1997
The Baron Button

The creation of the Baron Button has its origins in our work with the Baron shear product. It came from the need to clearly visualize every aspect of a storm quickly, ideal for the fast-paced nature of severe weather coverage.

Typically, even on an uneventful day, on-air meteorologists have about 30 seconds to summarize weather events occurring in their viewing area. To support the need to identify all relevant weather threats as concisely as possible, we created a severe weather product incorporating a single composite of several important parameters:

• Rainfall (reflectivity) exceeding 35 dbz (possible flooding)
• The proprietary VIL Density product (possible hail)
• Any shear above 50 knots (wind damage)

The unique and proprietary composite was dubbed the Baron Button. With it, a meteorologist could quickly point out areas of probable flooding, hail and damaging winds, providing the specificity that drives viewers to take cover.

Three severe weather parameters in one display. The Baron Button delivers threat analysis instantly and accurately.