.
A key feature of the platform is its probabilistic approach, which presents a range of potential tidal outcomes instead of a single value.
“We’re offering municipalities three months of free data right now as pilots,” Schneider stated.
The initial response from these municipalities has been positive, and there are plans to expand partnerships in the upcoming fall season.
SkyWind’s data can be accessed via API for those with technical expertise or through a user-friendly dashboard tailored for municipalities seeking immediate, actionable insights.
Cities can choose specific locations, including areas lacking a tide gauge, and receive updated forecasts twice daily.
This capability is crucial not only for emergency response efforts but also for informing long-term resilience strategies.
The software-based nature of the SkyWind platform allows for rapid scalability, and the company envisions applications extending to port operations, dredging, and maritime construction, where water levels are vital for safety and efficiency.
In addition to tide predictions, SkyWind is developing tools to forecast harmful algae blooms, commonly referred to as red tide, which pose risks to coastal communities and individuals with respiratory issues.
“It’s a health issue as well as an environmental one,” Schneider emphasized, noting the importance of advance notifications for community preparedness.
The scientific foundation of SkyWind is robust; Dr. Rainwater is an expert in applied mathematics and atmospheric science, having pioneered advanced climate modeling techniques.
Dr. Viner, a seasoned meteorologist, dedicated over ten years at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory enhancing large-scale forecasting systems.
Their combined expertise enriches Schneider’s talent for making complex scientific information accessible to wider audiences.
SkyWind’s participation in Seaworthy Collective’s Shoreline program firmly establishes it within Florida’s expanding blue economy.
Schneider expresses enthusiasm for building the company in Miami due to the city’s unique atmosphere of camaraderie, collaboration, and community spirit, which she finds lacking in larger urban centers.
“I’ve lived all over the country as a meteorologist, but there’s something unique about South Florida,” Schneider remarked.
SkyWind’s mission is personal for Schneider, who after years of storm reporting from a studio is now helping coastal communities prepare for these challenges in real time.
image source from：refreshmiami
