Ford, AccuWeather Keep Drivers Weather-Ready with Hyper-Local Forecasts Minute-by-Minute Through SYNC AppLink

Ford and AccuWeather now make using the smartphone app easier by enabling it to work with SYNCŪ AppLink™. AccuWeather MinuteCast™ brings minute-by-minute, hyper-localized weather forecasts to a driver’s exact street address

AccuWeather for Ford SYNC AppLink helps drivers plan and time their trips around weather conditions, and gives advance warning of inclement weather

2015 International CES

DEARBORN, MI -- December 30, 2014: Ford Motor Company and AccuWeather are joining together to integrate one of the country’s leading weather apps featuring hyper-localized weather forecasting into the vehicle.

“We are thrilled to have our award-winning app available to drivers through SYNC AppLink”

“The new integration of AccuWeather for Ford SYNC AppLink will bring our customers the most up-to-date weather information while on the road,” said Julius Marchwicki, Ford Connected Services Product manager. “The system is easy to use, and with the addition of MinuteCast, drivers will get minute-by-minute forecasts for up to two hours to help them make safer driving decisions during bad weather.”

AccuWeather, a global leader in digital weather information, is introducing its MinuteCast™ to Ford SYNCŪ AppLink™ customers. The technology uses an exact street address or GPS location to provide minute-by-minute weather forecasting, information about precipitation type, intensity and duration to the driver.

By selecting MinuteCast on the vehicle display menu, the driver will see a static image of the weather condition he or she will soon face, and the time the precipitation is expected to happen on the route. An audio warning will also be delivered. The service is available for a growing list of countries worldwide including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland and Japan.

Steven Smith, chief digital officer for AccuWeather, said the AppLink-enabled AccuWeather app will make getting this information easier for commuters.

“We are thrilled to have our award-winning app available to drivers through SYNC AppLink,” said Smith. “With important features such as severe weather alerts and AccuWeather MinuteCast, our minute-by-minute precipitation forecast, Ford SYNC AppLink is connecting users with the weather information they need when they need it as they travel, to help provide a better driving experience.”

Ford set the benchmark for in-car connectivity with SYNC, which allows drivers to pair their mobile phones, make and receive calls, and operate other features hands-free using voice control.

The new technology will be demonstrated at the 2015 International CES, the largest consumer electronics show, Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas.