Weather warning apparatus and method

An apparatus for notifying a person when at least one preselected weather event occurs, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a user input mechanism coupled to the processor, the user input mechanism including:
• (A) a geographical selector mechanism coupled to the processor for selecting at least one weather alert area from a plurality of weather alert areas;
• (B) a notification selector mechanism coupled to the processor for selecting at least one weather notification parameter from a plurality of weather notification parameters indicative of weather events;
• a communication link coupled to the processor, the communication link receiving transmitted weather data corresponding to at least one transmitted weather alert area and at least one transmitted weather notification parameter and transferring the weather data to the processor;
• an audible notification input selector coupled to the processor for selecting a first time parameter for activating an audible indicator;
• a visual notification input selector coupled to the processor for selecting a second time parameter for activating a visual indicator;
• the audible indicator being activated to produce an audible notification when:
• the at least one selected weather alert area corresponds to the transmitted weather alert area;
• and
• the at least one selected weather notification parameter corresponds to the transmitted weather notification parameter within the first selected time parameter;
• the visual indicator being activated to produce a visual notification when:
• the at least one selected weather alert area corresponds to the transmitted weather alert area;
• and
• the at least one selected weather notification parameter corresponds to the transmitted weather notification parameter within the second selected time parameter;
• wherein activation of the notification mechanism alerts a person when the at least one selected weather event occurs within the at least one selected weather alert area.

A method for notifying a person when at least one preselected weather event occurs, comprising the steps of:

• selecting at least one weather alert area from a plurality of weather alert areas;
• selecting at least one weather notification parameter from a plurality of weather notification parameters indicative of weather events;
• receiving transmitted weather data corresponding to at least one transmitted weather alert area and at least one transmitted weather notification parameter;
• notifying a user when the at least one selected weather alert area corresponds to the transmitted weather alert area and when the at least one selected weather notification parameter corresponds to the transmitted weather notification parameter;
• and
• selecting a time parameter for notifying the user when the at least one selected weather alert area corresponds to the transmitted weather alert area and the at least one selected weather notification parameter corresponds to the transmitted weather notification parameter during the first selected time parameter.