Abstract: The present invention is a graphical user interface (GUI) for use in an Executive Information System (EIS) for managerial planning applications that experience long-range weather impact. The EIS is referred to as a Long-range Executive Weather Information System (LEWIS.TM.). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LEWIS.TM. system is used to calculate and display to a user the impact of weather on retail planning applications. However, the present invention applies to all industries beyond retailing that experience weather impact, including, but not limited to, personal care, utilities, energy, agriculture, consumer products, insurance, transportation, outdoor events, chemicals, pharmaceutical, and construction.

Abstract: A computer-based Executive Information System (EIS) system for determining the impact of weather and other external and internal factors on the retail industry. Utilizing a multiple regression correlation technique in a predictive model, a correlation of weather variables with store information for specific locations and times is performed to quantify a weather impact model in terms of unit or dollar sales volume change, or any other commercially useful benchmark. The EIS system determines these relationships with location and time specificity. Using the relationship between historical weather and historical sales, the EIS system "deweatherizes" the historical weather to create a normalized historical sales relative to weather based upon normal weather (the 30 year average). This deweatherized data may be used in conjunction with a user-provided managerial plan to produce a revised managerial plan.