Using Mixed Reality and Unreal for Weather Broadcasts

Weather Channel found a way to use immersive mixed reality technologies to reshape its upcoming broadcasts. Aired three times on the channel, the “Tornado Hits The Weather Channel” video showed anchor Jim Cantore talking about a tornado strike in a studio, which was then got hit by realistic lumber and vehicular debris. A siren goes off, Cantore runs for cover, and the studio is torn apart — isn’t that something else?

The whole thing was created to “educate and inform” viewers by placing them “inside of a storm environment.” Cantore dodges, yells, and grimaces, but at the same time explains how tornadoes create risks for people. The video uses traditional augmented reality-style pop-up graphics.

Do you know the best part? The video was generated with the help of Unreal Engine, which continues to explore new levels in photorealism every day. The video is said to be created in partnership with The Future Group, which implemented its Unreal-powered Frontier to generate the sequence.

The Weather Channel states that the idea will “ignite a revolution of weather presentation” as a new method of “real-time immersive storytelling.” The channel will use the technology in 80 percent of its programming by 2020.