1. A computer implemented method comprising: (a) monitoring current queries to an Internet-based weather information system, wherein the queries contain at least a request for weather information pertaining to a geographic region of interest; (b) determining a query threshold for the geographic region of interest, wherein the query threshold represents a statistically determined number of queries, the receipt of which is indicative of the presence of a weather event; (c) determining if the number of monitored queries pertaining to the geographic region of interest is above the query threshold; (d) inferring the presence of the weather event in the geographic region of interest if the number of monitored queries pertaining to the geographic region of interest is above the query threshold; and (e) generating a signal indicative of the presence of the weather event in the geographic region of interest.